Not all of the mold and fungus around us are bad—think about blue cheese and mushrooms—but when black mold appears in your home, it’s not so good. Mold can be a sign of poor air circulation and excess moisture in your home, and it can cause health problems in some individuals. While you may have heard about a particular type of “toxic black mold” (Stachybotrys chartarum), the truth is, this mould hasn’t been proven to be anymore dangerous than other types or colours of mould. That said, if there’s any kind of mold in your house, you should take every step to get rid of it.
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How To Get Rid Of Black Mold
How to Use Chlorine Bleach to Remove Black Mold in the Shower
Make the bleach less concentrated
In a big basin or bucket, mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water (or one part of chlorine bleach with sixteen parts of water).
Put the bleach on
Put on rubber gloves and saturate the mould growth with a sponge or sponge mop dipped in the solution. Soak cotton balls in the cleaning solution and apply them on top of mould found around bathtub rims or in tight spaces. Before using a nylon-bristled brush to scrub the mouldy area, let the bleach solution sit there for at least fifteen minutes.
Make sure to rinse well
After giving the area a thorough water rinse, let it air dry. If the discolouration persists, retreat to the area using the previous instructions.
How to Remove Black Mold in the Shower (Using Borax or Baking Soda)
Note: Baking soda and borax also prevent mold from growing and surviving, but they are not as good at eliminating spots or killing mold as the other solutions.
Create a paste
Combine a few teaspoons of water and half a cup of borax or baking soda in a small bowl. Once you have a paste that can be spread, adjust the ratio.
Apply the paste, let it sit, then scrub
Using a sponge or your hands in gloves, spread the paste over the growing mold. After letting it sit for at least half an hour, clean the area with a damp scrub brush.
Make sure to rinse thoroughly
Thoroughly rinse the paste with water.
Take out the stains
To get rid of any last stains, use hydrogen peroxide, diluted chlorine bleach, or a commercial tile cleaner.
How to Remove Dark Mold from Walls
The best way to remove black mold off walls is to use a diluted solution of chlorine bleach, but you can also use an undiluted hydrogen peroxide solution or a mixture of distilled white vinegar and dish soap. But keep in mind not to mix substances. Select one, and before on to the next cleanser, give the wall a good rinse if it doesn’t work.
Combine a bleach solution
Combine one part dish soap, ten parts bleach, and twenty parts water in a big bucket to clean a large wall. Use a spray bottle to combine one cup of warm water, one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and half a cup of chlorine bleach for a small area of mold.
On the moldy wall, apply the solution
Apply the solution to the wall starting at the bottom, using a sponge or spray bottle. Make sure not to oversaturate the wall to avoid damaging the drywall. Use a sturdy ladder or a sponge mop to administer the solution if the mold is close to the ceiling.
Allow the wall to dry naturally
Don’t wash or scrub the area. Let the wall dry naturally.
Look for any lingering discolouration and stains
Examine the wall for stains once it has completely dried. Repeat the procedure using a new batch of the cleaning solution to remove any leftover discolouration.
How to Remove Black Mold from Painted or Sealed Wood
Clear the area
Combine one spoonful of dish soap with one quart of warm water. Scrub the wood lightly using a brush that has soft bristles. Keep your work to a minimum and avoid oversaturating the wood. As you clean, use a sponge to absorb extra water.
Eliminate any tiny mold growth
To softly spritz the wood, fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar. Give the vinegar at least an hour to air dry on the surface. Use a microfiber cloth to buff the surface if there are no stains left.
Eliminate a large amount of mold development
Chlorine bleach is required if the moldy area is large or very heavy. Combine one cup of warm water, one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, and half a cup of chlorine bleach. Using a sponge, apply the mixture to the moldy area and let the wood air dry. Lastly, buff with a gentle cloth. If necessary, repeat.
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