Why does mold appear on the walls
There is a whole list of factors that contribute to the development of the fungus. For example, malfunctioning ventilation, problems with the sewage system, mistakes made during the construction or renovation of an apartment. As a result, all the reasons for the appearance of fungus on the walls are reduced to dampness in the room. 
The most common causes of high humidity indoors are:
- poor ventilation;
- malfunctioning pipes and problems with plumbing;
- constant drying of clothes in the room;
- frequent and long bathing;
- a large number of indoor flowers that require constant watering, as well as the presence of aquariums;
- insufficient heating of the room;
- plastic windows that promote condensation in the room;
- insufficient ventilation, as a result of which the air in the apartment is not renewed;
- leakage of inter-wall joints and cracks in the walls.
Important: an extractor hood is required in the kitchen. This is due not only to its ability to quickly eliminate unnecessary frying pan smoke and food odors, but also to the fact that high humidity is formed during the cooking process. Of course, if there is no hood in the house, then it is necessary to ventilate the room well during and after cooking. Otherwise, you will have to remove the fungus from the walls of the apartment.
Mold damage
Mold enters the human body through the respiratory tract. This means that with prolonged contact, it causes significant harm to health. This is manifested in the exacerbation of existing diseases and the acquisition of new diseases, which over time can develop into chronic ones. 
The effect of the fungus on the body:
- Infection - affects people with severely weakened immune systems.
- Allergic reaction - occurs when the "pathogen" gets on the mucous membrane.
- Toxic poisoning - occurs through the gastrointestinal tract. In the course of poisoning, strong painful sensations appear.
In order to understand the consequences of harm, it is necessary to pay attention to the color of the "pest". The greatest danger is. The aflatoxin secreted by it can cause a number of diseases: exacerbation of asthma, migraines, bronchitis, mycosis, the appearance of a cold, bronchitis, and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Mold of white and black color is less dangerous for humans, but it also has its own consequences that lead to deviations and health problems. If a person has hematological diseases, then a long stay in the same room with the fungus and inaction in relation to mold can be fatal. 
How to deal with mold on walls
Everyone who has encountered this unpleasant phenomenon asks questions: “How to remove black mold from the walls of an apartment? What is the correct, effective and uncomplicated way to deal with mold on the walls? " Of course, there are general guidelines and steps for dealing with mold.
Mold feels great not only on the walls of the room. The main thing is a humid environment favorable for it. Before removing the fungus, you need to understand and understand the features of the room.
The owner of a private house needs to know that an earthen floor is a good conductor of moisture. Hence the frequent appearance of mold on the walls. To avoid this, it is necessary to either concrete the floors or cover them with polymer materials.
In apartments and houses made of bricks, foam blocks and aerated concrete, with excessive dampness, you can safely use an air dehumidifier. This device is perfect for drying air in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen.
In order not to have to get rid of mold on the walls in the bath, you need not to save on designers, materials for construction and processing from "pests", and also seek help from specialists who know their business.
In order not to get rid of mold, it is necessary to monitor the constant air circulation. Many, when abundant moisture appears on the glass, get rid of it with an ordinary towel, or do nothing at all. This can lead to serious and undesirable consequences.
Today, there are many ways and effective on the walls. One of the most effective is tea tree oil, which is completely safe and easy to use. A teaspoon of oil must be diluted in a glass of water and treated with a spray bottle the affected walls. A stunning effect is provided by a mixture of water, peroxide, vinegar and boric acid (4: 2: 2: 1), the mixture is sprayed onto the walls.
