How to Eliminate Mold From Drywall

Mold in your home is not only aesthetically distasteful and foul smelling, it is also bad for your health and the health of your family. Black mold is particularly dangerous, and in some extreme cases it has led to fatalities. Mold grows in moist environments and is common is homes with leaky basements or roofs, as well as homes that have experienced flood damage. Eliminating mold from drywall, carpets and all other surfaces should be a top priority.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Sponge
• Utility knife
• Goggles
• Protective gloves
• Sander
• Breathing mask or respirator
• Bleach
• Mop

Eliminate Mold From Drywall

1. Determine if you have mold. Typically, you can smell when mold is present in a home. A mildew smell probably means there is mold located somewhere inside.

2. Find the mold. Mold is typically located in areas were there is water damage. This is frequently in the basement, attic, near windows and doors, in rooms with lots of plumbing (like the bathroom) and behind appliances that use water. These appliances include refrigerators, dishwashers and water heaters.

3. Put on protective gear, including protective gloves, goggles and a breath mask/respirator. When you remove mold, you become extra vulnerable to its health risks.

4. Determine the extent of the mold. This is done visually. You have to get into the wall or ceiling and see how far the mold extends in the area.

5. Cut out any drywall affected by mold using a utility knife. Moldy drywall cannot be cleaned. Instead, it must be completely removed and disposed of.

6. Sand the surface of any wood studs attached to moldy drywall to completely remove visible mold. Scrubbing wood may not be enough to guarantee mold removal.

7. Clean surrounding surfaces using a disinfecting solution of bleach and water. Allow bleach to penetrate the area for at least 15 minutes to achieve complete disinfection.

8. Rinse the affected area thoroughly with clean water to remove the bleach.

9. Allow the moldy area to dry completely before installing new drywall. Use fans and/or dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process.

Tips & Warnings

• Assume the presence of mold in any drywall that is wet for more than 24 hours.

• Use plastic sheeting to isolate areas where mold is being removed if the home remains occupied during removal. Removing mold can release more spores into the air, which can be harmful if inhaled.

• Hire a trained professional to clean up extensive mold damage. Mold should be taken seriously.