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How To Remove Black Mold From Walls

How To Remove Black Mold From Walls

Everyone has experienced black mold at some point in their lives. Whether it was in your home or not, it’s a dangerous fungus that leads to further health problems if left unattended.

To make matters worse, mold can hide behind your walls making it more of a hassle to remove.

Don’t worry. There are proven methods that can be used to remove black mold from your walls.

While it can be an extensive process, rest assured because you’re protecting your home and your health from severe and deadly injuries in the long run. We’ll show you how to remove black mold from walls.

Throughout this article, we’ll go into detail about which tactics will help you remove black mold.

Doing this preserves the value of your home and ensures that everyone living there is safe from the harmful toxins that it emits.

Table of Contents

Is It Mold Or Mildew Growing On Your Walls? Do You Know The Difference?

Difference betwen Mold vs Mildew

Understanding the difference between mold and mildew is important. While both look similar, there are differences in appearance and how each of them must be cleaned.

Similarities

Mold and mildew are both classified as fungi. They tend to grow in warm & moist areas where the humidity levels are high ( > 50%). Also, both fungi can grow on a myriad of surfaces such as food, paper, and on the wall. Both of them are dangerous and should be removed immediately if you spot it in your home.

Differences

However, there are differences between the two when it comes to texture, size, and color.

Mildew is defined as a surface fungi that has a gray or white appearance. You’ll usually find it laying on the surface in moist areas. Mildew is easier to remove in comparison to mold.

All you need is a scrubbing brush, and a store bought cleaner to get the job done.

Mold is the result of a larger fungi infection. It has a black or green appearance and looks a bit “fuzzy” in comparison to mildew.

If left unattended, the mold will become toxic. This then causes the user to become exposed to heart problems, depression, and extreme fatigue.

When mold starts to turn black, it tends to produce mycotoxins. These toxins are very harmful and have severe health effects for children and people with weaker immune systems.

Later on, we’ll teach you how to remove black mold from virtually every area in your home.

How To Remove Black Mold From Cinder Block Walls

remove mold from cinder block wall

First, you must thoroughly clean your walls before getting rid of the black mold located on it. To do this, you’ll need to use warm water with a mild soap brand.

Next, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to the walls containing the mold.

Use a sponge or a scrub brush to clean the walls completely. Any extra dirt will make the mold removal process, so it’s best to take your time when doing this step. After that, you are ready to move onto the next step.

Next, you’ll want to apply bleach onto the wall to remove the deeper mold stains. Start by filling a clean bucket with a cup of bleach and a gallon of warm water.

Make sure to wear protective eyewear, a breathing mask, and a pair of gloves to remain safe. Don’t be afraid to take breaks outside if you start to have a lightheaded feeling.

Get a hard bristle brush to apply your mold remover on the wall. Depending on the severity and size of the mold, this project can range from 20 minutes to a few hours.

Scrub vigorously to get the mold from the wall. After the mold has been removed, let your mold remover stay for 15-20 minutes before drying up the wall.

Lastly, you must completely dry off the wall using a clean cloth. Take your time doing this step correctly as mold tends to form in humid and wet areas.

Also, check the humidity levels are under 50% and that your basement is receiving proper ventilation. These precautionary methods help prevent black mold from reoccurring in your home.

How To Remove Black Mold From Drywall

remove mold from drywall

Drywall is a good host for mold. Mold grows on porous materials, and since drywall has a paper covering, it’s an open target for it.

There is a common myth that you should use bleach to remove black mold from your drywall. However, this is a common mistake.

While bleach can work for concrete walls, drywalls are different because the surface allows for the mold to grow faster.

When you see mold on your drywall, you are looking at only its first layer. Underneath that layer are mycelia that grows at an active rate. This is the root of the mold, and it spreads throughout the drywall.

Replacing your drywall is the only effective method to remove black mold located on that area.

Fortunately, there is mold resistant drywall that comes without the paper lining. Instead of replacing your wall with another traditional drywall, mold resistant drywall is the best choice and saves you the most time.

To remove your previous drywall, you’ll want to wrap it in plastic. Make sure that you close all of the vents in your room to prevent the mold from spreading. Doing this ensures that the mold won’t spread and is safely removed from your home.

How To Get Rid Of Black Mold Behind Walls/Inside Walls

remove mold inside walls

There are certain situations where black mold starts to grow inside of your walls. Even if the mold issue doesn’t seem serious, water stains are a huge sign that black mold might start to grow.

To start this process, you’ll want to remove the outer wall covering to assess the damage within the wall. Porous materials like sheetrock or drywall have to be replaced immediately.

While the sheetrock may appear to be ok, the mold spores are still growing from the inside.

Scrub out the mold from your interior walls. When doing this, make sure that every section has been thoroughly cleaned. If the problem still exists, consider hiring a professional mold removal specialist to handle the situation.