How to prevent mold on your walls
- Maintain a normal microclimate in the house;
- Check ventilation draft every six months. It is necessary to take 3-4 strips of thin paper about 20 cm long, no more than 3 cm wide and in turn bring them to the ventilation holes at a distance of 5 cm. If the ventilation is in order, the strips will touch the edge of the ventilation;
- For better air circulation in the room, an electric fan can be installed. It will help draw out stagnant air;
- It is necessary to constantly renew the air in the apartment - do not forget about airing (at least twice a day - in the morning and before bedtime);
- Modern plastic windows offer many useful features. Automatic supply valves and climate control system are faithful helpers in microclimate control;
- The sun's rays must penetrate into the room. If the location of the apartment is not on the sunny side, you need to open the curtains wider during the daytime to allow natural light to enter the room.
- Use antifungal floor and wall wipers once a month (where surfaces permit).
Mold has accompanied humans throughout history. In some countries, some species are eaten, in others it is customary to grow their varieties to create an unusual cheese variety. However, when mold appears on the wall in the apartment, every housewife thinks about what to do and how to get rid of it. Mushrooms emit spores, which, when entering the human body, cause dangerous diseases, therefore, measures should be taken in such cases immediately. Let us consider this issue in more detail, as well as the existing means of control and preventive measures.
Causes of the appearance of mold fungi in human dwellings
Before you look at ways to get rid of mold in your home, find out why the apartment was contaminated. Even in a new house, these representatives of the Kingdom of Mushrooms are able to take root. The impressive ability to survive in this group of creatures is a real problem for humans, on a par with cockroaches or mice infecting an apartment. But if in the case of the last two pests their presence is more than obvious, the fungus acts covertly.
Apartment owners may not be aware of the existence of an infection or find out by accidentally glancing at the wall. The fungus is able to hide under the wallpaper of a new building or in the ventilation of an old house. Poor ventilation and high humidity expose the apartment to the trouble of fungus infestation.
- Modern plastic windows provide excellent protection from external noise and winter cold, but they are also an ally of mold. They impede natural ventilation, which, together with high humidity, creates ideal conditions for the growth of a fungus, which is difficult to get rid of.
- Dwellings located on the ground suffer from soil dampness. Roofs with poor waterproofing are a problem at the upper floors of buildings.
- Insufficient heating allows liquid condensation to accumulate on the walls and in the corners, which generates mold in the apartment.
- Pay special attention to the pipeline. Leaking water will add moisture and the fungus will appear immediately.
- Rooms such as the toilet and kitchen are at risk. Rooms should be thoroughly ventilated and cleaned regularly.
Caution: mold is a causative agent of diseases
In addition to the aesthetic disgust caused by the fungus, removing mold from the wall is necessary to maintain the health of the inhabitants of the house. Representatives of this group of fungi unwittingly infect the human body with spores thrown into the air. It can also happen through skin contact or through the digestive tract. Among the consequences are the following problems:
- As a result, a cough appears, cancer develops, so removing mold is vital.
- Allergic reactions are possible. The skin suffers from dermatoses, fungi and mycoses.
- How to get rid of mold in an apartment is worth considering if the inhabitants of the house feel nausea, headaches, runny nose and other symptoms.
- Elderly people especially suffer from the presence of these fungi. Rheumatism and other diseases of the musculoskeletal system manifest themselves fully under the influence of infection.
Do not focus only on how to remove the mold smell. This is a secondary task, inferior to the complete destruction of the fungus at home in order to avoid its reappearance. Air fresheners are only a half-measure that does not save the apartment and its inhabitants from harmful organisms. And you should also pay attention to the question of how to remove mold stains, because they contain microscopic parts of the fungus, allowing it to revive again.
This is what mold and its spores look like under a microscope.
Mold killers forever
Realizing the terrible harm of house fungi and discovering their presence, it is necessary to urgently take action. Not everyone knows how to get rid of mold on the walls in an apartment in such a way as to avoid relapse. There are folk and industrial methods for killing the fungus with varying degrees of effectiveness. Deciding how to remove mold should depend on the extent of contamination of the surface of the house. Let's get acquainted with the most popular ways to get rid of a harmful fungus.
