Basement Mold Removal: Cleaning and Prevention Tips

Any place that is wet and damp is the breeding ground for black mold and mildew. One of the places where you would find the presence of mold is the basement of the house or a commercial building. Basements are damp because of the lack of sunlight and this condition is conducive for the growth of mold. Mold thrives well on organic materials such as wood, paper and fabrics. If you see the paint on your walls peeling, it indicates the presence of moisture. If it is not rectified at the earliest, soon you will find mold growing on your walls.

You can detect the mold in the basement by smell or sight. If there is a water leakage problem due to a clogged gutter, it can affect the basement walls and the floor. If you have carpeted your basement floor, check underneath the carpet for mildew or black mold. The carpet has to be cleaned and aired before putting it back. The other areas that are likely to get affected are the walls of basement, the ceiling and the furniture in the basement. Basement mold may become a major problem, if it is not solved at the earliest. It is very difficult to maintain a dry basement. Here, we look at the various ways to remove basement mold.

How to Remove Basement Mold

Basement mold can cause severe health problems such as asthma, bronchitis and so on. If the area infected by mold is large, then it is wise to get a professional mold remediator to remove the mold. There are four steps to remove basement mold – contain the basement mold to prevent it from spreading to unaffected areas, destroy the mold, remove the mold carefully and finally clean the basement and take measures to prevent the future fungal growth.

The first and the foremost thing, you need to do is a check if there is water leakage or water accumulation problem in your basement. The first step to get rid of basement mold is by solving any moisture-related problem.

The basement mold spores can be removed through the air-conditioner vent or by using exhaust fans.

Remove all the articles including furniture from the basement. Leave it out in a sunny and bright area. The mold can be removed from metals and plastics by cleaning them with a good non-ammonia detergent. If the basement floor has carpet padding, discard the carpet after removing the mold spores.

If the flooring of the basement is wood, remove the mold using a good quality sand paper. To prevent mold growth in future, use quality floor wax to polish. However, if the floor is tiled, scrub the floor using a good disinfectant. Later, mop the floor with bleaching powder water solution couple of times before using clean plain water. Dry the basement using exhaust fans or dehumidifiers.

Keep the basement area clean and dry, to prevent the growth of basement mold. Use air cleaners, which do not contain ozone to eliminate mold. Once a week, ensure to vacuum clean the basement to remove the mold growth.