Get Rid Of Basement Mold With Vinegar
Vinegar is a well-known household cleaner that does an excellent job of removing visible mold. The best type of vinegar to use for natural mold removal is white vinegar.
White vinegar in a spray bottle doesnt have to be diluted with anything you can simply pour it right over the mold. You can also add a bit of baking soda to the mix.
And, the vinegar should have anywhere from two-five minutes to sit on the mold or mildew, at which point it can be wiped off with a cloth or sponge.
In our experience, chlorine bleach is not a safe solution, many professionals do use it, but we couldnt recommend it as a DIY solution.
Healthy Home Myths Debunked
Basement mold is often the result of a source of moisture leaky foundations or condensation from appliances are typical culprits. One of the first steps in the prevention of basement mold is to ensure that your basement is free of any moisture and doesn’t support a damp, humid environment where mold can thrive.
If mold in the basement is already a problem in your home, there are many options for the control and removal basement mold. Depending on the extent and severity of the problem, and the type of mold, you may need to explore options for professional mold removal. In particular, cases of severe toxic black mold growth may require professional care.
For nontoxic species of mold and less severe mold growth, there are many DIY solutions for the prevention and control of mold in the basement. After removing any mold-covered debris, such as dry wall, insulation, carpet or sub-flooring, hard surfaces can be treated with commercial products containing ammonia and bleach. Basement mold removal on tile or linoleum can also be performed with vinegar or a borax and water solution.
Mold in the basement is a common problem, but by understanding how to identify problem areas and prevent and control mold growth, you can avoid the potentially costly and unhealthy spread of basement mold.
How To Make A Basement Smell Fresh
It is necessary to take action to make the basement smell fresh. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to breathe comfortably and spend time in it.
It can be done in the following manner.
Read Also: Best Pedicure In Fort Worth
Basement Mold Removal Methods
Basement Mold Removal through Negative Air Pressure: A negative air pressure machine can be used to prevent the spread of mold to other areas in your home.
Negative air pressures use a process called ducting to suck the air out of a room and filter it outside of the area with mold.
Negative air pressure machines are a good way to ensure that an area is free of mold spores.
Removing Basement Mold with HEPA Vacuuming: HEPA vacuums can be used for mold removal and are often a great way to ensure that all mold spores and particles have been removed from your basement.
Furthermore, if an area of your basement is highly susceptible to mold, vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum on a semi-regular basis can also help prevent future mold growth.
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Basement
Mold can grow anywhere. But they specifically love damp, humid, and dark environments. Yes, that means of all the parts of your home, the basement is a perfect spot for mold. For them, your basement is their little heaven. And even if your basement seems dry, mold and mildew can still be lurking behind the walls and carpets, and underneath your furniture. There could be mold on drywall in basements too. Mold in basement is a real problem.
Add the fact that a freshly poured foundation takes five years to completely dry. This means even if there are no leaks or water problems in your basement, the likelihood of mold buildup is incredibly high. And before you know it these nasty fungi have already invaded your home!
The presence of black, green, yellow, or white mold in basements should be dealt with immediately before they get worse.
The problem with mold is that aside from the fact that they look disgusting, they can be highly toxic. If youre like most homeowners and you are using your basement as your kitchen, living room, or entertainment area, you could be exposing yourself and your family to so many health problems associated with molds, such as allergy, asthma, and respiratory diseases.
Basement mold removal is something that is better left in the hands of professionals especially if there is already an infestation. It is common to see mold on basement walls, floors, and ceilings. If these surfaces are infested, mold under houses is very likely too.
Read Also: How Do I Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus For Good
Products And Tools Youll Need To Get Rid Of Mold In Basement Areas
- Dusk mask or respirator: You dont need a medical-grade mask or a professional reusable respirator, but some sort of mask will protect you from the damaging effects of mold while working around it.
- Eye protection: When disturbing mold spores during cleaning or simply using harsh chemicals like bleach, youll want to keep your eyes protected.
- Disposable gloves: Handling mold and moldy material is reason enough to wear gloves, but it can also protect your skin from irritation when using cleaning products.
- Stiff-bristled brush: To effectively remove mold stains on porous or rough surfaces, you will need a brush that can scrub away mold without the bristles collapsing.
- Sponge: On softer or smoother surfaces, a disposable sponge may be all thats needed to stop mold spots from becoming more significant problems.
- Mold stain remover: Though not essential for actually removing mold, youll likely find a dark stain on the material that the mold was growing on and youll want a product to remove it. Plus, removing the old stains can make sure that you recognize new mold growth later.
- Bleach: A solution of 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water is enough to kill mold on surfaces, according to the CDC.
