Mold and mildew have a bad habit of overstaying their welcome
The relationship between houses and humidity has always been spotty. Mold can find its way into our homes no matter what we do—and latch on if it's wet and humid enough. But even though it's commonplace, take action the moment you see signs of mold in your home. Let's walk through how to get rid of mold safely—from wearing the proper protective gear to choosing a product that will get the job done right.
Even sneakier than an insect infestation, mold spores can slip into our homes through open windows, doors, clothing, or shoes. Keeping mold out of the air in our homes is nearly impossible. The trick is learning how to kill mold before it can latch onto a surface and grow out of control.
However, as we know too well, mold growth may remain out of sight long before we smell it, see it, or note its damage. The largest contribution to mold growth in a home is too much moisture, either from a leak or high humidity, which is why it’s not uncommon to find mold in bathrooms.
Here are some of the most common places where mold grows:
Basements or crawl spaces
Bathroom caulk and plumbing
Sinks and appliances
Attics
Shingles or roof rafters
Water-damaged flooring
Carpets
Peeling wallpaper
Ceiling or wall leak
Garage and sheds
HVAC systems and ventilation ducts
Overwatered houseplants
Mold remediation that requires the removal of drywall can be difficult to contain. Any sort of demolition can cause spores to travel into your home’s HVAC system leading to potentially more harmful infestations. A mold removal pro will have the right tools and skills to contain it.
There are two primary ways to identify mold—seeing it and smelling it. Often, you'll smell mold before you see it. For instance, it may be less visible on fabrics but there’s no mistaking it if your carpet smells like mildew.
Mold appears visually as slimy or fuzzy patches on the surface of an affected area, such as a wall, carpet, or furniture. Since mold likes to grow in damp areas, you may notice that the patch of mold looks wet.
Mold comes in an array of colors, but some hues are more common indoors, including blue, green, and black. You're more likely to see mold that's red or orange outdoors. In the earliest stages of growth, mold may appear white.
DIY mold removal is possible in some cases—the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends handling mold removal yourself when it covers less than 10 square feet of space in your home. However, for larger areas, it's important to hire a professional mold remediation specialist for assistance.
If you're going to tackle mold removal on your own, there are a few things to remember. Always wear protective equipment, including an N95 mask, gloves, and goggles while you work. You don't want to breathe in mold spores, as they can be irritating or trigger an allergic reaction.
Goggles will keep the mold from getting into your eyes and gloves will protect your skin. Additionally, wear long sleeves and long pants while you work.
Be cautious when choosing a cleaner for mold removal. Bleach may seem like the go-to option, but it has drawbacks. Its fumes can be irritating and even dangerous if you mix it with another cleaning product, such as ammonia or vinegar. Natural mold killers are also worth considering, as options like vinegar or hydrogen peroxide can work even better.
In addition to mold removal, you must also remove the source of excess moisture to halt the mold's ongoing growth. This step may involve identifying a hidden water leak or lowering the humidity in your house.
Vinegar is the best way to get rid of minor mold infestations in your home. It's a common household product, and you probably already have a bottle or two of distilled white vinegar tucked away in a cupboard. Bleach or hydrogen peroxide can also help to get rid of mold, just remember never to mix cleaning products.
How you go about tackling the mold depends on the surface type.
Your best bet for removing mold from painted interior walls and ceilings is vinegar. You can use either full-strength vinegar or a solution of one part vinegar and one part water. Spray the vinegar onto the areas with visible mold, then let it sit for at least 15 minutes.
Wipe the solution (and the mold) off of the walls or ceilings with a clean sponge or rag. Dry the area thoroughly after wiping away the vinegar.
If you see mold on unpainted drywall or another porous material, such as ceiling tiles, removing it is trickier, as it requires you to remove the material itself. Even if the mold is only on a small area, it's definitely a job for a mold remediation professional.
While bleach isn't usually the best option for mold removal, it's ideal for use when cleaning grout. Vinegar's acidity is too much for unsealed grout and will end up doing more harm than good.
To remove mold from grout and tile, mix one part bleach with four parts water in a spray bottle and spritz over the affected area. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes, then use a clean toothbrush or other soft-bristled brush to scrub away the mold. Rinse with water, then dry completely.
Moisture and wood are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, which is why you may find mold on windowsills and doorframes if you live in a wet climate. Use a 1:1 mixture of distilled white vinegar and water to remove mold from untreated wood surfaces. If the wood is stained, finished, or painted, you can remove mold with soapy water.