White Mold Vs. Efflorescence – What’s The Difference?

mold vs efflorescence

The main difference between white mold and efflorescence is that efflorescence is only found on buildings. White mold is a natural fungus that starts to grow once there is a sufficient amount of humidity in the area.

White mold is harder to see in comparison to black and green mold. But, it still has the same health issues as its fungi cousins. You’ll want to remove white mold immediately to prevent it from growing at an exponential rate.

To remove white mold, you need to kill it on the spot. Keeping your home dry and wiping away the mold will reduce the chances of white mold reappearing again.

If the infestation is too much of a problem, consider hiring a professional mold removal company.

Efflorescence tends to grow on hard, masonry surfaces such as cement, stone, and brick. It’s a conglomeration of all the minerals and salts and tends to stick on the surface for an extended period.

While efflorescence is not a serious issue such as mold, it’s the symptom of excess water that’s stuck on the masonry. That’s why you must remove it immediately to prevent health and structural issues from occurring.

Like humans, building materials contain natural salts such as calcium chloride and sodium. These salts remain solid inside of the masonry until it dissolves.

Efflorescence is usually found during dry, yet cold climates where the buildings begin to dry out.

To prevent the growth of efflorescence, use an impregnating hydrophobic sealant on the surface. This helps stop the intrusion of water from entering the masonry of your building.

Using water to remove it might cause for the crystals to re-absorb which leads to more efflorescence to appear. If you are planning to remove efflorescence make sure to dry it afterwards.

How To Prevent Mold From Growing On Walls (Solutions)

removing black mold

Fortunately, there are a few methods to help prevent mold from spreading across your home. While each of them are useful, we suggest using all three of them to reduce the chance of mold from occurring.

The main solution you’ll want to use is a mixture of bleach and water. Like we’ve stated earlier, you’ll want a cup of bleach mixed with a full gallon of water for the solution to work properly.

An alternative solution would be to buy a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers work by lowering your humidity levels inside of your home. Keep your dehumidifier’s humidity level under 45% in order to keep your house from growing mold spores.

Third, you can also look into air humidifiers. Air humidifiers work by removing the air dust particles located in the air.

While it may not be as useful as a dehumidifier, it still does a good job at keeping your home free from air mold from entering your walls.

Mainly, these solutions will help you prevent mold from spreading. Make sure to frequently check your walls and areas to see if any extra mold is apparent.

Doing this ensures that you’ll completely remove the mold from your area while stopping future mold spores from spreading throughout your living space.

Types Of Mold Associated With Each Type Of Wall

There is a multitude of mold types that can be found in moist areas. Most of them are harmful enough to cause severe health problems if left unattended.

Knowing the different types of mold makes you a more informed homeowner as it helps you know exactly how to remove each of them effectively.

Stachybotrys chartarum

black mold

Stachybotrys chartarum is often referred to black mold. It has a slimy black appearance and develops in places where high levels of moisture are present.

Out of all of the different types of molds, Stachybotrys chartarum tends to cause the most health issues.

Alternaria

alternaria mold

This type of mold is found in damp spaces such as leaky pipes and showers. Sometimes, it grows in carpets that have been damp for an extended period.

Elderly people and children are more likely to develop asthma if exposed to Alternaria.

Penicillium

penicillium mold

Penicillium is found in most insulation, wallpaper, rotting fabrics, and carpeting. It’s known to spread easily and rapidly from one area to the next.

Penicillium is the most common types of mold and can be quite dangerous if inhaled. When exposed, it can lead to lung inflammation and chronic sinus infections.

Cladosporium

cladosporium mold

Cladosporium is usually found in most fabrics and wooden surfaces. Additionally, it can be found outdoors on most plant materials.

It usually enters the house through the HVAC system or through the doorways and windows. Watch out for this type of mold because it can cause problems with your respiratory system and your skin.

While each of these molds are deadly, there are still ways to remove them. We cannot stress enough that getting a dehumidifier will help remove the future development of these deadly fungi.

We suggest looking into our buying guide to see which dehumidifier will work the best for you.

Tools Needed To Remove Mold From Each Type Of Wall

tools for mold removal

Tools Depending on the type of the wall:

Drywall

  • Stain-Blocking Paint
  • Safety Gear (Gloves, Goggles, Eyewear)
  • ​Gallon of Water
  • ​Cup of Bleach
  • Scrubbing Brush

Concrete Walls

  • Bleach
  • Water
  • Towel
  • Brush
  • Protective Gear

Bathroom Walls

  • Hot water
  • Soap
  • ​Baking Soda
  • Hard Brush

Conclusion

To conclude, we believe that black mold is a threat to your household. One way to prevent this threat from spreading is by buying a dehumidifier to keep your room’s humidity levels below 50%.

Doing this prevents the growth of mold spores and promotes a clean and healthy environment.

Remember, there is a myriad of products out there that will help you solve your mold issues. However, you’ll need to know which one will work the best for you.

We suggest taking a look at our buying guide to understand which products will help you prevent mold development in a quick and effective manner.

Do you have any experience with any form of mold listed above?

Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.

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