How to Clean Mold on a Wall
Mold grows on and stains walls when there is a leak, too-high humidity or another problem that keeps the area wet long enough to allow mold spores to grow. It's important to make sure that you solve the moisture problem before you start cleanup. Consider hiring a professional mold removal and cleaning company if the mold-infested area is larger than 3 feet by 3 feet because you may have a serious mold problem developing within your walls. Plaster or textured wall surfaces sometimes harbor mold in the crevices and may need to be removed. If the afflicted area is small and the wall has a smooth, painted surface, you can effectively clean the mold away with careful and thorough scrubbing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Goggles
- Cotton face mask
- Waterproof gloves
- Laundry detergent
- Bucket
- Clean cotton cloth or rag
- Scrub brush
- Spray bottle
- Chlorine bleach
Instructions
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1
Put on gloves, face mask and goggles.
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Fill bucket with very warm water. Add a cap-full of laundry detergent.
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3
Saturate the cloth in the detergent solution, then wring it out. Scrub the mold-stained area vigorously. If the mold isn't scrubbed away, switch to a scrub brush and scrub vigorously. Rinse the area with clear, warm water. If the mold has been completely removed, allow the area to dry completely, and you are done.
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4
Mix a solution of 1 cup of chlorine bleach in one gallon of water, if there is still mold that couldn't be removed. Fill the spray bottle with the solution.
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5
Spray the mold-covered area with the chlorine solution, wetting it so thoroughly that it will take at least 15 minutes for the area to dry, so that the solution has time to kill the mold. Allow it to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't attempt to simply paint over the mold. It will cause the paint to peel off, and the mold may continue to grow and spread.
References
- Photo Credit pattern on sheet rock image by Allen Penton from Fotolia.com