Traditional methods against mold
If you have a situation where a large black spot has appeared on the wallpaper in the house, then simply treating the wallpaper with a mold repellent and then washing it will not be enough. In this case, it is necessary to completely remove the wallpaper, remove the damaged layer of plaster and only then treat the wall with the chosen agent and let it dry.
| Means | Application | Precautionary measures |
|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | Bleach Is included in folk remedies for mold on glass, wooden surfaces. Suitable for both tiled floors and walls. Dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 10 and pour into a spray bottle. There is no need to rinse off the product after surface treatment. | Before removing mold from the walls with bleach, you should protect your hands with gloves and the respiratory system with a respirator. Chlorine has a whitening effect, so do not use on expensive items. |
| Vinegar | It works against all types of fungi. It is used in a similar way to bleach, but is washed off the walls after an hour. The treated areas should be dried. | Safe for humans. |
| Hydrogen peroxide | A 3% solution will be required. The surface for removing the harmful organism is saturated with peroxide and after 10 minutes the anti-mold agent is washed off along with the fungus. | There is a whitening effect. Keep away from painted surfaces. |
| Baking soda | 1 tsp dissolve in a glass of water for application to contaminated parts of the apartment. In addition to the spray bottle, you can use a sponge soaked in the solution. | This is a safe way for humans and animals to remove mold on the walls. |
| Bura | Dissolve a glass of the product in a bucket of water for 2.5 liters. Take a stiff brush and apply the product to the moldy walls. This must be done several times without rinsing. Great for prevention. | Borax is included in mold repellents that do not harm people. |
Traditional methods of fighting mold.
In cases where the fight against mold by folk methods is not very effective, stronger fungicide preparations are used. When using them, certain safety measures must be observed. How to wash the fungus off the walls using such methods?
Industrial anti-mold products
| Means | Application | Precautionary measures |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Mykos | Effectively helps against mold and mildew, as well as against algae and mosses. Suitable for both prevention and exposure to harmful organisms. The drug penetrates deeply into the surface structure, protecting it from the appearance of harmful organisms. The solution against mold and mildew is diluted with water 1: 2 and applied to a dry base, protected from the sun and open air. | Before removing mold on walls, cover your skin, eyes and mouth with protective equipment. |
| Titanium | Mold found on the walls in the apartment, what should I do? With this tool, you do not have to scrape off the paint. Titanium can even be applied to the paint layer if the contamination has only affected the upper surfaces of the finish. | Before dealing with mold on the walls, you should take safety measures: wear protective clothing, goggles, gloves and a respirator. |
| Well done | The antibacterial preparation in the form of a spray is suitable for the treatment of bathrooms, wood, ventilation, plaster. How to remove mold with it? The surfaces are treated with sprays, the pest dies. | Be sure to protect your respiratory system, eyes and skin before treating the walls from mold. |
| Boramon | Allows you to remove mold from the walls both inside the house and outside. Suitable for processing, brick, plaster and wood. It is used in the apartment as a protective agent for building materials from insects. | The security measures in the fight against mold in Boramon's apartment are the same as in other cases: it is required to protect vulnerable areas from the ingress of funds. |
Chemicals for wall treatment.
According to experts, treatment against mold by any means should be carried out with closed respiratory organs and protected vision, even if folk safe drugs are used.
Important! After getting rid of the presence of mold, the question of how to remove the mold smell may arise. You can use regular baking soda for this. Apply the baking soda to the moldy surface, and after 2 hours, vacuum it up. If this method does not help, then you will need to apply a strong modern fungicide to treat walls from mold.
Preventive measures against mold
In order to avoid the appearance of fungus on the walls, you will need to observe certain measures of apartment hygiene. The house must be well ventilated, and the rooms must maintain an optimal humidity level of no more than 75%. Replace damaged pipeline elements in time to prevent mold and mildew from growing on the walls. It is required to clean the room weekly, carefully looking at suspicious places on the walls, in the corners and wet parts of the apartment. Pay attention to musty air. In order not to have to learn how to deal with mold in the house, also observe the following recommendations:
- Prevention should be started early. Repair pipe leaks, if any, and check ventilation. If there is a problem, then you should contact the ventilation specialists at the housing office or the management company of your house.
