How to Get Rid of Mold in House Walls
Mold on the walls of your property is an extremely frustrating and potentially dangerous problem. It requires action as soon as you notice it. Not only does it smell stale and look unsightly, but it can also cause health problems and damage to your home.
But if you're ready to eradicate it, you'll first need to know the difference between mold and mildew.
- Is It Mold Or Mildew?
- Signs of Mold on Walls
- How to Get Rid of Mold On Walls
- Types of Wall
- Tips for Preventing Mold on Walls
- Hiring a Mold Removal Expert
- Clean Walls, Clean Home
Is It Mold Or Mildew?
Mold and mildew are both types of fungi that thrive in humid conditions with poor ventilation. The most common causes of mold and mildew on walls are condensation, humidity and water leaks.
Mildew is gray or white in appearance with a powdery texture. It can be found lying on flat surfaces in moist areas. As mildew is a surface mold, it won't damage your property's structure (1).
Mold is a fungus that spreads from airborne spores. It is usually black, yellow, or green and has a fuzzy or slimy texture. Mold can cause structural issues in your home, as well as health issues.
Signs of Mold on Walls
Mold can grow anywhere along an interior wall. But you're likely to see it near the ceiling or floor, or along the edges of the baseboard trim. It's most common in bathrooms, although it can also affect kitchens, laundry rooms, basements, and other poorly ventilated rooms.
Obvious signs that you have a mold problem in your home include:
- A musty or damp smell.
- Cracked and peeling paint.
- Visible mold growth on your walls or ceiling.
- Allergy symptoms worsened by being indoors.
If you see mold growth on the walls within your home — even if it's only a small patch — you should take action immediately. If you don't remove the mold quickly, it will spread and it can become potentially dangerous to your property and your health.
Studies have shown that exposure to mold can cause allergic reactions and poor health. You may experience symptoms such as a runny nose, irritated eyes, and breathing difficulties (2). Therefore, it's essential to take action as soon as you notice any signs of mold.
How to Get Rid of Mold On Walls
As long as it only covers a small area, mold on walls is generally easy to get rid of yourself. You can use various household products. Popular effective options include borax, vinegar, baking soda, tea tree oil, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide.
However, if you have severe and widespread mold growth on your walls, it's not quite as easy. It's actually potentially hazardous to remove it yourself. We advise that you contact a mold removal professional to get rid of mold in your home safely and effectively.
Keep In Mind
The Environmental Protection Authority suggests that if the affected area covers less than 10 square feet, you can tackle the job yourself (3).
The process of getting rid of mold on walls essentially requires two important steps. First, you'll need to control moisture in your home, and then you'll need to kill the mold.
1. Identify the Cause of the Mold
This is the first and most important step in the process of getting rid of mold on walls. You need to identify the cause and address the issue to ensure that mold does not return.
This means repairing any sources of water damage (such as leaks), which have caused the mold and controlling moisture in your property.
2. Prepare Your Room and Clean the Walls
Once you're ready to start removing the mold from the walls, clear the area. Ensure that you remove any furniture, fabrics, and electrical equipment from the affected area. Then, cover the floor with plastic sheets for protection.
Next, use a damp sponge with dishwashing liquid and clean the affected area to remove any dirt.
We recommend that before you cleaning or treating the wall with any product, you put on protective gear. Safety glasses, rubber gloves, and a mask will protect you from exposure to the mold. You should also ensure that you open windows and doors while you're removing the mold.
3. Remove the Mold
If you notice small patches of mold on painted interior walls, it's likely to be on the surface. This should be relatively straightforward to remove using household products. Options include substances such as borax, white vinegar, baking soda, or tea tree oil.
Do the mold patches only cover a limited area of a non-porous (painted or sealed) wall? Then we recommend that you try using a natural mold remover first.
But what if you're dealing with a large area of mold growth? Or perhaps, the natural mold removers do not get rid of the mold sufficiently? In this case, you might want to use a stronger chemical cleaner. You can purchase this online or from a home improvement store.
On porous walls made of materials such as cement, concrete or stone, the mold does not only grow on the surface. It also tends to spread inside too.
So if you have a mold issue on a porous (unsealed) wall, the most effective solution is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and distilled white vinegar.
Borax
In a container, mix one cup of borax with one gallon of hot water. Put the lid on, and shake well to dissolve the borax. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and apply to the affected area.
Scrub the mold off the wall with a brush and then wipe it clean and allow it to dry. It's not necessary to rinse off the solution. The borax will help to prevent the mold from returning, providing you have fixed the source of the mold issue.
Vinegar and Baking Soda
Vinegar is a safe and very effective way to kill and prevent mold on all types of walls, porous or not. Studies have shown that white vinegar kills 82 percent of mold spores. It reportedly penetrates porous materials and kills the mold at the roots (4).
Pour some white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle without diluting it. Spray the vinegar onto the wall and leave it for an hour. Then, wipe the area clean with a sponge and warm water.
After cleaning the wall with vinegar, it may be necessary to scrub the mold. For this, we recommend that you make a baking soda solution.
