Black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum as it’s scientifically known, is a type of microfungus with a green or black look. It’s particularly noticeable on moist walls or building materials, especially if they’re cellulose-rich.
Mold flourishes in warm, wet settings, particularly in areas of the house where water is present. Mold can grow in a variety of places, not just on walls. They can form clusters on wood and even paper.
Black mold can be dangerous, especially to persons who have underlying health problems. Toxins are released by the spores, which can build up over time and injure healthy people.
The removal of black mold can seem difficult if one lacks accurate information, which is what I hope to provide with the aid of this article.
Identifying Mold
Before you start with the removal of black mold, let’s talk about how one can identify it first. In an apartment or house, there are a few common spots that you must check.
Keep a tab about which part of the home triggers your allergies, or causes you to sneeze without seemingly no reason. Even if the mold is not visible to the naked eye, it is likely that mold growth is underway in these locations.
How to Clean Mold
1. Ammonia
Ammonia does a pretty good job of mold removal, as long as you restrict its usage to hard non-porous surfaces.
It is not recommended for porous surfaces like wood and concrete. Ammonia is unable to penetrate these surfaces enough to completely eradicate the mold.
Ammonia is a harsh chemical, responsible for giving off toxic fumes which can prove to be lethal in non-ventilated environments.
Pro Tip: Wear gloves!
2. Baking Soda + Vinegar
The non-toxic alternative to ammonia, a baking soda and vinegar mixture does a pretty bang-up job when it comes to the removal of mold.
5. Tea Tree Oil
More expensive than the other options on this list, tea tree oil brings with it a lot of benefits. It is non-toxic and is a natural fungicide known for its effectiveness in keeping mold and mildew at bay.
A small amount goes a long way and the compound has greater permeable properties than both bleach and ammonia. It also does not release any toxic fumes.
It is advisable to dilute it with a little water, although a solid concentration has been proven to show the best results. Apply the liquid to the affected areas and wipe clean after an hour or two.
Pro Tip: Gloves are recommended.
4. Bleach
Bleach truly is a marvel when it comes to household cleaning, and the removal of mold is just another feather in its hat.
It is easily available, inexpensive, and does a good job of cleaning most surfaces.
An ideal cleaning solution that implements bleach is to mix a proportional amount of water with the bleach and use this paste to scrub the walls/ceiling with a bristled brush.
Bleach is, however, not suitable for eradicating root-level mold growth. The chlorine (the chemical responsible for killing mold) does not permeate the surface to the depth of the roots. An added disadvantage is that cleaning with bleach sometimes leaves behind moisture in its wake, which can only aggravate the problem.
5. Baking Soda + Water
The best possible option for mild mold growth is baking soda, another household ingredient you can use to clean mold.
There are many ways to go about a cleaning procedure that involves a baking soda and water paste—you could apply it and let it dry without rinsing (the mixture continues to cleanse and deodorize), or you could use a damp cloth to wipe off the residual after it has dried.
A stubborn stain can be dealt with by using a brush and scrubbing in circular motions.
6. Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a readily available household product that you can use to clean mold spores. It is slightly acidic and is also anti-bacterial. It is ideally implemented to clean sinks and plumbing in the bathroom and kitchen.
You don’t need to dilute the vinegar with water before application. You can directly spray onto the affected area, or apply it with the help of a brush or towel. Air-drying is a necessary step. Follow up by either using a brush or another towel to wipe off the residual.
Pro Tip: Use an old toothbrush to reach the crevices or grout lines.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleach, non-toxic, and does not adversely affect the environment. You can use it for porous surfaces, such as clothing and wood.
A spray bottle is perhaps the easiest way for application- mix 2 parts and 1 part of hydrogen peroxide. Allow the mixture to sit for ten minutes. Some judicious scrubbing might be in order, depending on the growth of the mold.
Wipe off with a damp towel.
Side-effects of a Mold Infestation
Mold can be harmful to human health if it’s left unchecked. It triggers and aggravates a host of problems like chronic coughing, breathing problems, dermatitis-related ailments, and fever. People with underlying health conditions are especially vulnerable to Mycotoxicosis.
“Mold poisoning” starts in a seemingly harmless manner, with symptoms such as headaches, sneezing, itchy eyes, etc., which people do not immediately correlate to mold. People with immunodeficiency disorders should be especially careful around the mold.
Preventive Measures
As the adage attests, ‘Prevention is better than cure’. So here are a few pointers to keep in mind while keeping mold growth at bay in your home.
- Take the trash out! What might seem to the reader like an obvious point, accumulation of junk and/or materials is often the cause of mold growth.
- Fix the leaks. As mentioned earlier, moisture is a leading cause of mold.
- Ensure there is adequate ventilation in the home.
- Do away with any mold-infested items to stem the possibility of further growth.
- Cut and replace mold-damaged drywall in a room.
- Clean and vacuum your home regularly.
- Invest in a dehumidifier. Keep the indoor relative humidity below 50 percent.
- Ensure that the drainage systems in your home are working as they should.
- Make sure you check the ventilation in your basement, in the attic, and other crawl spaces inside the house.
How to Prevent Mold from Coming Back?
Mold has a habit of coming back. Even if you clean rigorously, there is a considerable likelihood that the affected areas are not totally mold-free and might start to look moldy in the future. There are, however, a few things one can do to ensure that it won’t come back.
- Try and regulate the steam being generated in the house. This could mean failing to dissipate the steam from a bathroom after a hot shower, or a poorly ventilated kitchen that remains heated long after the cooking is over. Open a window, if you are not equipped with an exhaust fan system.
- Use moisture traps inside the home, especially on glass doors and windows.
- Keep upholstery, drapes, and shower curtains clean.
- The usage of anti-mold and anti-condensation paint at your home will provide adequate protection against the formation of mold.
