How to Get Rid of Black Mold in My Apartment

One of the most common forms of mold is black mold. Some black molds are toxic and others are not. They grow in areas that have become wet, such as cardboard, cotton products and ceiling tiles. They produce spores that can travel through the air and start growing in other places, making it difficult to treat the problem. Mold can develop in less than 48 hours and should be treated quickly.

Things You'll Need

• Dehumidifier
• Plastic gloves
• Mask
• Plastic sheeting
• Painter's tape
• Exhaust fan
• Air purifier
• Dusting products
• Spray bottle
• Soap
• Sponge
• Bucket
• Disinfecting sprays
• Towel
• Zip top bags

Instructions

1. Repair any leaks. Moisture breeds mold. If you have a leaking pipe, it's providing a breeding ground for the mold and must be repaired before you can begin to cure your mold problem.

2. Dehumidify the room. Place a dehumidifier in rooms that contain 55 percent humidity or more.

3. Protect yourself. Wear plastic gloves and a medical-grade mask to protect your lungs.

4. Seal off the room. Block doors and windows before you begin cleaning a room. Use plastic sheeting and painter's tape to seal duct work and other openings, too. This prevents the transfer of mold into other rooms. Only clean one room at a time, making sure to seal off subsequent rooms, as well.

5. Use an exhaust fan. This helps pull the air out of the room.

6. Use an air purifier while working. This helps protect you from inhaling too many of the particles.

7. Dust the rooms. Mold spores attach to dust and other airborne particles and use them to travel around.

8. Clean the moldy areas. Use a spray bottle to moisten the areas and keep the mold particles from becoming airborne while cleaning. Use soap and a damp sponge to clean the areas. Rub away as much of the mold as possible, cleaning your sponge off as you go in a bucket of soapy water. For soap, you can use liquid dish soap or hand soap.

9. Disinfect the area. Use a commercial disinfecting spray to spray the mold spots. This helps to kill any spores left behind, even if you can't see them.

10. Dry the area with an old towel.

11. Seal up all sponges and other cleaning supplies. Place anything you used that touched a mold spot in a zip top bag, seal it, and throw it away. Don't carry the bags through your apartment; this could release lingering mold spores from the bag. Instead, throw them out the window, and then dispose of them in a trash can.

References

• How to Get Rid of Black Mold