How to Get Rid of Black & White Mold Indoors

Over 100,000 species of mold exist worldwide, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Mold is a fungus consumes organic matter to grow and releases spores to reproduce. Mold requires moisture within the home to prosper. High humidity, areas of the home that flood or leak and areas that become water-logged will readily grow white and black mold. Getting rid of mold in a house requires solving the water problem within the environment so that mold will cease growing. There is no way to get rid of all mold spores but by limiting water the mold can be rendered unable to reproduce and flourish.

Things You'll Need

• Carpet
• Room fans
• Ceiling exhaust fans for bathroom, kitchen and attic
• Sump pump
• Disinfectant
• HVAC filters
• Shower curtain
• Laundry detergent
• Sponge
• Goggles
• Breathing protection (such as the N-95 respirator)
• Long rubber gloves

Instructions

1. Fix any areas of the home that suffer from leaks. Mold often grows in areas of the home where there is a roof leak or a cracked foundation. A broken water pipe can also cause mold to grow on walls or other surfaces. All water leaks must be promptly repaired to get rid of and prevent mold growth.

2. Dry any throw carpets that have become wet and moldy. Remove damaged, moldy carpet and replace with new carpet if it cannot be successfully dried out.

3. Pull all furniture away from the house's interior walls. Moving the furniture away from the walls will help air to circulate within the room which will help dry out areas of mold.

4. Open the windows and doors for 24 to 48 hours to help the house dry out after fixing any leaks or removing moldy carpets. Place fans around the house to help the air to circulate and get rid of the mold.

5. Install ceiling exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Install an attic fan if the house has an attic space.

6. Install a sump pump in any crawl space or basement beneath a home that floods. A sump pump will remove the water in the area that suffers from flooding. Repair any areas of cracking in the foundation that allows moisture to form beneath the house.

7. Clean all areas of mold that appear on hard surfaces using a mild laundry detergent and a sponge. Wear long rubber gloves, goggles and breathing protection, such as an N-95 respirator available at most home improvement stores, when cleaning up white and black mold, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

8. Wipe the coils of the HVAC system to remove biological growth monthly using a disinfectant cleaner. The coils constantly sweat and are an ideal place for black mold to grow, according to the Toxic Black Mold Information website.

9. Change the HVAC filter monthly. Mold spores will become trapped within the filters and quickly grow utilizing the moisture from the air and the organic matter that the filters trap.

10. Replace shower curtains regularly. Mold often grows in the seams and bottom corners of the curtain.

Tips & Warnings

• The spores of the mold can cause respiratory problems in some individuals with allergies, asthma and immune system disorders, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

References

• Washington State Department of Health: Got Mold? Frequently Asked Questions About Mold
• Toxic Black Mold Information Center: Ways to Prevent Mold Problems
• U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Protect Yourself from Mold
• OSHA Fact Sheet: Fungi Hazards and Flood Cleanup

Resources

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Fighting Mold: The Homeowners' Guide
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Facts about Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds