How to Kill Black Mold Behind Caulking
Any kind of mold can be an eyesore or even dangerous; always contact a professional when dealing with large amounts of mold. However, you can easily remove mold from underneath caulking yourself. To remove mold on the surface of caulking, simply bleach the area and wipe it off with a rag, but to remove the mold completely and from under the surface you must remove the caulking and replace it with mold-resistant caulking. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- gloves
- surgical mask
- mold-resistant caulking
- putty knife
- 5-in-1 tool with a pick edge
- bleach
- rag
- cup of water
Instructions
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Removing Mold From Under the Surface of Caulk
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First, wipe down the old caulk with a rag and bleach. Get as much of the mold as you can to avoid spreading the spores throughout your home.
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Next, remove the old caulk with the putty knife or the 5-in1 tool with a pick edge---make sure you use a nonflexible tool. The putty knife removes the old caulk by pushing it away, whereas the 5-in-1 tool will allow you to pull away the old caulk. To allow the new caulk to stick properly, remove all of the caulk, including any small remnants on the surface.
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Next, clean off all of the surfaces on and around the old caulking with the bleach and rag. You do not want leftover mold on the new caulking.
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Puncture a small hole in the top of the new bottle of mold-resistant caulking. If necessary, you can make a larger hole later, but too large of a hole will create a big mess.
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Once you have the correct size of hole for your project, apply a bead of caulk all the way around the area from which you removed the old caulk. Use a seam tool or your finger or thumb to create the seam. Wet your finger or thumb, and trace over the edges where you have placed the new caulk. If needed, wet your fingers multiple times. You should now have successfully removed all of the mold from underneath the caulk and prevented any future problems.
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Tips & Warnings
Always contact a professional for extreme mold conditions. Also, follow the directions on applying the caulk.
