How To Get Rid of Black Mold In Your House

Before you tackle the mold problem in your home, there are a few things you should be aware of. Firstly, protect yourself. Mold is more than a nuisance; it can cause allergies and breathing problems, so wear a breathing mask, safety goggles, and rubber gloves. Once you are protected, gather some of the tools you might need. 

• Plastic sheet or drop cloths: if mold is present in large areas, you need to isolate them to prevent the mold from spreading
• Large bowl: to hold the cleaning liquid
• Spray bottle: to get the nooks and crannies
• Metal brush: to scrub wooden floors:
• Soft bristle brush: to clean gentle surfaces like carpets
• Measuring cups/spoons: to measure out the cleaning liquid
• Funnel: to pour liquid in spray bottle

After gathering the tools, you should improve ventilation in the area where you are working by turning on the humidifier, venting fans, or opening doors and windows. 

Now, you can finally start getting rid of the mold. One thing to note is that different surfaces might require different methods and cleaning products. We have listed a few examples to make it easier for you. 

Many chemical cleaning solutions effectively eradicate mold, but it is better to avoid it. These chemicals are usually not made for household use and are mostly used in cleanup sites.

These cleaning solutions are potent and contain chemicals that can be harmful when inhaled or accidentally ingested. They are often unnecessary for household cleaning as well. You can get the job done with safer natural mold cleaners.

Some of the potentially toxic chemicals in cleaning solutions include: 

• Formaldehyde 
• Ammonia 
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds 
• Antibacterials 
• Butoxyethanol 
• Chlorine Bleach 
• Diethylene Glycol 
• Monomethyl Ether 

Instead, you can use 

• Distilled White Vinegar
• Borax
• Baking Soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide

You can use distilled white vinegar if you discover mold on porous surfaces like wood, drywall, or fabrics. Vinegar is acidic and preferred over everything else for black mold removal.

It penetrates deep into these materials and eradicates the root of the problem instead of just tackling the mold on a surface level. 

Prepare the vinegar spray: Using a funnel, pour undiluted distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle.

Spray solution on mold: Spray the solution on a moldy surface. Allow it to sit for 1 hour so that penetration would be deep, thereby killing the spores of the molds.

Scrub and rinse:  After the hour passes, spray the solution again, scrub with a nylon-bristled brush, and rinse thoroughly with water.

Remove stains and discoloration: If stains and discoloration remain, remove them with hydrogen peroxide and the nylon brush.

If you want to kill the mold spores, borax might be ineffective. However, it is still useful in affecting the growth and survival of mold.

Make a paste: In a small bowl, mix half a cup of borax with a few tablespoons of water. Adjust the ratio until you have a spreadable paste.

Apply the paste and leave it: Apply the paste to the moldy area with a sponge. Do not use bare hands. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes and then scrub the area with a dampened brush.

Rinse well: Rinse the paste away well with water.

Keeping your house spick and span means you need to rely on various cleaning products on hand. One such product is baking soda. Baking soda can be used for cleaning projects like mold removal.

It might not be as effective as vinegar in removing mold. However, it does absorb odor and prevent mold from recurring. 

If you are using it to get rid of mold, ensure it is fresh. It is fresh when it bubbles vigorously after being combined with vinegar. There are two ways you can use baking soda on mold:

Spray

For baking soda spray solution, combine one tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle and shake well.

Spray on the mold and scrub with a brush. Repeat the process until you are satisfied, and rinse the area with water till there is no residue. 

Paste

To create a paste, mix a 50/50 solution of baking soda and water in a bowl. Apply the paste onto the mold and let it dry.

Scrub the area with a brush until the mold is gone. If it requires more effort, use the spray solution after the paste treatment. 

Like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide is another reliable home cleaner.

It is non-toxic and can remove various forms of mold on porous and non-porous surfaces. It will bubble when it comes in contact with mold. This bubbling action indicates the cleaner is working on mitigating the mold. 

Although it is a natural cleaner, it can irritate the eyes and skin, so be careful when using it.

Make hydrogen peroxide spray

Pour fresh, undiluted hydrogen peroxide (3-10 percent solution) into a spray bottle for easy application. Make sure it is fresh. If not, it will be ineffective. The hydrogen peroxide bottle should fizz when you open it. 

Apply the peroxide

Spray hydrogen peroxide directly onto the mold. It should begin to bubble or fizz. Allow it to work for at least 15 minutes or until the fizzing stops.

Scrub and rinse

Scrub the area with a scrub brush. Rinse the area well and repeat the steps if needed.

Mold is a fungus that likes to grow and spread deeply, which is why it is most common on wood. So, how do you kill mold on wood?

Painted/Sealed

Small Surface

Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid with 4 cups of warm water. Dunk a soft-bristled brush in solution lightly to avoid getting the brush too wet.

Scrub the moldy wood with the brush. Do not wet the wood too much. Use a cloth or towel to wipe off the residue. 