Baking soda is a natural disinfectant that can be used to kill mold. Plus, it also deodorizes and helps to remove the musty, damp smell caused by mold. Finally, it absorbs moisture, which is effective at keeping mold away.
To make a baking soda solution, mix one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of water into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the affected area with the solution and use a scouring pad or scrubbing brush to remove the mold.
Next, rinse the area with warm water to remove any residual mold from the surface. Finally, spray either the vinegar or baking soda solution onto the wall again to ensure all the mold is killed.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree essential oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties making it a highly effective treatment for getting rid of mold (5). Start by adding one teaspoon of tea tree oil and two cups of water to a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the affected area and use a clean cloth to wipe the mold away.
You don't need to rinse as leaving the tea tree oil on the surface will kill the mold and prevent it from returning. This method is recommended for removing mold and mildew on painted and wallpapered walls.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grapefruit seed extract is another very effective natural mold killer. The citric acid from the grapefruit attacks mold and kills it naturally. It also acts as a disinfectant and deodorizer.
Create a solution in a spray bottle using a ratio of 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract to one cup of water. Shake the bottle to mix the solution thoroughly and then spray it onto the affected area. After a few minutes, use a clean cloth to wipe away the mold and solution.
Leaving the grapefruit seed extract in contact with the mold longer will kill it and ensure that mold growth does not reoccur. You may want to repeat this process every two to three days to prevent it from growing back.
Bleach
Bleach is effective at killing mold on non-porous walls. It will not penetrate and kill roots on porous surfaces. But before you begin cleaning, make sure to test some of the bleach solutions on an inconspicuous part of the wall. This ensures that it will not damage the finish.
You'll need to mix one part bleach with three parts of water and then apply the solution to the wall. Leave it for 10 minutes, then scrub the mold with a brush. Rinse with clean water and dry the area with a clean cloth.
Warning
When using bleach, ensure you open the windows and doors and wear a safety mask. Bleach produces harsh toxic fumes that can be just as dangerous to inhale as the mold itself (6).
Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar
Hydrogen peroxide is anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial — excellent for killing mold (7). Hydrogen peroxide, when combined with distilled white vinegar will make the solution not only stronger but also safe to use in killing molds and, unlike bleach, it doesn't produce toxic fumes or leave behind toxic residue.
What's more, its effervescent properties make it more effective than bleach at killing mold on porous surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide can be used on porous and non-porous walls.
Pour 3 percent concentration hydrogen peroxide, undiluted, into a spray bottle and spray the affected area. Leave on the surface for 10 to 15 minutes and then scrub the walls with a brush to remove the mold.
Types of Wall
The best mold removal technique may differ slightly depending on the type of wall you have:
- Drywall: Mold loves to grow on the drywall as it's porous, and what you can see is only the top layer. Avoid using bleach — you can try a vinegar solution. If the mold returns, it's too deep in the layers and the only solution is to replace the drywall. Luckily, mold-resistant drywall is now available.
- Concrete: Brick or concrete is porous too. So the best solutions are vinegar or hydrogen peroxide as they will kill the mold at the roots. Use a brush to scrub and ensure you're reaching all of the molds.
- Cinder Blocks: For cinder block walls, you need to clean the wall first. Then apply your chosen solution and scrub with a brush. Wipe away any mold residue, apply some more solution, and allow it to sit for up to 20 minutes. Finally, ensure you've dried the wall completely to prevent mold from returning.
- Wallpaper: The best solutions for mold on the wallpaper are tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract or vinegar. To avoid damaging the wallpaper, dip a sponge in the solution, and wring it out. Don't forget to test in an inconspicuous area first! Then gently rub in circles to remove the mold, without soaking the wallpaper.
Tips for Preventing Mold on Walls
The most effective way to prevent mold and mildew from growing on your walls is to control moisture in your property. You can minimize the humidity within your home by using a dehumidifier and ensuring all rooms are well ventilated.
Condensation can also cause mold in your home. However, you can help to prevent it by insulating roofs, windows, exterior walls, and pipes.
Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly prone to mold and mildew. Ensure that these rooms are cleaned regularly to prevent spores from growing.
Hiring a Mold Removal Expert
The EPA advises that if you have significant mold on the walls of your home, you should hire an expert to remove it. However, they state that you must ensure the contractor is certified, insured and trained specifically in mold remediation.
Mold removal professionals will follow a remediation procedure. Typically, they'll start by identifying the mold by collecting samples and testing it. They will then assess the extent of your issue and create a plan to completely remove mold from your property.
Next, they'll begin the mold removal process. Finally, they will carry out tests and issue a clearance report.
Clean Walls, Clean Home
If you notice signs of mold growth on the walls of your home, you'll need to take action before it spreads. It has the potential to cause health issues and structural problems to your property.
The most important thing to do is to fix the source of the problem to prevent mold growth. Then, depending on the size of the affected area, you can either clean the mold yourself or hire a professional.
Removing small patches of mold yourself is fairly easy. You can use readily available products such as borax, vinegar, baking soda, tea tree oil, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. But, if mold covers a substantial area of a wall, you should seek expert help immediately.
How to Get Rid of Mold in House Walls
Source: https://ohsospotless.com/cleaning-mold-walls/