Black Mold Removal
Before you try and remove black mold you need to make sure you have the proper safety gear. I have listed some of the protective safety gear at the bottom of this post so check that out. I also recommend that you read that in full because there are some things in there that might help you.Now if you have a small black mold problem then yes you can do it yourself, however if the area is larger than 3 foot by 3 foot then I recommend calling in a mold removal professional.
How to Remove Black Mold from walls:
- To remove black mold from drywall first thing you should do is inspect the drywall. If the drywall is wet, crumbly, or even buckled then it would be best to cut out that section and remove the mold covered drywall and replace it. Do not try and clean unpainted drywall just replace that if you have black mold on that. But if it is painted and isn't falling apart then yes you can clean off the mold.
- Goggles, OSHA approved respirator, gloves, plastic, chlorine bleach, bucket, sponge, powder dish washing detergent, tape, clean towels or rags.
- Now first you will need to protect the surrounding area by covering the carpet with the plastic and taping it in place then lay down some rags to help hold it in place and to soak up the solution as you clean the mold.. If the mold is growing under the base board then remove the baseboard and lift the carpet and check if you have mold growing on the underside of the carpet. If there is mold growth on the carpet then lift the carpet. I will give you a tip on dealing with carpet after I am done with talking about drywall mold.
- Mix 1 cup of bleach to a half gallon of water and sponge onto the mold surface and let set for about 20 minutes.
- Next rinse out your bucket and add clean water and mix about 1/4 cup of powder dish washer soap then scrub clean all the mold off the wall. Then towel day and there should be no trace of the black mold remaining.
- Now there may be some discoloration so you may have to paint the wall so don't be alarmed. Before you paint the wall make sure it is completely dry.
- If the mold comes back then you might need to get a dehumidifier or read my tips on how to find the source of moisture that is causing the black mold growth.
If you have Black Mold in the carpet here is what I would do if you don't have the money to replace the carpet.
First again get your safety gear on, this is no joke and you need to take it serious, so do it!
- If the black mold is in a small area then I would cut that section out and go into a closet that has the same carpet and cut a similar size piece and fit it in and use carpet tape to hold it into place. Throw away the moldy piece and do not put it in the closet.
- If the mold in the carpet is larger than a 2 foot by 2 foot area i would replace the carpet and padding.
- I have read some websites that say you can use a 10% bleach and water to scrub the mold and remove it, however I personally believe this will ruin the carpet or discolor it.