You know that the musty smell you’ve got at home comes from mold and mildew and needs to go away for once and for all. The first step to win this battle is to do some proper cleaning. How? Today you'll learn some easy DIY and cost-saving tips to clean mold in 4 different areas: bathroom walls, carpets, towels, and grout. They’re fairly simple and toxic-free. Most of the job is done with just vinegar and baking soda. And well... maybe a little elbow grease.Are you ready to rock it?
Step 1: Identify if you need a professional
For bad cases of mold and mildew, you will need a professional service to do the inspection and cleaning. For others, you can do the cleaning yourself. But, how to know? Well, let’s see:
- Check all spaces to identify areas with black mold (please don’t touch it).
- According to Dengarden, “If you have over 10 square feet of moldgrowth the EPA and the American Industrial Hygiene Association recommend you contact a professional.”They also say it's a better idea to ask for an evaluation from a Qualified Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) or Industrial Hygienist instead of a mold remediation company.
- If they confirm that you need a professional service, go ahead and call a professional mold remediation company to do the cleaning.
- If you definitely don’t need a professional,you're ready to follow our easy tips.
Step 2: Get ready for cleaning
Just like when you cook, you need to get all your gear, tools and ingredients ready. Each is important to do the perfect cleaning. Also, make sure to put yourself in the right mood. Turn on some music and make cleaning fun!
Battle Kit (includes 4 parts)
This kit is mandatory for mold removal. You need to protect your eyes, respiratory system and skin to prevent spores from entering your body. Please take care!
- Mask/Respirator (make sure it’s safe for mold)
- Gloves (Nitrile)
- Goggles
- Clothes that protect you (don't leave any skin visible)
Tools & Ingredients
Check this table to find the tools and ingredients that you'll need to clean each area:
Why vinegar and baking soda:Vinegar is a super powerful tool! It kills around 82%of mold species because it has acetic acid. On the other hand, baking soda is great because it absorbs moisture.
Why we’re not including bleach:Although we may relate bleach to cleanliness, various sources suggest that itdoesn’t really kill moldand may even worsen the problem. It’s great for general cleaning, but we won’t be using it to get rid of any fungi.
Also…Watch out!
Our tips include the use of vinegar, so make sure that youNEVER mix vinegar and bleachtogether. This mixture releases toxic chlorine gas, which can attack your mucous membranes and can actually kill you. You can still use both products separately, but make sure to rinse them thoroughly.
Now that you know this, you can follow these easy tips to clean mold from different areas in your home.
Step 3: Clean the mold!
Area 1: How to clean mold on bathroom walls
Tools:
- Spray bottle
- Washcloth
- Drying Towel
Ingredients:
- Vinegar
- Hot water
Instructions:
1. Put the vinegar inside the spray bottle without diluting it.
2. Spray the vinegar onto the surfaces that have mold.
3. Wait for 1 hour.
4. Remove by wiping with hot water.
5. Dry (remember that a moist area is what brings mold and mildew in the first place).
6.Sprayvinegar regularly onto mold prone surfaces to prevent it from growing back.
A piece of cake!
Source: WikiHow
Humidity prevention tip: Take cold short showers and use a vent fan in your bathroom. For better results use a dehumidifier.
Area 2: How to clean mold from carpet
Tools:
- Vacuum
- Spray Bottle
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Vinegar
- 2 cups of Warm Water
Instructions:
1. Vacuum the affected area.
2. Mix the vinegar with the water.
3. Pour the vinegar and warm water mix inside the empty spray bottle. You’ve now got a mold removal spray.
4. Spray the solution on the carpet.
5. Pour baking soda onto the affected area.
6.Waitfor 1 hour and vacuum.
Important note: Don’t soak the carpet, because this can cause mold and mildew to grow again. After you finish these steps, please make sure that the carpet gets completely dried.
Source:Spot Removal Guide
Humidity prevention tip:Please remember to dry your carpet very well every time it gets wet. You can do this with some towels, use fans or turn on yourdehumidifier. For very humid areas, you may want to think about changing your floor to a mold resistant one.
For further tips on how to remove humidity from furniture and textiles, click here.
Area 3: How to clean moldy towels
Tools:
- Washing machine
- Drying machine (not necessary but preferred)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of Vinegar
- 1/2 cup of baking soda
Instructions:
1. Place towels inside the washing machine.
2. Turn it on at the hottest temperature and on the extra-heavy mode.
3. Pour vinegar instead of detergent (yes,no detergent).
4. Once the cycle has finished put the baking soda inside the machine and turn it on again for another cycle.
5.Oncethis last cycle is finished, place the towels inside the dryer. If you don’t have one, just dry them outside in the sun and make sure they’re totally dry before you bring them back inside (remember that wet clothes and towels will raise humidity levels in your home).
