Mold can be harmful, especially when it grows in large quantities on interior walls. Getting rid of it requires both controlling moisture and killing the spores.
When cleaning moldy walls, wear a mask (N-95 is recommended), gloves and goggles to protect yourself from airborne spores. Also, set a fan in the room to help with ventilation while you work. Contact Mold Removal Los Angeles now!
Moisture is the root cause of most mold situations. Even if you wipe the mold off surfaces, it will likely come back unless you fix the root issue. Therefore, before you start cleaning a mold situation, make sure to do a thorough visual inspection and determine the source of the problem.
Look for signs of excessive moisture in building materials, such as stains on walls or window panes; wrinkling wallpaper and paint; crumbling plaster; or water damage in insulation. Check for musty or earthy odors and check behind walls and in crawl spaces.
If you see a problem, you can clean most visible mold growth with a mild solution of bleach and water, or nontoxic cleaners sold at home supply stores. Be sure to mask your face when you spray or use a brush to avoid contaminating other areas of the home. Separate the work area with plastic sheeting and cover air supply and return vents in the work area. Run a fan to pull contaminated air out of the work area and exhaust it outside. If you don’t have a fan, you can also use a portable incinerator that burns the surface and removes the spores for good.
Indoor mold can trigger allergic reactions in people, including stuffy noses, sore throats, coughing or wheezing and skin rashes. In immunocompromised individuals, it can cause a variety of more serious problems, including infections and seizures.
Mold grows best in moist dark conditions, so be sure to keep your house well ventilated, especially during hot and humid weather. A dehumidifier can help control humidity levels in the home, and special insulation can prevent condensation and reduce the risk of leaks.
If you see a large area of mold in the wall, it is probably a good idea to call in a professional for this kind of extensive mold removal and treatment. The drywall may have to be torn down, and the affected insulation replaced in order to effectively treat mold and prevent it from returning. Renting a dumpster is a good idea for this kind of project because the waste can pile up quickly and cannot be picked up by regular garbage collection services.
Clean the Walls Naturally
If you are dealing with mildew or a minor mold problem, you can often take care of it using some common household products. Mix together a solution of nonammonia all-purpose cleaner and mold and mildew cleaner, or simply water (never use cleaning products that contain bleach or ammonia, as they can remove or alter colors and may damage surfaces). Dip a microfiber or lint-free cloth in your cleaning solution and begin washing the walls, using a circular motion. Make sure to get behind baseboards and into corners. Rinse off your cloth often, wringing it out and dipping it back into the bucket to keep from over-contaminating your walls.
This type of washing works well on most nonporous surfaces, including drywall and cinder block. It’s not ideal for wood or other porous surfaces, however, so if you are trying to clean these materials, you will need to find another method.
Before you start cleaning, you should test the wall to make sure it is colorfast, since many types of mold can stain or discolor surfaces. You should also test any other items in the room to see if they will stain, as mold spores can also bleed on fabrics and carpeting.
Mildew and mold are most likely to appear in damp areas, such as bathrooms, basements or kitchens. When left unchecked, these areas can lead to extensive mold problems that can ruin building materials and cause serious health concerns for people living in the home or working in the facility.
To avoid the risk of mold stains or other problems, you should do your best to keep your walls and other materials as dry as possible after flooding or water damage occurs. A dehumidifier can be very helpful, as it will help remove moisture from the air and speed up the drying process. You should also make sure to clean all items in the room, such as rugs, furniture and drapes, to prevent any spores from spreading to other areas of the home or office.
Besides the obvious problems, mold can also trigger allergies and other health issues in people who are exposed to it. It can also affect the air quality and aggravate asthma, especially in people who already have these conditions. For this reason, it is important to follow safety guidelines and call a professional for Level 5 mold remediation, when necessary.
Clean the Concrete Walls
Concrete walls aren’t naturally prone to mildew and mold but even an inorganic material like concrete can develop a problem if it gets damp. The first step is to address the source of moisture in order to prevent further problems. Once that is done it’s time to clean the mold from the concrete. This is a task that should be performed only in well-ventilated areas and anyone doing it should wear protective clothing, goggles and a face mask to avoid inhaling mold spores during the cleaning process.
The most common method of eliminating mold from concrete is to use a commercial mold killing detergent or a bleach solution. Both of these options should be applied to the affected area and scrubbed vigorously to ensure that all mold and mildew is eliminated from the surface. Once the concrete has been cleaned, it should be rinsed thoroughly with water to remove any remaining cleaning agent and mold spores.
For those looking for an alternative to harsh chemicals, there are several natural cleaning methods that can be used to eliminate mold from concrete walls. Vinegar is a great option as it is effective in removing mold and has a much lower risk of discoloring the concrete than bleach. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used to remove mold and mildew from concrete. For a more aggressive method, bleach can be used but it is important to follow the proper safety precautions when using this product.
Another option is to use clear ammonia which is a powerful disinfectant that can be used to eliminate mold from concrete surfaces. It is important to use this product in a well-ventilated area and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying it to the concrete surface. Once the concrete has been treated, it must be thoroughly rinsed with water to remove any residual ammonia and to ensure that the concrete is completely dry.
It’s also a good idea to apply a concrete sealer after the concrete has been cleaned to help protect it from future mold and mildew infestations. If the concrete is painted, a mold resistant primer can be used to provide extra protection from moisture that could lead to future mold growth.
Call a Professional
The best way to treat mold is to call a professional mold remediation specialist as soon as you notice the first signs of it. The longer you leave it untreated, the more damage it will cause. This is not only expensive to repair but also puts the health of your family at risk. Mold spores are a significant source of harmful indoor pollutants that affect your health in many different ways.
Professional mold removal is a complex process that involves much more than just cleaning the visible areas of mold growth. A professional will have the specialized tools and training needed to find hidden sources of mold in your walls, such as in ductwork, ceilings, and other hard-to-reach places. They will also be able to identify and address the root cause of the mold so that it does not return.
Besides finding and treating the source of the problem, professional mold cleaners will ensure that all of the mold spores are killed. This is particularly important if the mold is toxic, as most types of black mold are. They will use a combination of chemical and non-chemical methods to kill the mold and make sure that it is entirely eradicated from your home.
When hiring a professional, it is very important that you protect yourself and your belongings from the chemicals used during the treatment process. You should cover any furniture and decorations with newsprint or plastic drop cloth, and remove them from the room as far away as possible to prevent any accidental spillage that might lead to additional damage. It is also a good idea to wear protective gloves and a respirator mask to avoid breathing in the mold spores.
A last resort option is to sandblast the mold, but this method can only be used if the mold has not penetrated into the drywall or other structural elements of the home. If the mold has done this, it will need to be completely removed and replaced with new drywall. In these cases, it is often best to hire a professional who can take care of this as well as the rest of the cleaning and restoration work.