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Last Updated on by Zunaira
Molds are problematic fungi that can cause severe health and property issues if present on your walls. It can cause acute allergies and respiratory issues in humans. Moreover, it causes stains on walls that reduce the aesthetic appearance of your homes. Molds have airborne spores that can transmit to your furniture and carpets from walls. These fungi can also weaken your walls as they can cause cracks. So, it’s better to get rid of molds from walls for better aesthetics and a healthy environment for living.
Mold Removal from Painted and Tiled Walls
Before removing molds from walls, you need to evaluate them. Sometimes people confuse molds with mildews. Mildews are also fungi usually appear on the wall in white and grey color. These are not problematic and are found in dry or powdery forms. Molds on the other hand are challenging and need to be removed from walls. They appear in various colors but the most common ones are black, green, red, and blue. Here are a few very effective methods to remove molds from painted and tiled walls.
1. Vinegar and Borax Spray
Distilled vinegar is a great choice when it comes to removing molds without toxic chemicals. For this purpose, you can make a spray mixture of vinegar and borax to kill molds from walls. Take a spray bottle and add two cups of hot water to it. Then add ¼ cup of vinegar along with 2 tablespoons borax powder into it. Gently shake this mixture and spray it over your walls.
Take a scrub brush to loosen the spores of mold. Now, gently wipe off the mold with an old cloth and discard it after use. Spray the walls again with this spray and wait for 10 minutes to settle them down. Then again wipe off the mold spores. This is an effective way to remove molds from painted and tiled walls.
2. Diluted Bleach
Using bleach solution is a quick and easy way to get rid of molds. But you need to be careful while dealing with bleach, especially on painted walls. Bleach can damage the paint so it’s better to use it in diluted form. Bleach is already very reactive so never combine it with any other chemical. Dilute it with water by taking 1 part of bleach and 3 parts of water. First, try this solution on any hidden part of the wall. If it goes right then apply it to the other parts of the wall.
Take a sponge to apply this diluted solution to the walls. Then 5 minutes, remove it with an old cloth or rag. Ventilation is necessary for this method because of the fumes of bleach. Wear a protective mask and gloves for your safety.
3. Baking Soda
Another effective way to remove molds from walls is the use of baking soda. It removes molds quicker can the previous two methods. Take half a cup of baking soda and add little water into it to make a paste. Apply this paste to the moldy wall and let it dry for 10 minutes. Take a scrub brush and gently remove the paste. After that, clean the wall with a damp cloth. This method is more suitable for tiled walls. You can use it over painted walls also but you have to be gentle while scrubbing to avoid damaging the paint.
4. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has magical antibacterial and antifungal properties. Thus, using this oil is against molds is effective. Add one tablespoon of tea tree oil and two cups of water into a spray bottle. After gentle mixing, spray this mixture on the affected walls. After a few minutes, remove the mold with a clean cloth. No rinsing is required because you can leave tea tree mixture on walls from preventing molds to grow again.
Mold Removal from Dry Walls
Drywalls and ceilings have a porous structure. So, the molds you see on the surface of drywalls have already made their way below the surface. That’s why first you need to remove mold spores from the surface by scrubbing. Besides scrubbing, you can also use a vacuum machine to vacuum the entire wall. Remove or break as many spores as you can.
After removing the surface spores, you can take the next step for killing mold. You can choose one spray solution from below mentioned options.
- 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
- 2:1:1 Baking Soda, Vinegar, Water
With a spray bottle, spray your solution on drywalls and let it settle for 10 minutes. Brush the surface now with a scrubber or brush in a circular motion. Wipeout with a clean cloth and let your walls dry completely by switching on the fan for at least one day.
Tips to Prevent Mold on Walls
You can prevent mold growth on your walls with the following useful tips.
Fix water leakage: Mold grows on damp surfaces. So, it’s a possibility that if you have any water leakage on the wall then it can catch mold quickly. Thus, fix your leakage problems as soon as possible to prevent mold growth. Keep your walls dry out and clean so that mold cannot thrive over there.
Limit indoor moisture: Limiting moisture is the key to preventing mold growth on walls. The more humid your home is, the more chances of mold growth prevail. You can reduce humidity in your home by increasing the ventilation space. You can also use vent appliances like dryers and dehumidifiers.
Use exhaust fans: In bathrooms, where the moisture level is already high, using exhausting fans is a must. These fans will minimize the level of humidity and inhibit mold growth on washroom walls. You should turn your exhaust fan after taking shower for at least 10 minutes.
Prevent condensation: Condensation causes moisture forming that invites mold to grow. So, it’s better to insulate your exterior walls, windows, pipes, and roofs to prevent condensation.
Home inspection: Inspect your home thoroughly after a few days. If you find any cracks then immediately fix them. Avoid stacking trash or clutter along the foundation of your home. It can provide space for water collection that will lead to mold growth.