Advice: to check the health of the ventilation duct, bring a lighted match to it. If the flame does not tilt, then it is possible that the channel is clogged and needs to be cleaned.
- Insulate the outer part of the wall of the apartment by contacting professional construction climbers. Then there will be less chances to find mold in the house, you will not have to think about how to get rid of it. In a warm, clean and dry environment, the fungus will have no chance of developing.
- If the fungus was nevertheless found, then the first thing to do before removing the mold is to find out the reasons for its appearance. Further, it is necessary to treat the apartment with means for treating walls from fungal formations. When choosing how to wash the mold, give preference to proven drugs. You don't have to buy the most expensive fungicide. Ask your friends if they have experienced a similar problem, and which remedy for mold removal has proven to be the most effective.
Conclusion
If mold appears on the wall in the apartment, relatives or neighbors may know what to do, so do not panic. Timely measures taken will avoid large-scale contamination of the home, and modern fungicides quickly and effectively destroy various types of fungi. They can take out their folk remedies for mold on the walls quite well. Prevention of fungi will make it easy to avoid aesthetic irritation and health problems.
Mold on the walls is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance. When it is found in an apartment, you must immediately think about how to get rid of the fungus as soon as possible. At home, this can be done using proven methods. Choose what is at hand and take action. Otherwise, you will face unpleasant symptoms: headache, cough, nausea, and even asthma.
Mold on the walls in the apartment - types and danger
Before removing the mold from the walls, find out what kind of fungus may be in the apartment.
# 1. Black mold
The most common species and worst enemy for human health. It affects walls, wallpaper, wooden and concrete surfaces, paint, etc. If you leave the situation to chance, the first signs of intoxication will not be long in coming. Perhaps the development of asthma, bronchitis, persistent rhinitis, cough. Some people complain of fever, sleep problems, pneumonia, dermatitis.
No. 2. White mold
It is found near flower pots and in their cavities. Appears due to increased soil moisture. For a person, it poses a certain threat - it causes allergies, rash and itching of the skin, breathing problems.
No. 3. Green mold
This type of mold on the walls in the apartment most often affects food, which can lead to serious poisoning. Before you get rid of the fungus, know that at home it also settles on a brick.
No. 4. Rotting mold
Found on walls with wooden beams. Depending on the degree of damage, the fungus acquires a brownish or grayish pigmentation. Periodically, neoplasms brighten, they can crack.
No. 5. Blue mold
It affects furniture, window and door frames, parquet boards and other wooden surfaces. When a fungus appears on the coating, it changes the pigmentation of its "victim", making wooden installations bluish with a slight haze. The paint cracks and falls off, the varnish does not save.
Important!
Mold affects absolutely all finishing materials, so it is necessary to deal with it immediately after detection. It is forbidden to leave the fungus and allow it to spread, otherwise harmful microorganisms will begin to negatively affect health. A number of common and dangerous problems include a severe cough, a runny nose that does not go away, breathing problems, heart rhythm disturbances, sleep problems, etc.
Effective ways to get rid of mold on the walls in the apartment
Since you can get rid of harmful mold on the walls in an apartment using several different methods, we suggest choosing a suitable option for doing it yourself.
# 1. Vinegar
1. Mold on the walls in the apartment is removed with apple cider (!) Vinegar, because it is very easy to get rid of the fungus with it. It is not recommended to use a canteen, because at home it leaves an unpleasant odor and almost does not fade away.
2. So, soak a cloth made of light-colored material in apple cider vinegar, treat the fungus. Wash the rags, wet again with vinegar and repeat the steps until you achieve absolute cleanliness.
3. Finally, walk on the surface affected by the fungus, then timed 1 hour. After the allotted interval, wash the wall with water, turn on the heating, let the room dry with the windows open.