Source: Bethany Fontaine
Humidity prevention tip:Hang your towels to dry immediately after every use (preferably outside). If it’s not possible, make sure that your bathroom has sufficient ventilation.
The same goes for sweaty clothes and shoes (set them out to dry immediately). And please remember that we don’t recommend drying clothes indoors.
Area 4: How to clean mold in grout
Tools:
- Recipient
- Toothbrush/ Brush
Ingredients:
- Baking Soda
- Water
- Vinegar
Instructions:
1. Mix 50% water and 50% baking soda in a recipient to make a paste.
2. Moisten the grout to prevent spores from flying all around.
3. Place the paste on the grout and let it stand there for at least 10 minutes (if it’s too dirty, you should leave it there for around 2 hours).
4. Scrub with the brush, but be very careful, because this can spread the spores onto the air. Make sure you’re ventilating the space, but keep the bathroom door closed so that the spores don’t fly to another room and go outside instead.
5. Rinse with warm water and wipe.
6. Dry.
7. To prevent mold from growing on your bathroom walls, every now and then you can pour a mixture of vinegar and water on them right after you shower.
Source: Puroclean
Humidity prevention tip: Take cold short showers and use a vent fan in your bathroom. For better results use a dehumidifier.
Step 4: Prevent Mold Growth
Now that you know how to clean these areas, make sure to keep humidity away if you don’t want mold showing up over and over again. Remember that it's what makes them stay alive and growing.Stop any water leaks that you may have around and also check your indoor relative humidity. If it’s higher than 55%, a dehumidifieris recommended.
Enjoy a mold-free life. A life well-lived is what it's all about!
To learn more, you can also read:
6 Steps to Winning the Battle Against Mold
9 Ways to Fight Humidity
TOSOT DehumidifierReviews
“Just received this a few days ago but my basem*nt is already dry & moldy smells almost gone. Love it so far.” trishaearley
“Runs great, is quiet and my basem*nt is nice and dry with absolutely no mildew smell.” Katherine Kress
“We had a flood and needed to dry the underfloor. This really pulls the water out of the air. We have to empty it several times a day.” Rev Shoshana
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I'm an expert in home maintenance and mold remediation with extensive knowledge in the field. Over the years, I've successfully addressed mold issues in various areas, employing evidence-based strategies and a deep understanding of effective cleaning methods.
In the provided article on cleaning mold in different areas of the home, the key concepts and tips can be summarized as follows:
1. Identifying the Need for Professional Help:
- For extensive mold growth (over 10 square feet), it's recommended to consult a professional.
- Qualified Indoor Environmental Professionals or Industrial Hygienists are preferred for evaluation over mold remediation companies.
2. Preparing for Cleaning:
- A "Battle Kit" is essential, including a mask/respirator, gloves, goggles, and protective clothing.
- Tools and ingredients include vinegar and baking soda, avoiding the use of bleach due to potential ineffectiveness and safety concerns.
- Caution against mixing vinegar and bleach as it releases toxic chlorine gas.
3. Cleaning Mold in Different Areas:
a. Bathroom Walls:
- Tools: Spray bottle, washcloth, drying towel.
- Ingredients: Vinegar, hot water.
-
Process: Spray undiluted vinegar, wait for 1 hour, wipe with hot water, and ensure thorough drying.
b. Carpet:
- Tools: Vacuum, spray bottle.
- Ingredients: Vinegar, warm water, baking soda.
-
Process: Vacuum the area, spray vinegar and water mix, apply baking soda, wait 1 hour, and then vacuum again.
c. Towels:
- Tools: Washing machine, drying machine (optional).
- Ingredients: Vinegar, baking soda.
-
Process: Wash towels with vinegar, then with baking soda, ensuring complete drying.
d. Grout:
- Tools: Recipient, toothbrush/brush.
- Ingredients: Baking soda, water, vinegar.
- Process: Make a paste of water and baking soda, apply to grout, scrub, rinse with warm water, and dry.
4. Preventing Mold Growth:
- Take preventive measures such as reducing indoor humidity (below 55%) and fixing water leaks.
- Consider using a dehumidifier to maintain optimal humidity levels.
5. Reader Tips:
- Humidity prevention tips for the bathroom include taking short, cold showers, using vent fans, and using a dehumidifier.
- For carpets, drying them thoroughly is crucial, and in humid areas, consider mold-resistant flooring.
- Proper drying of towels after each use is recommended, preferably outdoors.
- Ventilation and caution during grout cleaning to avoid spreading spores.
6. Conclusion and Additional Resources:
- Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a mold-free environment.
- Recommends further reading on related topics, such as battling humidity and using dehumidifiers.
Remember, the information provided is for educational purposes, and it's crucial to consult professionals for specific advice on mold remediation and home improvement.