If you don't want to deal with toxic chemicals, there are some natural ways to eliminate black mold without hiring a professional.
There are various types of molds, some of which are nontoxic and mainly affect people with allergies or asthma.
However, black molds are more severe than white ones. Exposure to the toxic varieties of Stachybotrys Chartarum can cause respiratory illnesses that can range from mild to severe. Like most types of fungi, Stachybotrys Chartarum proliferates when exposed to prolonged periods of high levels of water and humidity, such as in damp basements, under-the-counter kitchen cabinets, or recently flooded rooms.
Because of this, it is essential for home owners to take immediate steps when they notice signs of black mold and to learn how to remove it.
Before you begin black mold removal, there are some things you need to know.
Black mold typically forms within wall cavities before spreading to other surfaces. It has a slimy, sticky, dark green-gray (often gray) color and spots.
Take Health Concerns Seriously
Black molds aren't something to mess around with. This particular type of black mold spreads quickly, and the microscopic spores that it releases into the air can have
While being allergic to molds is also essential to know the difference between a reaction from exposure to molds and an actual infection, a reaction to molds isn't nearly as severe or dangerous as an actual infection. Some common signs of an allergy include:
- Cough
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Throat irritation
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, then you may be suffering from a more severe form of water damage called "m
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Respiratory infections
- Sinus infections
- Headaches
- Flu-like symptoms
Mold can be dangerous if not handled properly. To avoid inhaling any harmful molds, make sure to protect yourself by wearing a mask and protective clothing. It would help if you kept your work area clean so that no mold grows on surfaces where you may come into contact with it. Finally, it would help if you considered installing an air filter system in your home to ensure that you do not breathe in any mold particles.
If someone in your family has recently experienced an unshakeable increase in respiratory illnesses (sneezing, sniffles, for example), if you think there might be a significant level of mold in your house, and if you feel the affected area could be pretty extensive, you may be facing a severe mold problem. Under such circumstances, call a professional molds inspector to inspect your house and advise you on how to deal with it.
Evaluate the Affected Surface
You must first identify the type of mold before deciding whether to tackle them. If you're dealing with small amounts of mildew, then you may be able to handle the problem yourself. However, it might be best to call a professional if you're dealing with large amounts of mold.
It's also essential to know that not all molds grow on every kind of material the same. And the best methods for removing black mold from different materials differ. Porous materials include:
Mold removal is relatively simple. You can remove mold from any surface, including hard surfaces like wood, tile, stone, etc.
If black mold has invaded your wall space, you may want to hire a specialist to remove the mold from your wall.
How to Get Rid of Black Mold
If you're having trouble removing black mold from your house, here's how to get rid of it.
Step one: Find and identify the black mold.
First, locate the molds in your house. Black mold can be recognized by its slimy texture, dark greenish/black color, and appearance as spots or patches that grow throughout time. Common locations where black mold grows include, around the kitchen sink, under cupboards, baseboards, and any place with high humidity levels. Follow the musty smell of black mold to find the source. Use a flashlight to examine nooks, cracks, and dark spaces.
Mold grows best when there is moisture present. This checklist should help identify where the problem is located.
- kitchen spaces, including under and behind sink cabinets
- Shower stalls, bathtubs, and toilets
- Around kitchen equipment such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and air conditioners
- Cardboard boxes in the basement and garage
- Around leaky windows
- On exterior doorways without overhanging eaves or porch roofs
STEP 2: Add your mold killer into the mix.
When you spot an infestation of mold, you'll probably ask yourself, "How do I get rid of black mold?" While plenty of treatments can combat decay (such as borax, vinegar, and bleach), tea trees and grapefruits are often considered the most efficient method for fighting mold. You can buy tea trees and grapefruits online and in health stores. These products are completely safe and nontoxic. Ensure the product contains 30% terpinene-4oL and no more than 15% Cineol.
For every cup (240 ml) of water the sprayer holds, add a tablespoon of tea tree oil (or citrus fruit extracts) to the liquid. Tea tree oil has a long shelf life, but citrus fruit extracts don't. So if the sprayer can be shut off for tightness, the solution will keep for at least a month.
STEP 3: Make sure you're wearing appropriate safety equipment.