4. If the fungus has infected too large areas, then the manipulations are repeated twice more with an interval of 1 week.
No. 2. White
1. Any bleach will be a real salvation. You can take all the familiar "Whiteness" or "Vanish". It is better to give preference to compositions with bleach, since they suppress fungi of any nature.
2. Not all surfaces are allowed to use whiteness. It is great for cleaning tiles, glass, but not for wood or plasterboard.
3. If mold on the walls in the apartment has struck the wallpaper, and you are not afraid to ruin them, then use bleach. Before you get rid of the fungus at home, mix whiteness with water 1 in 10.
4. Dip a construction brush into this compound, then lubricate the affected areas. Let dry, repeat the steps. Finally, wash the walls.
No. 3. Peroxide
1. Peroxide concentration of 6% is required. It perfectly eliminates black fungus, and also prevents its further spread.
2. Prepare the surface by removing mold with a dry cloth. If it is deeply ingrained, then soak the old rag in a soapy water solution and remove the fungus as much as possible.
3. Fill a spray bottle with peroxide. Then start spraying. Make sure that the product does not run off too much. Wipe off with a dry cloth after half an hour or leave to dry on its own.
4. You should be careful when processing surfaces that are pigmented with bright colors. Peroxide brightens, which can lead to unexpected results.
No. 4. Antiseptic primer
1. A professional approach to removing mold on the walls in the apartment. Helps both get rid of the fungus and prevent its appearance in the next 10-15 years. Ideal for home use.
2. On the shelves of building materials stores, you will find the best tools. Among them are Dali, Biotol Spray, Fongifluid Alpa, OLIMP Stop Mold and others.
3. The primer is available in the form of a ready-made solution or mixture that must be diluted. Read the manufacturer's recommendations for proper treatment.
4. The agent is distributed only on the surface prepared and cleaned from the fungus. It is necessary to remove all building materials, including wallpaper, if the mold is deeply ingrained.
5. If necessary, remove everything, including plaster, until you reach brick or concrete walls. Then evenly lubricate the surface with a brush or roller moistened with primer.
No. 5. Ammonia
1. Ammonia perfectly removes mold on the walls in the apartment. When deciding how to get rid of the fungus at home, be aware that the product is not particularly effective on porous surfaces.
2. Combine water with ammonia in a spray bottle in equal proportions. Spray over the affected area and let sit for a few minutes. Wash the wall and leave the room to ventilate.
No. 6. Bura
1. Natural material that is used as an effective fungicide, herbicide and insecticide. Therefore, take extra care when working.
2. Dilute 3 liters. water 250 gr. borax. Spread the finished product over the surface with a stiff brush.
3. Along with this, you will clean out the pathogenic bacteria. Repeat the procedure several times. You do not need to wash off. Wait for it to dry.
No. 7. Boric acid peroxide
1. Since you can remove mold from hard surfaces and from the wall in an apartment in different ways, take a closer look at another effective tool.
2. Pour 40 ml into the spray bottle. water, 20 ml. vinegar and peroxide. Add 10 ml. boric acid. Spread the composition over the problem area, then wipe with clean wipes.
No. 8. Soda
1. Mold on the walls in the apartment can be easily removed with the help of baking soda. Prepare the solution at home before getting rid of the fungus.
2. Mix together 200 ml. water and 10 gr. soda. Treat the affected areas with the finished product.
3. After an hour, wash with plain water. Attention: the composition does not need to be washed off. Such a move will prevent the further appearance of the fungus.
No. 9. Tea tree oil
1. It is absolutely safe for humans, moreover, it is considered an excellent antifungal and antibacterial agent.
2. Dissolve 5 ml. oil in 230 ml. filtered water. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray over the affected area. You do not need to wash off.
No. 10. Potassium permanganate
1. Potassium permanganate, like most chemicals, has a detrimental effect on pathogenic bacteria. To deal with the problem, make a solution.
