How To Get Rid Of Mold On Walls

Mold remediation in the home

Musty smells, discoloration, paint peeling or cracking, and the telltale black-colored stuff creeping up your wall. The dangers that can come with different types of mold that grow in your house are well known. Respiratory issues, allergies, and sometimes worse reactions can come from mold exposure.

Now youre on a hunt to see if its anywhere else in the house. You check the drywall and the tile in the kitchen and bathroom, and you even brave the basement. Your assessment is that you have a mold issue. Dont panic, but dont wait. You need to treat this mold on your walls ASAP! But how?

Heres how to get rid of mold on walls.

Wall Mold Removal Shopping List

Knowing how to get rid of mold on walls means having the right equipment to keep you safe and effectively get rid of mold:

Personal Protection Equipment / PPE:

• Gloves
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Respirator, or filtered mask
• Plastic sheeting
• Garbage bags

Cleaning Supplies:

• Sponge scrubbers
• Spray bottles
• Towels or clean old rags

Step 1: Assess The Damage

The places you will need to look might not be the most obvious at first glance, but here is a quick list of some of the places you should look to assess the damage or the extent of the mold problem you have.

• Check behind the refrigerator, especially if it has a water source connected.
• Anytime a plumbing chase runs from the basement to the attic.
• Under the bathroom and kitchen sink
• Behind drywall around a leaky window
• Under the carpet and pad
• Ceiling tile

Determining the extent of the mold and assessing what needs to be done is a crucial step in mitigating and remedying the mold issue for good. Bear in mind that mold spores can also be airborne. If a mold infestation is larger than a 3ft x 3 ft square, you can consider that a MAJOR mold issue, and it would be highly advised that you seek out a professional service to mitigate and remove all the mold on the surfaces and in the air.

Certain types of mold should not be DIYd, and the only way to be sure is to have a professional analyze it and identify the type of mold you are dealing with.

Step 2: Prep The Area (And Yourself)

Because of the way it can spread and its airborne capabilities, plus the way it can spread through contact, make the prepping phase before removing the mold very important. You may spread it through the entire house if you dont follow the prep steps.

First, you must take down the curtains, photos, decor, or anything the mold spores can land on once the work begins. If theres furniture that can be moved, move it out, and if youre unable to move it out, you should use plastic sheeting to cover and wrap the furniture up and seal it with painters tape.

Next, you want to lay plastic on the floor and tape it down. This will ensure you catch any water drips and cleaning solutions that may get dropped.

Shut the doors to the room youre working in if possible. If not, its best to plastic the section that has mold. This will keep any airborne spores from floating through the house.

PPE/Personal Protection Equipment

Mold is not to be taken lightly. The mold can cause allergic reactions, skin irritation, and, in some instances cause, severe respiratory symptoms. The PPE or Personal Protection Equipment you wear will protect you from spores and possible contamination.

Here is a quick list of what you should wear.

• Filtered dust mask or respirator. You do not want to breathe in the spores.
• Eye Protection, goggles, or safety glasses to prevent any removal chemicals or solutions from getting into your eyes
• Rubber gloves are a must-have when working with chemicals and necessary to avoid contact with the mold.
• Old clothes, something you can wash in hot water immediately after mold removal or discard completely if necessary.

Step 3: Remove The Mold

Here are a few solutions you can use to get rid of mold on walls:

Removing With Bleach

Even though bleach can be found in most homes, its important to remember it is a chemical and can be dangerous. There are a few precautions that you should take when using bleach to remove mold.

Keep the room youre working in well-ventilated. Toxic fumes from the bleach can be dangerous.

Never mix bleach with other cleaners.

Although it kills mold, it only works on the surface, and using bleach on porous materials such as wood or drywall will worsen the mold. The bleaching chemical doesnt penetrate the surface, but the water in the bleach does. And as we know, water is one of the main causes of mold.

How To Get Rid Of Mold On Walls With Bleach:

• Step 1: Add a diluted bleach mixture to a spray bottle and apply it to non-porous surfaces such as tile or in the shower, or on a sink top.
• Step 2: Apply the mixture to the surface and let it dry.
• Step 3: You will only need to wipe it clean if it is a food contact surface area.

The time it will take to kill the mold will vary. It will start to kill on contact, but completely killing the surface mold may take up to a few hours for the mold to disappear. It may take a few applications.

