How to Stop Mold Growth in a Wet Basement

Mold is a living, growing organism. Anywhere oxygen, water and possible nutrition sources (such as paper, dust or dirt) combine, you're likely to find mold. Basements are a frequent source of household mold. They're damp and not visited regularly in part because they "smell like basement." That particular musty aroma is caused by mold growth. Mold and mildew are easy to clean, but odds are good that they will just keep coming back. Removing the mold is only part of the problem. To stop the mold from growing in your basement, follow the steps in the guide below.

Things You'll Need

• Protective eyeware
• Rubber gloves
• Heavy-duty lawn-type trash bags
• Plastic buckets
• Detergent
• Stiff brush with long handle
• Paper towels
• Portable fans
• Electric heaters
• Chlorine bleach
• Bath sponge
• Vacuum with HEPA filter
• Waterproof sealant

Instructions

1. Prepare for clean-up by donning the proper gear. Use protective eyewear and rubber gloves and make sure to keep as much of your skin covered as possible by putting on long sleeves, pants, sturdy shoes and socks that are ankle height or higher.

2. Ensure the windows in the basement are open to allow adequate ventilation.

3. Gather any soft materials (clothing, carpets, boxes, drapes, insulation, soft toys, etc.) that have been damp for 48 hours or longer. Place them in heavy-duty disposable lawn bags and seal them tightly. Remove the bags from your home immediately.

4. Mix ½ cup of strong detergent with 5 gallons of hot water. Use a stiff brush to scrub all remaining hard surfaces with this soap solution.

5. Rinse thoroughly with cool water and then pat dry with paper towels. Aim fans and electric heaters at larger areas to facilitate drying.

6. Mix ½ cup of chlorine bleach into 1 gallon of hot water. Apply the bleach solution to the formerly moldy area with a sponge and allow it to sit for 20 to 30 minutes.

7. Rinse the bleach away with cool water and pat dry.

8. Vacuum the entire basement with a machine that has been fitted with a HEPA filter. Chlorine bleach kills mold, and the vacuum will remove spores from the air.

9. Apply waterproof sealant to the walls and floor of the basement.

10. Point rainwater away from your house by ensuring your drainage pipes face outward and make sure your gutters are clean and functional.

11. Angle the rainfall away from the foundation of the house by building up a gradient of soil. The ground should be at least 5 feet lower as you move away from the house than the ground that lies alongside it.

12. Seal the window wells if they are a source of incoming water.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a HEPA vacuum and don't know anyone you can borrow from, call your local health department, explain the situation and ask to borrow a machine from the department. Remember, mold can't grow without water. Take all possible steps to keep the surfaces in your home dry.

• If spilled or splashed, chlorine bleach will remove the color from clothing. Never mix chlorine bleach with any product that contains ammonia.

Resources

• HEPA Vacuum Models