How To Remove Mold From Walls

Posted on February 8, 2012 by

Understanding mold and its different types

Mold is a common problem in many houses and occupants all over the world wonder how to remove mold from walls. It grows in the moist air on the walls, on the kitchen cabinets and even in your shower. In fact, mold can grow anywhere it can find moisture and a comfortable growing temperature. The mold is a microscopic fungi and it includes yeasts and mushrooms. It can be dangerous to your health, especially if you have specific allergic conditions. However, not all the molds are hazardous to health. Some molds are actually good for health. More than anything else, mold is a constant nuisance when growing indoors. If you want to get rid of this constant nuisance, you should learn how to remove mold from walls.

Mold can be of various types. Around 250 species of mold have been identified in Canada alone. Molds growing inside can vary from ones growing in the outdoors.

Mold can make life tough. Fabrics stored in a damp place can become unusable and unwanted due to the smell of mold. It can also make paper useless because it creates a dark layer on the surface (it is actually mold growing on the paper).

Removing mold from our homes does not mean that we have to wage a war against mold. Some types of mold are actually required for preparing certain drugs, foods and beverages. Even penicillin comes from a specific type of mold. However, no one wants it growing inside their home.

Identifying Mold

Mold needs moisture to grow, which means that identifying the mold can be easy. If it grows inside a house, occupants can easily recognize it by following a few simple principles. Here is what you need to check for to identify whether mold is growing on the walls.

Discoloration: Discoloration is the first sign of a growing mold. You can easily identify the mold by looking closely at the color of your walls. Since molds can be of many colors, you have to check for other traits before you can call it mold.
Smell: Smell is a good way to identify mold. Even when mold is growing in places where you cannot see, smelling the area can help you identify mold. If you are unaware of the smell, you can place a paper or cloth in a damp area for a couple of days. It will start smelling strange. It is usually the smell of mold growing in the area.

How to remove mold from walls

You can remove mold from small and moderate areas. However, if mold is growing in large areas, you will need professional help.

Since some molds are toxic and they can be hazardous to health, especially when you breathe around the areas with mold, you will have to take following precautions when removing mold.

Wear gloves so that you do not get mold on your hands.
Wear goggles to keep the mold away from your eyes.
Wear a dust mask to avoid catching an allergy. You can use disposable dust mask to keep the cost low.
Keep infants and other adults away from the place, especially the ones with allergies and asthma.

You can easily remove mold from walls and other surfaces using home techniques and cheap equipment. Here are different techniques for removing mold from different surfaces:

Washable surfaces/painted walls: Removing mold is easy when it grows on washable surfaces and walls. You can use a simple detergent to remove the mold. However, if you want the mold to go away quickly, you should use unscented detergent solutions. You will have to sponge the area with detergent and then rub the area with dry cloth quickly after applying the detergent.
Drywalls: You can easily clean mold growing on drywalls using baking soda and detergent. You can also find many products in the market especially made for removing mold from walls. Usually, you can get excellent results by combining the soda and the detergent. However, avoid making the dry wall too wet to avoid mold coming back. If the mold comes back, you need to remove the source of moisture from the wall or other surface.
Removing mold from moderate areas: when removing mold from moderate areas, try to take all precautions necessary since it can be bad for your health and others around you. Seek professional help if the area has patches bigger than one square meter.
Dealing with extensive mold: If you find extensive mold in your home, you should seek professional help and not try your hands at it. Even when the mold comes back after removing it, the next step would be to seek professional help. Usually, when your home is very damp and moist, you should not attempt to remove extensive mold.