Black Mold

By their very nature basements are more prone to mold growth than any other part of the home, with the exception of the bathroom.

Being lower and sometimes subterranean. they are closer to the major cause of mold growth – water.  So it won’t come as any surprise that one of the tasks you’ll face when trying to remove basement mold is to track down the source of any moisture and remove it.

Mold is one of the main causes of allegies in humans and it can also affect pets as well, so its removal should been see as a priority.

Follow these simple steps to remove mold from your basement.

Your going to need anti-fungal cleaner, (see the links below for some ebay items, if they’re empty then there’s nothing available at this time – sorry) or hot soapy water and a dehumidifier. Borrow or rent one if you don’t own one.

Step 1
Have a look around this site to get to know what black mold and mildew look like. There are plenty of pictures here to enable you to get a good idea. Usually, basement mold and mildew are seen as black, white, or bluish areas. They can seem furry and look raised from the host surface. Mold can grow on most organic or porous material (newspapers, wood, textiles, paint, cardboard, carpet) that have been or are  exposed to moisture.

Step 2
Try and clear the basement of all clutter. You really need to look into corners and crevices to be sure no area is left untreated. Lift up all carpets and take out boxes, furniture, rugs, and anything wooden. Give all the furniture a quick once over to see if it has been affected. If it has you must decide whether it’s worth saving, and try to clean it, or bite the bullet and buy new items in.

If you have mold growing on wooden studs and rafters where you have exposed insulation, discard the insulation and replace it with new insulation when you have finished cleaning.

Step 3
Once the basement is empty check the area for signs of water damage. If you have pipes and they have been leaking remove any insulation and replace with new. Further, remove and replace any exposed insualtion that has mold growing in the vacinity. Vacinity in this case being about a foot from the end of the mold growth. Check all walls for water ingress. Look for hairline cracks and patches of damp. If you find hairline cracks but no mold then use this opportunity of a clean basement to repair them.

Fix all the leaks you find, and don’t forget to check out any window seals.

Step 4
After you’ve repaired the walls and any leaking pipes to stop any further appearance of moisture it’s time to apply the basement mold remover to the walls and floors. Apply this to all of the basement even if there are no apparent signs of mold growth. If you cannot get hold of specialised mold fungicide use hot soapy water. For the carpets and furniture use a steamer and mold remover.

It’s vital to always wear a mask and protective clothing when cleaning mold.

Step 5
The basement should now be clean but wet from your efforts. Dry it off with old curtains, sheets or towles. Any clean absorbent fabric will do the trick. Now let the dehumidifier do its magic. Let it run until the area is completely dry. Rememebr to empty it frequently. Once dry the basement can be painted, if desired.

Step 6
Ok, that’s all the hard work done. It’s now time to bring all that clutter back in. Do yourself a favour and throw most of it away. You’re never doing to use it, are you? One note of caution be especially careful not to reintroduce anything that has mold or mildew attached to it.

Step 7
Keep a watchful eye, and nose, on the area for a few weeks. If you own the dehumidifier use it regularly to see how much moisture you’re still able to suck out of the air. To prevent further mold growth, use the dehumidifier frequently. Be especially wary of the areas which first let the water in.

Good luck.