2. Mix 5 ml. potassium permanganate with 1 liter. water. Next, treat the surface using the classic technology using a spray gun. The solution does not need to be rinsed off.
No. 11. Grapefruit Ether
1. With the help of essential oils, mold on the walls in the apartment quickly disappears in the same way as in the previous method. How to get rid of the problem at home?
2. Dissolve 10 drops of grapefruit ether in 200 ml. water. Spray on the surface. As in the previous method, the solution does not need to be washed off.
No. 12. Lemon acid
1. To cope with pathogenic bacteria, use lemon or lemon juice. Organic acid destroys the fungus.
2. In 200 ml. Dissolve 10 g of water. citric acid. Treat the surface in a convenient way. The product can be left on without rinsing.
Mold in the apartment is formed quite often, so do not despair ahead of time. Start fighting a dangerous fungus. To do this, consider popular ways to remove it.
Molds can often be found in both old houses and new buildings. Under favorable conditions, they easily multiply by spores, enveloping more and more new spaces. Mold can settle on a wide variety of building materials: wood, plaster, concrete, brick, ceramics, plastic and others. It not only has a destructive, destructive effect on materials, but also becomes the cause of many serious diseases in humans. You definitely need to fight it in all known ways. How to get rid of should be considered in more detail.
Mold not only has a detrimental effect on materials, but also causes various diseases in humans.
Favorable conditions for the emergence and development of mold, its effect on human health
Before talking about ways to get rid of molds in the house, you need to understand what conditions are favorable for their occurrence and development.
Mold is a living substance, consisting mainly of a fruiting body and many spores that easily spread through water or air over some distances.
It has a characteristic smell and appearance, its color may vary. Favorable conditions for the appearance and development of mold in the house are:
- high humidity;
- warmly;
- lack of air circulation;
- surface condition.
Favorite places for mold are walls with poor waterproofing; surfaces in contact with improperly installed plastic windows, cluttered with bulky furniture that interferes with air exchange in the room; places of all kinds of leaks, etc. Under favorable conditions, mold develops very quickly and spreads over large areas.
The source of nutrition for mold is wood, which, as a result of its vital activity, rots and cracks, becomes unusable. However, mold destroys not only wood, but also any other material, with the exception of some types of plastics with perfectly smooth surfaces.
In addition to the fact that mold has a destructive effect on finishing and building materials, it is very detrimental to human health with its mycotoxins, which are constantly released into the environment. The most common serious illnesses that mold can cause are:
- asthma;
- bronchitis;
- pneumonia;
- emphysema of the lungs;
- headache;
- skin rashes;
- gastrointestinal diseases and many others.
The effects of mold on children and adolescents and people with low immunity are especially dangerous. Fungi can also spread inside the human body, affecting organs. All of these diseases are very difficult to treat.
To save a home from mold and prevent mold from occurring, drastic measures must be taken that must be considered more thoroughly. To prevent mold in the house, it is necessary to often ventilate and dry the premises in any weather, eliminate hot spots of high humidity - leaks, breakages, etc.
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Mold control instructions
Mold removal tools: gloves, spray bottle, chemicals.
To combat mold, you will need the following materials and equipment:
- personal protective equipment: glasses, gloves, respirator;
- brush, rag, sponge;
- water tank;
- washing powder;
- garbage bag;
- spray;
- anti-mold agent4
- varnish for wood.
Before starting the treatment of places where mold has settled in the house, it is necessary for personal safety, to wear glasses, gloves, a suit, and a respirator. This is also necessary so that mold and means of fighting it, which are mainly poisonous, do not get inside the human body. Processing should be done very carefully so as not to spread fungal spores around the house.
To begin work on getting rid of mold from the surface, you should clean the affected area with a brush, using a soapy solution. Mold with lagging residues of building material must be placed in a garbage bag to prevent its spread. After that, dry this area of the surface well.
