No one likes to see black mold anywhere in their home – it’s not healthy after all. But if you have had problems with leaking pipes or any other type of water damage then your chances of getting mold on your drywall, ceiling, carpeting, floors, etc. are very high.
In this article we’re going to go over some things that you can do if you notice black mold on your drywall.
Remove The Mold
Before you begin cleaning up – we do want to emphasize that whatever caused the mold should be fixed. If the cause has to do with broken pipes or flooding we recommend you contact a professional plumber to assess and fix the problem(s). Here at Atlantis Plumbing we offer 24 /7 service so give us a call at 770-443-8229.
First thing’s first, remove the mold from your walls.
- In a spray bottle, mix 3 parts water to 1 part bleach
- Open a window if you can and have a fan blowing to keep the fumes from the bleach from irritating your lungs
- Spray the moldy area thoroughly, saturate the area
- Wait about 5 minutes
- Use a scrub brush to remove the moldy stains
- Repeat if necessary
- When all looks well – spray white vinegar onto the area and let it dry.
This method should remove the existing mold that you have on your drywall. If it does not, we recommend that you contact a Mold Remediation company in your area.
Some other products, besides bleach that can be used to remove mold are… (source: Wikihow)
- If you have borax, use it to remove mold from tile, glass, and wood.
- If you have laundry detergent, make a scrub to remove mold from nonporous surfaces.
- If you have ammonia, make a spray to remove mold on glass and tile.
- If you have hydrogen peroxide, use it as a nontoxic cleaner.
- If you have tea tree oil, make a spray to use as a natural fungicide.
- If you have vinegar, use it as a cheap and effective mold cleaner.
- If you have baking soda, you can clean both porous and nonporous surfaces.
Is Black Mold On Drywall Dangerous?
How badly black mold can affect your health depends on your current health status. If you suffer from a lung infection or asthma or other respiratory illness, then the toxic spores that are released by the black mold will affect you more adversely than others.
But make no mistake about it- black mold can be toxic to humans and their pets.
So, for the sake of yourself, your family and your furry loved ones – do not let any mold in your home fester. Fix the problem immediately.
It can take anywhere from 24 hours to 12 days for mold to grow (depending on the conditions) and it can take up to 21 days before you even see it on your drywall or ceiling or carpeting. So, by the time you can see it – it’s already been growing and infesting your living environment for quite some time.
What Caused The Mold?
Mold in homes are generally caused by some type of excess water accumulating in one area – which could be caused by any of the following:
- broken water pipes
- cracks in the walls and/or the foundation
- leaks in the roof
- blocked rain gutters and downspouts
- windows that don’t seal properly
- poor ventilation (which causes increase humidity)
- leaks from washing machines, dishwashers, hot water heaters
- leaks in bathtubs, showers
- leaky plumbing under sinks
- malfunctioning sump pump
- unsealed basement floors
Preventing black mold from invading your home boils down to preventing any of these issues mentioned above to escalate.
We strongly recommend that as soon as you notice there is a problem with your plumbing, contact a professional plumber immediately. The sooner you can get the issue fixed, the less it should cost you to fix it.
If you have any questions about black mold or are having some problems with it, call Atlantis Plumbing today at 770-443-8229. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.