- Cleaning bucket with measuring marks: Ensure the right measurements for your bleach solution with a good cleaning bucket.
- Spray bottles: Whether for bleach or one of the more natural solutions discussed below, a spray bottle will help you treat mold spots.
Dont Ignore The Problem
Molds are not just unsightly they can cause structural damage and might make you sick. Black molds may be Stachybotrys, possibly S. chartarum or S. chlorohalonata. Many molds can take up residence in your home. Not all are black they might be yellow, white or some other color. Its important to understand and identify molds. Prevent them, if you can, and take steps to get rid of them quickly.
Also Check: How To Keep Nails Strong
Identify Areas Known To Harbor Mold
When you believe you smell mold, go on the hunt to find it. Look near water supply pipes, around water drainage lines and sewage pipes, anywhere near dryer vents and in laundry rooms, under sinks, in the ceiling above a finished basement, near bathroom exhaust vents, around sump pumps, and inside wall cavities.
How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Basement
You may have different kinds of molds in your basement. You should get rid of them whether they are yellow, white, green, blue or black.
- Step 1: Remove everything from your basement and make sure it is dry before you try to get rid of your problem. If your insulation, ceiling tiles or drywall are moldy, replacement is your only option. But if its only on the surface of painted ceilings, walls, and floors, you should be able to clean it off with a bleach solution. The CDC recommends no more than 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Commercial removal products may also be useful.
- Step 2: You can scrub cinder blocks and concrete walls and floors with the same solution. You will need to let it soak into cracks and crevices to kill the black mold. Once you get rid of it, and the walls and floor are dry, you can use a sealant and paint. Be sure you have adequate ventilation while working in the basement and wear gloves while cleaning.
- Step 3: As you plan for removal, consider steps to prevent further problems. Do whatever you can to maintain control over the humidity level and ensure ventilation in the future.
- Step 4: And remember to clean everything you return to your basement. If you have items, such as cardboard boxes, with a musty smell, toss them and get new ones. Compared to starting over, the cost for this black mold clean-up will be small.
You May Like: How To Grow Long Strong Nails
Kill Mold Naturally With Tea Tree Oil
Believe it or not, one of the uses for tea tree oil is a fungicide thats surprisingly effective at killing molds and mildews on many different surfaces, from clothes to walls to shower stalls. If youre looking for a healthy, holistic, pleasant-smelling way to kill mold in your home, tea tree oil might be just the ticket.
- Scrub brush, sponge, or rag
If youre cleaning mold in a shower or other well-traveled area, you may be able to spray the area with the tea tree oil solution and leave it. Since youre only using one part tea tree oil for every 48 parts water, theres no need to rinse!
If the area is visibly moldy, you may want to scrub the mold away with a sponge or rag soaked in the tea tree solution instead. In both scenarios, leave the cleaner on the surface without rinsing to help discourage future mold growth. Watch tea tree oil use around pets, as it can be harmful to them if ingested.
How To Remove Mold From Walls
Mold on your interior walls doesnt just look unpleasant it can be a health hazard for your family. Depending on the amount and location, its presence also suggests a larger problem in your housewater infiltration.
For this project, we will focus on solving the mold problem. The remedy is two-fold: 1. Control moisture and 2. Kill the mold. While the former may take a more involved approach, depending on the situation, the latter often can be done with some bleach, water and a bit of elbow grease.
Don’t Miss: How To Take Dip Nails Off At Home
Metazene Odor Neutralizing Surface And Wall Spray
Available in a gallons and transferred to quart-sized sprayers with a fresh mint scent, our oil-based Metazene Wall Spray works effective and different than standard water-based deodorizer products, which utilize perfume and water and rely on enzymes to eliminate odors.
When our Wall Spray is applied regularly to surfaces as needed, being sure to test any painted, varnished or plastic materials prior to application, odors are effectively neutralized.
Metazene Wall Spray, with industrial science and technology, attacks and destroys malodors at their molecular level.
This is a far more permanent solution that most retail products, which at best only serves to temporarily mask bad smells.
Metazene Wall Spray creates a neutralizing atmosphere because the foul smelling molecules attach themselves to the Metazene particles, which trap and lock in malodors.
In conclusion
So what are you waiting for?! Follow the above steps, order our and finally make your basement smell fresh again and eliminate musty odors once and for all!
Final thoughts about basement odors: If something bad smells in the basement, it will eventually make its way to the attic. ~ Anthony Liccione.
How To Prevent Chances Of Getting Mold In Your Basement
Mold can return quickly if they find a favorable situation. Ensure that there is no mold left and work on to never let them come back. Keep your basement clean and dry. Also, check the things listed below to stop them from making their habitat in your basement in the first place.