Extensive mold growth 

If the moldy area is large, use hydrogen peroxide. Mix one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 cup of warm water.

Apply the mixture to the moldy area with a sponge and allow the wood to air dry. Finish by buffing with a soft cloth. Repeat, if needed.

Unsealed/Unpainted

In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid, 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and 1 cup of warm water

Apply the mixture to the moldy area with a soft-bristled brush, scrub lightly, and allow it to air dry.

If the mold stains remain, sand the wood surface to remove the spores that are deeply penetrated. After sanding, seal the wood to prevent future damage.

Increase Ventilation

Proper ventilation can help prevent mold development. The areas that lack ventilation, such as the kitchen and bathroom, are prone to mold problems. Installing exhaust fans or just opening your windows for airflow should reduce the possibility of excess moisture that spurs mold.

Good ventilation would let the damp areas dry fast and is unlikely to have mold. This will be a preventive measure and, when combined with other techniques, is likely to help in reducing the possibilities of mold significantly.

Try Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is one sure method of killing mold on surfaces like tiles, grout, and carpets. The temperature of the steam reaches deep and can kill the spores.

Using a steam cleaner, you just point the steam at the offending area of mold and let the heat do its work. This is especially useful for those places where it may prove difficult to scrape by hand, as it offers a deep clean that leaves surfaces mold-free.

Increase Sunlight Exposure

This is a natural method of killing mold. Mold is killed by sunlight since UV rays can penetrate the mold spores. Things that can be moved, like clothes, can be rid of mold by airing it under direct sunlight for a few hours. Other than sun drying, there are other ways to get mold out of clothes.

This will also help in drying the moisture and, hence, further prevent mold development. Sunlight exposure is thus an easy, natural way to combat mold.

Repair leaks

You may think a small leak in your home is harmless and neglect it, but be warned, it can cause many problems, including mold growth from water damage. These leaks build moisture in walls, floorings, and ceilings, leading to mold infestation.

If the leaks are not properly cleaned and dried, mold will grow two days after the leak. Therefore, fix leaky pipes, fixtures, windows, and roofs promptly. 

Deep Clean Your Home

The best way to prevent mold in your is to deep clean it thoroughly in spring and fall. Deep cleaning means hidden surfaces and nooks and crannies that most neglect during their daily cleaning.

This includes under the sinks, cabinets/closets/drawers that are rarely cleaned, ceiling corners, moldings around doors and windows, fans and light fixtures, heating and air vents, etc. This cleaning practice even helps identify a high-risk moldy area and allows you to tackle it before it gets too much. 

Mold is a serious issue that causes many health problems. They might be hiding and spreading in different areas of your home right under your nose.

So, for extra precautions, you should inspect these common places where mold can thrive in your home.

Basement

Your basement is a high-risk area, so do not forget to check it. Molds like to grow in basements because it is humid and moist from lack of windows, seepage, and broken pipes. 

You can use a dehumidifier to prevent mold in a basement and check for potential seepage or leaky pipes regularly.

Attics

It is about the time you checked the attic for mold if you cannot remember the last time you did. Mold is common in the attic for the same reasons as the basement.

To prevent mold in the attic, your roofing should be solid. You should also insulate your home properly and keep the soffit vents clear for better airflow.

Bathrooms

After the basement, bathrooms are the most common locations for mold. Bathrooms have lots of moisture, ideal for moldy growth.  

Try to keep your bathroom as dry as possible and keep the windows open if you can, or run the ventilation fan. 

Kitchen

Water in the sink, food waste, leaky pipes under the sink, and puddles on the floor are common sources of mold growth in the kitchen.

Your top priority should be to keep the kitchen as dry as possible to prevent mold. Also, avoid having carpets and rugs on the kitchen floor in front of the sink, and keep your fridge clean by throwing out food before it gets moldy.

Underneath Flooring

An unsuspecting place where mold might be thriving is underneath the floorings. These molds remain hidden and are, therefore, neglected. Some might not notice it until years have passed if the flooring is in the basement, attic, or crawl spaces. Do not be one of them.

Mold under flooring is caused by seepage or broken pipes. When this happens, you may need to replace the flooring. 

Laundry Rooms

A laundry room is another place where moisture and humidity collect and cause mold growth. The moisture and humidity are caused by wet clothes.

So, ensure your clothes can dry fast. Sometimes, moisture could be coming from the leaks in the washing machine. If so, fix it.

Fireplaces/Chimneys

If you do not use your fireplace often, it might be damp, ideal for mold growth. They are made with porous bricks, causing mold to spread fast and deep. 

Cleaning your fireplace and chimney regularly and controlling the humidity levels in your home. 

Vents

If your home is humid, your ventilation system has humid air. This means your vents could be hiding mold. If that’s the case, the spores can spread throughout your home.

For this, it is better if you call in a professional. There are professionals for a reason. You could attempt it on your own if you know how to get rid of mold around the house, but you may not be as effective as the professionals.