First off, if you're going to remove black mold, you need to be prepared. You should wear disposable coverall suits, latex medical grade gloves, airtight safety goggles, and a face mask or N95 respirator. A single black mold spore striking your eyeball can cause temporary blindness. So don't take any chances.
It would help if you also considered hanging plastic sheeting to separate an affected room from the rest. If a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system is available, install that too.
STEP 4: Sprinkle the powder and wait for it to dissolve.
Mold-killing solutions don't work unless thoroughly shaken before spraying onto the moldy surface. Let the mixture sit on the mold for five to ten minutes before wiping away any excess liquid. Continue shaking the container until the mixture has been adequately saturated.
Don't use old moldy bread. It could spread harmful bacteria through the air.
STEP 5: Scrape off any excess dirt.
If cleaning up water damage from a leaky pipe, take a plastic bristle toothbrush and scrub the affected surfaces until they look smooth again. Then use a rag or paper towel to remove any remaining dirt.
Wiping off the area as you move through it prevents moisture from collecting and allows less mold to grow.
If necessary, repeat steps 4 and 5.
If you need to repeat these steps, then it means that you haven't completely removed the black mold from the wall. However, the mold should be dead by now if you've cleaned the surface well enough.
For those who suffer from unsightly kitchen odors, a little lemon juice mixed into your water may help eliminate the smell. Lemon juice contains citric acid, which helps break down fats and oils in the body, helping to keep them from building up inside our bodies. In addition, lemons contain vitamin C, which aids in the absorption of iron and calcium, both essential nutrients for healthy skin.
STEP 7: After spraying the mold with water, wait for it to dry completely.
Don't use soap or water when cleaning the affected area; instead, let the tea tree oil and citrus extract stay there for as long as possible so they can fight against any future molds.
To prevent mold from growing, instead of spraying the moldy area with plain old tap or bottled drinking-quality H2O, spray the moldy area with an oil-based cleaner.
Take out the trash.
To understand how to remove black mold from clothing, you need to know how to identify and dispose of contaminated items properly. It would help if you washed soiled clothes and the nylon scrubber with hot water or threw aeverything awaywith the coveralls and the paper towel as an additional safety measure.
Remember, mold is natural. It may come back. To tackle a few scattered areas of a new outbreak, it's not necessary to wear protective gear. Just grab a mask, goggles, and glove, then go through steps 2 and 3.
Conduct a mold test to ensure the mold has been removed from the wall.
Photo: amazon.com
If you want to be sure that you've gotten rid of black mold, consider buying a DIY at-house mold test kit. These kits cost under $50, allowing you to test for mold presence in your house for several consecutive nights. And if there is mold present, you can take the test result to a specialist laboratory to identify the mold type and its severity.
Experts recommend testing for mold once per year, but there are some situations where you may need to test more frequently.
- After an appliance leak
- Prolonged, extremely wet weather
- After discovering leaking fixtures
Final Thoughts
If left unchecked, a black mold infestation could destroy everything in its path. It could even cause serious illness.
Black mold removal is not easy, but following these simple steps can remove black mold from your house yourself.
FAQs About Black Molds
There's a ton of info on getting rid of black molds, but here are some of the most common ones.
A: Black mold spores don't usually kill anything instantaneously.
You shouldn't expect to be able to get rid of black mold with just one application. Most mold removal requires multiple applications.
A: Yes, but not everyone has the same reaction to it. Some people get sick from it; some don't.
Black mold is not safe; however, black mold infestations are usually small enough to be dealt with by professional cleaning companies.
A: Molds grow on wet surfaces; mildews grow on damp surfaces.
Mildew grows on the top of flat surfaces, while mold can grow inside the pores of a flat object. Decay is usually easier to clean off and less harmful than mold.
A: You don't.
These steps are applicable for wood, including:
- Wearing protective equipment and cordoning off an affected zone
- Spraying water on the stain
- Using a toothbrush
- Wiping up the runoff
It might take several applications for the stain to disappear from wood because it's very porous entirely, and it could easily absorb the stain.
A: You don't know whether mold is causing your symptoms until you get rid of it.
A mold test may be able to identify the source of your illness if you feel sick. Here are some common signs of mold exposure:
- Runny nose
- Headache