Mold remedies: soda, sodium solution, citric acid, vinegar.
Then, the selected disinfectant should be applied to the affected area using a spray bottle, capturing the surrounding area. The agent is left on the affected area for a while, after which it is thoroughly washed with hot water and dried. You can use a powerful heater for drying.
Some features should be noted when processing various surfaces. Mold usually does not penetrate deep into the wood, so thorough washing of the affected areas can be dispensed with. Then they should be treated with antifungal agents, dried and subsequently treated with varnish or paint.
If mushrooms have started on the plaster of concrete or brick structures, then it is necessary to completely repulse the affected areas and put them in a garbage bag. All mold is removed, capturing for reliability and nearby surface areas. The prepared areas should be treated with an antifungal agent that kills mold. After drying, restoration and facing works are carried out.
In advanced cases, molds can penetrate deep into concrete or bricks. It is important to completely get rid of the places occupied by mold, otherwise the process of its spread will resume again.
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Variety of mold control products
There are various remedies for removing molds from surfaces. They can be divided into 3 large groups:
- pesticide;
- natural remedies with a high hazard class;
- natural remedies with a low hazard class.
If mold cannot be removed, soften it with a chlorine-based product.
In any hardware store there is a huge selection of pesticides to combat mold. Great care should be taken when handling them.
Natural toxic substances that effectively remove mold include hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, chlorine solution and some others. They need to be used in extremely neglected cases, tk. they are toxic and have side effects (for example, they can damage the surface). Here are some guidelines for using these remedies.
A 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide is prepared, poured into a spray bottle and sprayed onto the damaged area for 10 minutes. May have a whitening effect on the area. An ammonia solution is prepared in equal proportions with water, sprayed in the same way. It is left to interact for 2-3 hours, then washed with water. The chlorine solution is prepared as follows: 200 g of bleach is taken for 1 liter of water. You need to know that the solution is toxic and can damage the surface.
Hydrogen peroxide is excellent at removing mold, but since it has a whitening effect, it must be applied with caution to the colored surface.
Natural remedies with a low hazard class include tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract, and ordinary vinegar.
Mold can not only bring aesthetic dissatisfaction with the walls, but it also harbors many more problems - an unpleasant smell and the appearance of health problems, so the sooner you get rid of black mold, the better.There are many products on the market to help get rid of mold, but they are all highly toxic. We offer you safer and more natural remedies to get rid of mold living in bathrooms and other rooms.
If a very small area is infected, you can cope with this task on your own, without involving professionals. Save money by reading our top recommendations, which are great substitutes for expensive products.
Outline of the article:
The causes of mold
First, let's clarify what mold is, why it is black and what causes it to appear. Black mold is a collection of small organisms, notably Strachybotrus Chartarun and Strachybotys Bcmpa, that cause a wide range of health problems. It can be found anywhere in your home, including ceiling tiles, wood (soaked in water), walls, floors, and carpets. Small leaks or plumbing problems lead to mold growth as it only spreads in humid environments.For example, if your rug is wet and not completely dry, mold may develop on it and spread throughout your home.
If you touch the black mold with your gloved hand, you will feel that it is slimy, like a slug. Usually this mold is black in color, but there are also greenish-yellowish varieties. Black mold has a very distinct 'mildew' odor. Sometimes it is difficult to notice it. But if you suddenly start experiencing breathing problems, or have an allergic reaction, take a good look at your home.
Proven ways to get rid of mold in an apartment
ATTENTION! Do not scrub dry mold as it will get into the air! Wear safety goggles and a mask to protect yourself when removing black mold!
The first thing you should do is find a pair of latex or rubber gloves and wear protective clothing that covers your entire body. Be sure to wear a respirator to protect your lungs. Block the ventilation openings in the room in which you are going to work. You can also turn on a small fan and open a window to direct mold spores outside.
