Black mold grow on damp walls, bathroom tiles, fabrics, and leather goods. Easy remedies and tips on how we can kill black mold prove absolutely helpful to make our homes clear, better, and safer.
Black mold is greenish-black in appearance and slimy to the touch when it is damp. The breeding grounds for this type of mold are sewers, drains, damp walls, and wooden furniture. An interesting fact about black mold is that it can survive in dry conditions, where moistness is needed to help it multiply.
Black mold or Stachybotrys chartarum is detrimental to health and is responsible for many respiratory disorders including bronchitis, where it also causes respiratory bleeding in infants. You should be careful while removing black mold. The spores from the dry black mold should be removed with care, to avoid it from being released into the air. If an area is heavily infested with black mold, it is advisable to get the help of someone who knows what they’re up against. Else, there are a few home remedies that could be tried before seeking professional help.
Home Remedies to Kill Black Mold
Mold is a troublesome fungus and grows in areas where moisture is prevalent. Even if you don’t air out a room sufficiently, the mold can develop due to trapped-in moisture. Your health is at stake if mold is present in the house where you reside, with symptoms like diarrhea, nosebleed, chronic sinusitis, the presence of dark urine, and so on taking over your system.
There are cleaning products available in stores that are specially made to battle the problems of a black mold infestation. Depending on the severity of your case, it is important to weigh your options thereafter.
Experts, when it comes to black mold problems, suggest that removing the entire portion of the wall that is infested with the fungi is the best way to go. When the problem gets out of hand, and you have a tough area that doesn’t clean off easily, removing the drywall and replacing it will prove to be the best solution. The products for black mold are meant for not-so major cases, but a problem that has escalated to a point where cleaning it off is a full-blown task, requires wall replacement solutions.
A better solution to try killing off black mold with, is a mixture of half a cup of borax, with a gallon water. Continuously spray (put it in an empty spray bottle) the moldy area with this while giving it a good scrub down, making sure to moisten continuously as you clean the wall. Before applying a paint that is specially made to kill mold, keep one layer of borax and water mix on the surface of whatever molding is left (mild growth), followed by putty, before painting over it.
The presence of mold can be quite toxic within an environment, therefore it is important to have the necessary gear before performing this on your own. Important things to have on hand before attempting to remove black mold are rubber gloves, a work suit that covers all parts of your body, a filter dusk mask, and an air purifier.
Avoid using a mixture of bleach (or ammonia) and chlorine to help with this problem, since these do not work as effectively as one thinks. The water seeps through the surface of the mold, while the chlorine remains put on the surface, eventually evaporating. With excessive scrubbing you could rid some of the mold, although it is most likely to return with a vengeance.
Make sure your room is sealed off from others that are clean, so as to avoid the spores from spreading to these areas. Have family and others stay clear from the house to avoid them from breathing in the mold. Put your work outfit in an airtight bag, and have it sent straight to the dry cleaners. Throw away anything moldy in sealed off plastic bags.
It is wise to seek professional help if the mold problem is way too much for you to handle. A severe case of this shouldn’t be attempted alone since this can be dangerous, especially if you aren’t familiar with how to remove black mold.
Buy DIY books (like how to get rid of black mold by Howard Doughman) on removing mold; they’re effective and come with tons of details on how to get rid of them in different areas of your home, and even how to prevent a future occurrence.
A helpful portal online known as mold inspector, is quite helpful when offering tips on what to do about a black mold situation, and how to get in touch with a professional who can help.
It is important that in the future, once you’ve dealt with the problem, you need to purchase a dehumidifier to keep your moisture levels to a minimum, including an air purifier to cut the chances of breathing in airborne spores (black mold bits). Air out your home in areas that tend to get a lot of moisture like the bathroom and kitchen. Make sure surfaces are dry, and have someone come and inspect your home every four to six months, to keep you and your family safe from the health hazards of black mold.
