Once you’ve seen the first signs of discoloration, you need to figure out how to remove mold from walls fast to keep it from spreading and causing both health and structural issues. Here’s how.
Just about every home gets the stuff. Surprisingly, newer homes get it more often than older ones. That’s because mold occurs in areas of higher humidity and tighter seals around windows and doors in new home construction keep in more moisture than drafty old homes.
How To Remove Mold From Walls
First, determine if it’s mold or mildew. Yes, it matters. Mildew, though nasty, won’t damage your structure, so it requires less aggressive methods than those listed below.
Signs of Mold Problems on Walls
The most obvious sign of a mold problem is finding green, brown, orange or even black spots. But there are other, less apparent signs:
- Cracked or peeling paint
- Discoloration
- A recurrent “soot” or black streaks
- Bulging
- A musty, damp smell
Places Most Prone To Mold
Mold often grows in areas where condensation forms from water vapor in the air meeting a cold surface which turns the vapor into a liquid. This usually takes place on exterior walls or in basements.
Very humid areas in the home are prone to mold, too. Bathrooms and laundry rooms are two common places to find mold growing, particularly on grout lines or shower walls. Other areas include the walls and ceiling near humidifiers and any room with a hot tub or jacuzzi improperly installed indoors. In these places, one of the best ways to prevent mold is to decrease humidity by opening windows and running fans regularly. (Read more about managing your home’s humidity.)
Mold also grows where there is (or has been) a water leak. Places like the cupboards under sinks are very prone to it. Once a pipe has leaked, there’s a good chance mold will grow unnoticed within the wall until the problem requires expert removal.
How To Remove Mold From Walls That Are Painted
As with many cleaning challenges, it’s best to start with a natural, mild approach and move onto stronger methods only if necessary.
Use the vinegar/borax/water method first and wait two days to see if the mold returns. If it does, move on to using the bleach/water approach. (Bleach is very irritating to the lungs, eyes, and skin, so I prefer avoiding its use whenever possible. And be sure you don’t combine cleaning products.)
Whether you use the non-toxic method or use bleach, protect your skin from coming in contact with the mold by wearing rubber gloves. Remove them the instant you’re done, so you don’t spread the spores throughout your home. Also, wear old clothing and wash it in HOT water to kill any mold spores that wind up on your clothes, and ventilate the area well while you’re working, so you aren’t inhaling the stuff.
If anyone in your house has a compromised immune system or a mold allergy, get them out of the house while you do this if possible. If that’s not an option, you can minimize their exposure by closing doors between rooms and by changing your clothes before you leave the room in which you’re treating the mold.
NATURAL MOLD REMOVER
- 2 tablespoons borax
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups hot water
Combine the ingredients above in a bowl, stirring until the borax dissolves. Pour into a spray bottle and liberally apply on painted walls, tile or other non-porous surfaces. Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean. Spray again and let sit 10 minutes before wiping dry.
BLEACH-BASED MOLD REMOVER (for more stubborn mold)
Bleach kills mold but does not prevent new colonies from forming. To kill existing mold, use this solution then follow the steps below to prevent it from returning.
- 1/4 cup bleach
- 2 cups warm water
Combine the ingredients above in a spray bottle and liberally apply on painted walls, tile or other non-porous surfaces. Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean. If any mold remains, reapply and let sit 15 minutes before scrubbing. Spray again then wipe clean.
NOTE: Do NOT use this bleach method immediately at the same time, or even on the same day, as any other cleaning product. There are some cleaning products you should never mix, and bleach is one of the most dangerous among them.
How To Remove Mold from Cement
Basements are common sites for mold growth. If your home has a basement, it’s a good idea to inspect the walls and floor several times a year, particularly in your area’s wet season. Basement mold usually gets discovered after it’s been growing for some time which means you’ll probably want to go straight to the bleach-based method of mold removal above.
