The mold is made up of microscopic fungi – a group of organisms that includes mushrooms and yeast. Fungi are perfectly adapted to grow and multiply quickly, and in this process, it will produce spores and mycelium. Spores appear after mycelial reproduction, they can travel very long distances by air and underpin the development of the next generation of black mold. But you need to know how to get rid of black mold in order to have a safe environment in your house. So this article will help you with that. Keep reading!
Now, to sum it up, these are 3 reasons why black mold is a problem:
– It can be harmful to your health
– It needs moisture to grow
– If it develops inside the house, it can become harmful to the occupants and it needs to be identified and removed
What does black mold do? About moisture, condensation, and dampness
Of all the things for the appearance and development of mold – oxygen, fungi, the right temperature, humidity – the only one on which to intervene without adversely affecting our living conditions is humidity.
Moisture that persists between 3 and 7 days is sufficient for germination of black mold spores.
The most common sources of moisture in the home can be:
– water that penetrates from the outside through floors, walls, defective windows or roof.
– faulty installations from the inside
– use of shower/bath for prolonged periods
– laundry that dries in enclosed spaces
– cooking without adequate steam removal solutions
Condensation
Another cause of black mold is condensation, which is not permanent. However, it occurs as a result of our daily activities, when warm vapors meet the cold surface of the wall or glass. Repeated appearances and long periods of time in some rooms (baths) or areas (windows) can lead to the apparition of black mold. Thermal bridges – the areas where insulating windows meet non-insulated walls – also favor condensation and, in the long run, black mold.
Dampness
When there are problems with the waterproofing of the building (ceiling, basement, walls) there is dampness, which is manifested by the retention of water in the pores of the materials from which the building is built. A damp wall is recognized by the damp spots, visible especially on the colored walls, by peeling (peeling off) the plaster layers or by black mold.
The appearance of mold on a wall or on a construction surface means that the humidity in the adjacent space is high. Usually, it’s a problem that has worked for a while in a less visible way, so not only removing mold is important, but rather determine the cause of its occurrence, so that the problem is not repeated. Thus, you need serious natural solutions to get rid of black mold for a safe environment in your house. Here they are:
Cleaning small black mold stains (less than 1 square meter)
Wash surfaces such as tiles with a normal detergent, then remove the detergent with a damp cloth and quickly dry the cleaned surface. Clean surfaces or drywall with a dry cloth soaked in a little bit of bicarbonate or detergent. Avoid wetting the surface too hard. If after this type of cleaning the black mold returns, it means that the problem is much deeper and the source of moisture has not been removed.
Cleaning average black mold stains (between 1 and 3 square feet) – is the same as small surfaces, but call a professional if the mold has attacked the backing material in depth or comes back after cleaning. If the black mold is very extensive (more than 3 m²) or is very persistent and has attacked the profound layers of the walls/carpentry, it is also necessary to intervene in building/trimming professionals because you may need to scrape all the walls and even change elements affected by the moisture in its structure. When cleaning the walls, bleach is not recommended! The presence of organic matter, the pH of the water and the material on which the mold is found seriously affect the bleach’s ability to disinfect properly. Other serious reasons not to use the bleach are vapors removed during use, which irritate the airways.
Black Molding of wood surfaces
Drain wooden surfaces and then clean with detergent and water. Wipe dry cloth. If the mold does not disappear by scrubbing, try to remove it with the sandpaper or the continuous tape sander. If doing so finds that it returns in time and has deeply penetrated into the wood, consider replacing the affected piece of wood.
Black Molding of cement surfaces
Aspirate the surface and clean it with detergent and water. If the problem persists, repeat cleaning, but this time with trisodium phosphate. When using it, take care to protect your skin and eyes because it is corrosive. For the solution to be effective, it should be done as follows: a trisodium phosphate canister of 8 liters of warm water mixed well. Spread the solution over the entire cement surface and let it work for about 15 minutes, then rinse with water and allow to dry.
Black Mold cleaning of gypsum-board surfaces
On drywall surfaces mold appears when they are wetted repeatedly or when it does not dry quickly enough. It is not recommended to clean these surfaces with detergent water because this procedure adds moisture to the area and causes more harm. If the mold is located only on the surface of the gypsum board, it is gently removed with a vacuum cleaner and wet/dry cloth soaked in sodium bicarbonate.
If the mold has penetrated deeper into the drywall board, you will need to replace the affected piece of board. Cut the plasterboard with a cutter so that the removed surface covers all the mold stains and get to where you lay on the metallic structure of the gypsum board. The new piece of gypsum board will catch such a metal structure discovered. Check and underneath the plate to determine the source of moisture and repair it.
Cleaning the black mold that comes from outside the home
If the moisture penetrates into the apartment by insufficiently waterproofed walls/ceiling/floor, first solve the problem outside the house to effectively escape the black mold inside.
Protect yourself! If you personally handle removing mold stains, be sure to protect yourself with:
– protective eyewear
– mouth and nose mask
– rubber gloves.
Also, do not leave behind small children, elders, pregnant women, people with diseases/respiratory sensations.
These are the best solutions on how to get rid of black mold. Keep these in mind and next time you will know what to do! If you liked this article, spread the information with your friends and share it on Facebook and Pinterest, they must know this for a safe environment.
Image Credits: Integrity Rest