Moisten the affected surface with a mixture of soap and water, wipe with a stiff brush. At the end of the work, place all used materials in a garbage bag and tie it tightly. Now is the time to apply a store-bought disinfectant (or one of the following) on the affected surface. Remember to treat all surfaces. This will help kill any remaining mold spores. Rinse the area with hot water. Let the surface dry completely.
Products to help remove black mold
- Tea tree oil is the most effective remedy! This essential oil is safe for humans and animals. It has a pungent smell, but don't worry, it will disappear soon. The oil has excellent anti-fungal and antibacterial properties and, in addition to killing all types of mold, is effective in the treatment of head lice, dandruff and fungal nail diseases. So don't hesitate to buy a small bottle and keep it at home. Recipe: Take 1 tsp. tea tree oil and 1 tsp. water (in a 1: 1 ratio), pour oil and water into a spray bottle, shake well and spray on the affected areas.
- Vinegar is the cheapest way! Vinegar is a non-toxic and safe alternative to chemicals. According to the latest research, even a 5% vinegar solution can kill 99% of bacteria and 80% of viruses. Take a spray bottle and fill it with 5% vinegar. Keep the bottle in the bathroom and kitchen and use at the first sign of mold. If the smell of vinegar scares you, add a few drops of any essential oil to it. Lavender oil is best suited for these purposes, which will leave behind a scent that will be pleasant to human perception.
- Selected grapefruit seed extract is an exotic way to remove mold. The main advantage of this method is that the extract from selected grapefruit seeds is odorless. You can buy it from online or health food stores. For the solution, we need: 15-25 drops of the extract and 2 glasses of cold water. Combine liquids in a spray bottle and spray onto affected areas.
Other foods to help get rid of mold ...
There are a number of other products you can use to combat mold. Some substances can even damage the surface on which the mold grows. Use these recipes with caution and only as a last resort.
- Bleach. 1 cup bleach per liter of water. Bleach will not completely kill mold in porous materials. Another disadvantage of this remedy is its aggressive chemical reaction. Bleach will ruin the color of your carpet, leaving behind toxic fumes.
- Bura. Borax does not give off toxic gases, but it will not help you clean your carpet. More suitable for hard surfaces like tiles.
- Ammonia. A solution of 50% ammonia and 50% water. Do not mix with bleach as this will create very toxic fumes. After spraying the product, leave it on for 2-3 hours and then rinse the area.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the affected area and let it sit for 10 minutes. Although hydrogen peroxide is a safer alternative to bleach, it can also damage some materials.
How to permanently remove mold in an apartment
As you understand, removing mold from the walls is very difficult. The listed methods will help to get rid of only small foci when the cause is a local situation: a flood, poor ventilation or cold. If there are large molds in your apartment that have not formed in one month: cracks in the wall, poor-quality slabs that freeze through, flooding of the wall from the outside, then you need to deal with it with more thorough methods.First you need to remove surface mold growth, as mentioned above. Then, finishing materials must be completely removed from the wall: wallpaper, paint, panels or tiles in order to assess the scale and determine the cause of the formations. If there is mold on the wall itself, then it must also be thoroughly cleaned off and literally washed the wall.
But this is the localization of the problem - you need to eliminate the cause of the dampness of the wall or the room itself:
- If the matter is in the quality of the wall (it freezes or condensation forms on it), then make external insulation;
- If water flows down the wall from the outside, then it is necessary to organize a drain;
- If mold forms due to dampness in the room, then completely waterproof and insulate it, especially if you live on the first floor, above the basement;
- Also provide the room with good ventilation and heating.
After all the above steps, it is necessary to carefully treat the wall with an antifungal deep penetration primer, if necessary 2 times. This should be done in such a way as to exclude the contact of the primer on the skin and wearing a respirator, while ventilating the room. When the wall dries well, it can be insulated from the inside with foam plastic, finished with a cement mixture, or simply by hiding the "bare wall" by applying a layer of plaster to it to hide the places where the mold was.