How To Remove Mold From Drywall
Mold can grow on unpainted surfaces like drywall and popcorn ceilings, too. These surfaces are porous, which means the mold not only builds on the surface but also threads its way into the structure of the drywall/ceiling material, too.
In those situations, try either of the two removal mixtures above and allow the area to dry thoroughly. If mold returns, you’ll most likely need to replace the drywall. A professional mold removal service may be able to treat the ceiling, however.
How To Prevent Mold
Whether you’ve just battled a mold infestation or want to prevent one from occurring, there are a few steps you should take:
- Use your bathroom fans after every shower for at least 15 minutes.
- Keep glass shower doors open to allow air to circulate. Plastic shower curtains should be shaken well to dislodge water droplets and left partially open.
- Hang up towels immediately after use.
- Use vinegar-based homemade bathroom cleaners and homemade floor cleaners to kill mold spores regularly. NOTE: Never combine vinegar with bleach or ammonia!
- Spray your shower with a mold-killer and tub daily.
- Clean bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms weekly.
Remember: regular prevention means you’ll never have to know how to remove mold because it won’t happen. So, run those bathroom fans, monitor your home humidity, and treat leaky pipes immediately to keep mold away.
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We had a leak in a room and now there is a white coating on a wood armoire- is that mold?
No, that’s probably water damage to the wood. Here’s how to fix it. Let me know how it turns out!
Some great info here, a lot of people just don’t realise that condensation is one of the main causes of mould on walls. Prevention is a must, bleach and water help when cleaning but proper ventilation is key when it comes to battling mould issues. Really good article with some helpful tips. Thanks for sharing.
thanks
can anyone tell me is the borax like the hand cleanser from the 60’s or is it a chemical and where would I buy that?
Rich, Borax is a laundry booster that’s available at stores like Walmart or even your grocery store. It contains sodium tetra borate, a natural mineral that’s mined in the Mojave Desert. One brand name of borax is “20 Mule Team.” You can find it here on Amazon but, honestly, it costs MUCH less at grocery stores.
Hi, I used the borax mixture to wash internal painted walls and there were random rings that seemed to repel the solution, almost as if there was an oily spot. It looked like mould growth patterns to me, and behind a door which would be a likely place for mould to grow. However there was no visible mould. After scratching my head, the only idea I had is that the last owners painted over some mould without cleaning it first. The round blobs that repel the solution are only visible when the light catches it the right way. Anyone else had this problem or any ideas what it could be?
And thanks for the recipe, hopefully it does the trick.
Thanks for sharing these different recipes! I just noticed that the corner space between the walls and ceiling of my bathroom are an odd color. The last thing I want is mold damaging my home, so I am going to spend my Saturday getting rid of it. Hopefully these homemade cleaners will do the trick!
Any other tips, it is apperaring in my painted wall behind my tv. and it seems to appear extremly fast. I follow your tips but the problems persist, and i have changed the wall 3 rimes already
I found oil of cloves kills the mould, Put 5ml oil of cloves in bucket of warm water and wash your walls – brilliant
Excellent tip. Thanks!
Ihave mold in my room coming in the roof any ideas would be good
Fix the roof.
Scrape it off and wash the surface with soapy water using an old disposable rag or paper towels. Throw away the rag after you have finished. Buy fungicide wash and apply it to the surface with spray or brush to kill off any mould. I really would not try to save a few pounds by following the advice in the article. Fungicide wash is the best stuff to use for this.
The mould will come back if you don’t tackle the cause of the problem so I would take care of that urgently.
I’ve had no difficulties ridding my basement bathroom of mould using these steps.
hi there,
I just wanted to say I have fallen in love with your website!!!! it has helped me out so much! I find that oil of cloves (which is fairly expensive for the tiny bottle that it comes in) is fantastic for getting rid of mould all together. you only need a drop or so of it on a cloth with a bit of water and then wipe away.
Thanks again for all of the tips!
Have a great christmas
Jamila