- Insulate your basement pipes, walls, roof, and windows.
Check your pipes and walls regularly to ensure they are in good working condition. When you discover water on the pipes, make sure theyre changed and sealed properly. Wrap your pipes in pipe sleeves, fiberglass, or other insulation materials, or cover your windows to avoid condensation during the winter.
- Control the humidity
Check the humidity level in the room with a hygrometer. If the humidity level drops below normal, increase your basements ventilation. Keep the windows open as much as possible, and use oscillating fans. Add Air conditioners and dehumidifiers if needed. Also, clean and sanitize your humidifier with an antibacterial solution now and then if you have one.
- Dont overload your basement and discard clutter.
Try to remove unwanted things from your basement, and dont overcrowd your basement. Make sure you have only necessary items in your basement, and all the items are dry and clean. Place the items without touching the wall.
Avoid placing plants in your basement as mold spores can spread through dirt, moisture, and soil from such plants. And if you have to store them, take proper care by not overwatering them.
You May Like: How To Prevent Nail Biting
How To Remove Mold From Shower Curtains And Liners
- If your shower curtain or liner is plastic, a mold and mildew spray thats safe for plastic, like Clorox Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover, can be used to get rid of mold. Simply spray on, wait until the stains disappear and rinse off.
- Another option: Wash your plastic liner in the washing machine on the delicate cycle with warm water, laundry detergent and bleach. If the shower curtain is fabric, its best to wash it on the warmest setting possible according to the care instructions.
Reduce The Humidity In The Space
To prevent the musty smell from eventually returning, reduce the moisture in the space regularly. Run a dehumidifier in the space every few days to keep the humidity in your basement below 55 percent, above which is a prime condition for mold growth. You can also run oscillating fans to increase airflow.
With a little regular maintenance, you can have a welcoming and fresh-smelling basement thats a perfectly pleasant space to hang out in. With the steps weve reviewed, you can find the source of the mustiness, reduce moisture, and banish odors once and for all.
Editors Recommendations
Read Also: How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Your Body
Recommended Reading: Where Can I Buy Press On Nails
Consider Alternative Cleaning Agents
For most mold infestations, any combination of vinegar, baking soda, soap and water is enough for thorough removal. Stubborn black mold infestations, however, may require a more potent blend of ingredients. These could include: borax, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, chlorinated lime, or even bleach. A good natural cleaning choice is borax.
Mix a cup of it with a gallon of hot water and apply with a clean rag. Provide extra water to rinse the affected area, as it is likely to retain a powdery white residue. If bleach is the selected option, it should not be mixed with any other ingredients including vinegar, Blending with anything other than water is dangerous because it can create toxic chlorine fumes. It should be used only on tile because bleach can damage wood and paint.
Again, it is highly recommended to use a proper mask along with goggles and rubber gloves when dealing with mold removal.
What Is White Mold
White mold is often found in cool, damp environments such as in basements on walls and other structures. It is often confused with efflorescence, which is a mineral deposit that forms on foundation walls and other masonry surfaces due to water seepage. You can test to see if its mold by spraying it with water. If it dissolves, it is a mineral deposit if it does not, then its most likely white mold.
Read Also: How To Remove Stain From Gel Nails
How To Clean Mold In A Basement
This article was co-authored by Mike Kapur. Mike Kapur is a home inspector and the owner of Sonic Home Inspections, a home inspection company in Westchester, New York. With over 15 years of experience in pre-inspecting properties, Mike specializes in mold, radon, asbestos, lead, water, and air quality testing as well as hazardous materials, pest, infrared, and general home inspections. Prior to founding Sonic Home Inspections, Mike worked pre-inspecting apartments. Mike holds a BS in Accounting from Queens College and is a Certified Mold Assessor in the state of New York.There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 86,139 times.
Put on protective gear before inspecting or cleaning mold. Find out the size of the affected area, then decide if you prefer to hire a professional. To clean it yourself, apply a mold-killing cleaning agent such as diluted bleach, undiluted vinegar, or 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let the solution sit briefly, then scrub and rinse the area. Eliminate any leaks, condensation and excess humidity, since reducing moisture is the most important way to combat basement mold.
How To Get Musty Smell Out Of The Basement
Having a mildew smell in the basement is particularly unpleasant if someone is living in it. The first process shows you where to check for sources of the smell that may require fixing or cleaning.
From there, we have several cleaning recipes and techniques to work toward basement odor elimination. Some work may need to be done to the basement, but we have got you covered.
Read Also: How To Determine If You Have Black Mold
Recommended Reading: How To Make Nails Stronger
