Mold is fond of damp, moist and wet spaces. So wherever there’s abundance of humidity and moisture, you can count on mold to thrive in those places. Typically, they appear on ceilings, floors, and walls of homes, and can cause allergic reactions and respiratory illnesses like asthma if left untreated in extended periods of time.
Walls that are infested with mold usually are not a cause for panic. As long as you are properly equipped, and know how to remove mold from walls, this should not be a major concern.
Signs of Mold on Walls
Molds can be sneaky. While detecting green, orange, brown, purple, or black spots on your walls are an obvious sign that mold is flouring in your home, there are also less visible signs of the problem.
- Bulging wall
- Wall discoloration
- Black streaks or soot-like substance on walls
- Damp, musty smell
- Peeling or cracked paint
The Mold Hotspots
Mold can flourish wherever there are high levels of humidity, as well as moisture. In particular, places such as exterior walls or basements are where mold commonly likes to grow.
Bathrooms and laundry rooms are prone, too, because of their very humid environment. Mold thrives in shower walls, grout lines, ceilings and wall near humidifiers, and in tubs. There is no way to completely remove mold spores indoors. However, you may control its growth by controlling indoor moisture. Open your windows, and run your air conditioner or fan periodically to help decrease humidity levels inside your home.
Another favorite of mold are areas where there are or had been water leaks. This includes the area under your kitchen sink or in the walls of your home.
How to Remove Mold from Painted Walls
Sure, there are a number of mold-killing products available on the market. However, you can opt for a natural cleaning method so long as the mold growth has not progressed. You can mix home cleaning agents such as water, vinegar and borax to use for mold removal. Bleach, combined with water, can also be applied on the contaminated walls.
If you are going to remove the mold yourself, it is essential that the mold does not get in contact with your skin. Wear protective rubber gloves, and clothes that you can wash in hot water to kill any mold spores that would get stuck on it. Also, while treating the contaminated wall, make sure the room is well ventilated to minimize the risk of inhaling mold spores.
If the mold infestation is severe, talk to a mold removal professional to have it removed from the affected walls.
How to Remove Mold from Drywall
Drywall and popcorn ceilings are porous. So when mold starts to build up in these materials, it not only grows on the surface, it threads into the materials’ structure, too. When this is the case, you will most likely have to replace your drywall. Then again, a mold removal expert may be able to treat these areas if the mold is caught early on.
