How to Treat Mold on the Wall in the Basement
Mold is a form of fungus that thrives best in damp, humid areas that receive little sunlight. A basement can be an ideal place for mold to grow, especially if there's been a leak or water has seeped in through the floor or walls. It's important to treat mold in a basement because it can become a health hazard if allowed to grow unchecked. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sponge
- Spatula
- Brush
- Chlorine bleach
- Detergent
- Water
- Fan
- Garbage bags
- Mold-killing product (optional)
Instructions
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1
Use a sponge to wet the wall where the mold has grown.
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2
Scrape off any visible mold with a spatula. Use a non-metallic spatula if the wall is made of wood, to avoid scratching it.
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3
Mix a solution of chlorine bleach, detergent and water. If the wall is made of concrete, mix 1 cup of bleach and 1/2 cup of detergent for each gallon of water. If the wall has wood paneling, try a weaker solution first--use only 1/2 cup of bleach, or no bleach at all, and the same amount of detergent.
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Apply the solution to a small portion of the wall to see if it has any adverse effect. This is particularly important if the wall is made of wood. If no adverse effect occurs, scrub as hard as possible to remove the mold's roots. Use a sponge for walls made of wood. Use a sponge or brush for walls made of concrete.
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5
Rinse off the concrete. Scrub the concrete and rinse again if mold persists.
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Aim a fan at the wall to help it dry. Keep the wall as dry as possible after treating it for mold.
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7
Place mold in garbage bags. Remove the bags from your basement as quickly as possible.
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Tips & Warnings
Treat the mold as early as possible. The more it's allowed to grow, the harder it will be to remove.
Use a commercial mold-killing agent for stubborn mold growth.
Wear a painter's mask, old clothes, rubber gloves and eye protection when scrubbing the mold.