For unfinished wood, let the vinegar solution soak for about 15 minutes, then use a brush to scrub away the mold. Dry the wood with a towel or hair dryer. It's also a good idea to gently sand the wood to ensure you've thoroughly removed any mold spores.
Wipe finished or painted wood with the soapy water, using a scrub brush to remove the mold. Rinse the soap away with clean water, then dry thoroughly.
How you remove mold from an appliance depends on the type of appliance:
Washing machine: To remove mold from a washing machine, run a cycle on the hottest water setting, adding one cup of hydrogen peroxide to the drum or detergent dispenser.
Refrigerator: Use vinegar to clean mold from the interior and exterior of your refrigerator. Spray either undiluted vinegar or a 1:1 vinegar/water solution on the affected area, then wipe clean and dry.
Coffee maker: Cleaning your automatic drip coffee maker with vinegar will help to remove mold and any hard water deposits. Fill the coffee pot with undiluted vinegar, then pour it into the machine and "brew" the vinegar like you're making a pot of coffee. Dump out the vinegar, then brew two pots of plain water to rinse it away.
Spraying a vinegar solution onto concrete, brick, or stone should kill the mold and make it easy to remove. Spritz the vinegar all over the visible mold, spraying enough that the vinegar fully saturates the material. Let it soak into the concrete, brick, or stone for at least 15 minutes.
Use a stiff bristled brush to scrub the area, removing the visible mold. Rinse the vinegar away with water and let the material dry.
After removing mold, it’s important to take steps to ensure it doesn’t come back. Although all visible mold might be gone, its spores are likely still floating around your space or have already tucked themselves out of sight in nooks and crannies or in the floor grout.
That’s why it’s a good idea to perform normal chores after mold remediation. That includes vacuuming, dusting, and mopping to remove remaining spores. Consider using a vacuum with a HEPA filter so you don’t accidentally contaminate other spaces later, and dust with a wet or damp cloth to reduce the risk of further spreading spores.
The key to controlling mold in your home is monitoring water and humidity levels. Think of mold like a pest problem—the sooner you remove the mold, the less chance of an infestation. Here are some things to prevent mold growth at home.
Know the signs: Mold is not always obvious. Musty smells, wall discoloration, or loose boards can be a sign of a hidden mold problem. Hire a specialist for a mold inspection as soon as you spot signs of mold.
Associate leaks with mold: Whether water seeped in during a storm or you recently burst a pipe in the wall, check the area for mold several days and weeks after the water damage occurred for mold growth.
Keep humidity in check: The ideal humidity of a home is under 60% in the summer and up to 40% in the winter. Consider using a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels in check, especially in your basement and attic.
Keep up with leaks: Hire a professional plumber every few years for a full plumbing inspection. The plumber can prevent leaks, breakages, and overflows from happening before they threaten your home with mold.
Toss moldy items: If you're on the fence about whether to save a moldy item, you’re likely better off tossing it. Moldy fabrics, cushions, furniture, and rugs may be too tricky to clean, and therefore risk the surrounding surfaces.
Maintain a cleaning schedule: If you live in a high-humidity area with poor ventilation, clean your tiles, counters, and appliances on a regular schedule to prevent mold spread and buildup.
Mold can grow on just about any surface, provided the conditions are ideally wet and warm. However, surfaces that are most prone to mold include drywall, windowsills, carpet, tile, upholstered furniture, and wood.
Appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators are vulnerable to mold, as well. You may also find mold in some unexpected places, such as your clothing, books, and journals.
As mentioned above, the EPA recommends that any area larger than 10 square feet of mold is best left to professional removal. Mold remediation costs can range between $1,100 and $3,300 on average, or about $10 to $25 per square foot. Mold remediation specialists can test your home for mold, advise on what to replace, and perform ongoing checkups to ensure a mold-free home.
A solution of bleach and water is the quickest method for killing mold, but not always the best for DIY use. For safe mold and mildew removal, consider using cleaning products like borax, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide—though never combined with bleach—for a quick and safe clean.
The symptoms of mold exposure for sensitive parties include a skin rash, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, burning eyes, and even more severe allergic reactions. If you notice signs of mold exposure, contact a medical professional right away.
Dehumidifiers do not directly remove mold or spores from the air. However, by lowering the room’s humidity, spores are less likely to flourish when landing on surfaces.