Removing With Vinegar & Baking Soda

Choosing to use natural ways instead of chemicals is a popular option for removing mold. Vinegar and baking soda are non-toxic, pet-friendly, eco-friendly, and effective chemical alternatives.

Understanding what each component of this mixture does is important. Vinegar is slightly acidic and will go after the deeper-rooted mold spores. While the baking soda is going to go after the moisture and help remove it as well as kill the surface mold.

How To Get Rid Of Mold On Walls With Vinegar and Baking Soda

• Step 1: Pour white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle
• Step 2: Spray the moldy area with the solution and let it sit for an hour. Depending on which surface you are cleaning. Spraying the mold with water and baking soda mixture, creating a paste mixture of water and baking soda and scrubbing the area, or a solution of vinegar and baking soda spray.
• Step 3: Combine baking soda and water to form a paste, apply the mixture to the moldy area and scrub it lightly to remove mold with a soft bristle brush, toothbrush, or scrub sponge, and let it dry.
• Step 4: Scrape gently, remove the dried paste, and wipe clean with a damp towel. (consider dampening the towel with the vinegar in the spray bottle)
• Step 4a: For a smooth, non-porous surface, you can make a mixture of baking soda and water, 1teaspoon to a cup of water, mix well and pour into a spray bottle. Apply the solution to the moldy area and let it dry. Wipe clean with a damp towel.

Removing With Borax

While borax is a low-level toxin, it is still toxic if swallowed, and it will irritate your skin if directly exposed due to its high alkalinity. By raising the alkaline levels of the surface, borax kills and prevents mold from returning.

Once applied, the borax needs to be left for up to 24 hours to completely kill the mold.

How To Get Rid Of Mold On Walls With Borax

• Step 1: Add 1 cup of borax to 1 gal of warm water
• Step 2: Apply the solution to the moldy area using a spray bottle, be careful not to saturate the area. Water creates mold.
• Step 3: With a soft bristle brush or a scrub sponge, scrub off the mold
• Step 4: Wipe with a dry towel and allow it to dry.
• Step 5: Lightly mist the area with the borax solution spray and let it dry, Do Not rinse.

Removing With Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a natural and powerful way to kill mold on walls. Tea tree oil can be applied by spray, towel, or sponge. The most practical application is to leave the oil on for at least an hour.

Be careful with tea tree oil; even though it is natural, its a strong essential oil and can irritate the skin.

It is possible to mix tea tree essential oil and vinegar to create a preventive solution you can use every day in the shower.

Tea tree oil will kill black mold.

How To Get Rid Of Mold On Walls With Tea Tree Oil

• Step 1: Starting mixture is 1teaspoon of tea tree oil to one cup of water. Mix thoroughly.
• Step 2: You can place the solution in a spray bottle or apply it with a damp towel.
• Step 3: Let the area dry and wipe it clean with a dry towel.

Tip: When in doubt, leave it to the pros. Mold can be very dangerous and spread easily if all the correct procedures are not followed. Protect yourself and your family and make the right decision regarding mold removal. If its a mold spot bigger than 3ft x 3 ft, you should call in a professional service.

Why Mold Grows (Especially On Walls)

Mold needs the perfect conditions to grow and requires dead organic material (nutrients), water, oxygen, and the right temperature, which is a pretty wide range from 40% to 100%. Nothing above 100% and nothing below 40% but its still a pretty wide temperature range.

Heat and humidity combined invite mold growth.

Walls, in particular, can be susceptible to many different types of mold. Condensation from air conditioners can cause walls to mold. When the air on the inside is cooler than the air outside, moisture can build up on walls. Poorly built or older structures can have poor or deteriorating barriers between the exterior and interior, allowing rain to seep through and providing a moisture source.

We Can Permanently Get Rid Of Mold On Walls

You came here because you wanted a solution to get rid of mold on walls. We gave you a simple three-step process and four chemical solutions (one of which is natural) to get the job done.

But sometimes, removing mold on walls is a bit more complex than a three-step DIY solution can handle. When that happens, you need a team that you can call to eliminate mold at a moments notice. If you need a mold removal service, contact us today. At Spaulding Decon, we have the knowledge and expertise to help solve all your mold needs.