Mold Removal from Walls and Ceilings: Two Easy Methods

Published on Tuesday, the 1st of January, 2019

Mold is a common organism that is a member of the fungus and yeast family. Other members of this family include mushrooms. Spores can be found anywhere, but they are most prevalent in damp areas, both inside and outside the home. Mold that is growing on a wall or ceiling not only looks terrible but also has the potential to be harmful to your health, which is why it needs to be cleaned up as soon as possible. Vinegar is widely regarded as the most effective method for removing mold; however, others continue to advocate the use of bleach. You shouldn't try to clean a large area on your own if there is mold that needs to be removed, especially if the area is large. Consider using the professional cleaning services offered by Myhome or one of the other cleaning companies instead.

Mold thrives in environments that are either wet or moist, or ones that do not have sufficient ventilation. Mold is most commonly found on ceilings, walls and wallpaper, in bathroom tiles, and on carpets, in particular carpets backed with jute. It can also be found in the grout between bathroom tiles. Mold can also thrive in materials used for insulation and construction, such as wood. Mold can quickly spread throughout your home if there are any leaks, areas of high humidity, or condensation. This can happen if any of these conditions exist. It is recommended that you leave your windows open for longer periods of time and either the front or back door open for a short period of time each day to reduce the likelihood of mold growth.

Mold Can Cause a Number of Health Issues:

Mold spores in the air can make even healthy people sick, but people who already have breathing issues like asthma or allergies may be especially sensitive to them. Mold is never a good thing to have around the house. Mold removal and keeping your home clean and free from funguses is essential, but it is especially important if you have young children or elderly people living in your home. Anyone with a weakened immune system is more at risk, so keeping your home clean and free from funguses is essential.

Whether you require weekly cleaning, a one-off spring cleaning, a window cleaning service, or the deepest upholstery and carpet cleaning in Melbourne, we can help. MyHome Professional Cleaning Services is the best option for you for a number of important reasons, including the following: we are a reliable company, we have the most qualified employees, we will keep your home safe, and we provide outstanding customer service along with a satisfaction guarantee.

Mold Abatement Techniques That Work the Best

The vast majority of people believe that bleach can kill mold and stop it from growing. However, bleach can only kill mold that is on the surface of glass, tiles, basins, tubs, and benchtops; it is ineffective against mold that is on porous materials. On porous materials, bleach will not kill the membrane that lies beneath the mold, and if the membrane is not removed, the mold will continue to spread. Mold membranes simply penetrate deeper into the organism in order to avoid the bleach. Although bleach is corrosive and can cause damage to the lungs, NSW Health(1) recommends using bleach that has been diluted with detergent in order to remove mold from small areas. Vinegar, fortunately, is another common household product that is less disruptive and can eliminate mold growth.

If you have a problem with mould growing on your wall or ceiling and you have successfully resolved the issue with the moisture, then it is time to get your hands dirty and select a method for removing the mold. Mold can be removed from a wall or ceiling in a number of different ways, but the two methods that follow are the ones that are utilized by the vast majority of homes:

The First Method: Eliminating Mold With Bleach

When confronted with moldy areas that require cleaning, the majority of people immediately reach for bleach. It is a method for removing mold, and as was mentioned earlier, it will eliminate surface mold. Mold can be removed from any surface, not just a wall or ceiling, with this product. Bleach is effective at eliminating surface mold and bacteria, but the jury is still out on whether or not it can prevent mold from growing back.

In the event that you choose to clean with bleach, you will require the following supplies:

• A bucket
• Bleach (chlorine)
• Water
• Eye protection and footwear are required.
• Wear gloves, as bleach has the potential to irritate and even burn the skin.
• Towels made of microfibers
• A ladder
• A mask (so that you don't breathe in the vapours, which could cause lung problems later on)
• A safe ladder
• One that has seen better days

Step 1: If you want there to be a lot of fresh air in the room as well as for the purpose of drying the wall or ceiling (or both), you should open the windows. Put on the protective gear such as the mask, safety glasses, shoes, and gloves to shield you not only from the bleach but also from exposure to mold. In the bucket, mix together one part bleach with ten parts water to make a solution.

Step 2:

One microfiber cloth should be dipped in the bleach solution, and then the majority of the liquid should be squeezed out. Remove the mold using a circular motion with a wipe. Be careful not to rub too vigorously, or the paint might come off. In the event that the water becomes too contaminated, you should prepare a fresh solution. Make use of the toothbrush to remove mold from hard to reach places. When removing mold from the ceiling areas and the top of the wall, use the ladder to reach those areas.

Step 3:

After you have finished cleaning the wall or ceiling, take a dry microfiber cloth and press it against the cleaned areas to soak up the residual solution. You should not rub the cloth against the cleaned areas. Do not perform any kind of rinsing on the wall or the ceiling because leaving the bleach solution on the area may help prevent further mold growth on the surface.

A Residence That Is Guaranteed to Be Spotlessly Clean
At Myhome, our goal is to leave your home sparkling clean and ensure that you are pleased with the outcome one hundred percent of the time. Because of our enthusiasm and commitment, we are able to provide you with the Myhome guarantee, which states that if you are not completely satisfied with the end result, we will redo it at no additional cost to you.

Vinegar is used in the second method, which is for the removal of mold.

Vinegar is a natural substance that can be used effectively as a cleaning agent for almost any surface, including moldy walls and ceilings. Due to the fact that vinegar is risk-free and derived from plants, many people favor using it. Vinegar has the ability to eradicate over 80 percent of the different species of mold that can be found in homes. Because of its mildly acidic nature, it can both inhibit the growth of mold and eradicate existing colonies of the fungus. Vinegar does not burn or irritate the skin, and unlike most chemicals, it does not give off any vapours when it comes into contact with it. The only drawback to using vinegar for cleaning is that, even though it is effective at eliminating mold and preventing its growth in the future, cleaning with vinegar requires more frequent application than cleaning with bleach does. Protect yourself from the mold by donning the appropriate safety gear, such as goggles, shoes, a mask, and so on. Mold that is difficult to remove can be treated by adding two cups of water and one teaspoon of baking soda to another spray bottle, giving it a good shake, and then applying the mixture to the affected area.

To clean a wall or ceiling using vinegar, you will need the following supplies:

• White distilled vinegar
• Baking soda
• Water
• A bucket
• A bottle for spraying
• Towels made of cleanable microfibers
• A bristled brush for cleaning
• A safe ladder

Step 1: Activate the air vents. Fill the spray bottle with vinegar only; do not add any water. After spraying the moldy areas, wait one hour before removing the vinegar spray.

Step 2:

To clean the microfiber cloth, fill up about a third of the bucket with water, then wet it, wring it out, but don't squeeze it too hard. Remove the mold from the places where you sprayed the vinegar using a damp cloth. Mold that is difficult to remove can be eliminated with the help of a scrubbing brush and a solution of baking soda, but once again, be careful not to scrub the paint away.

Step 3:

Apply pressure with a dry microfiber cloth to all of the areas that have been cleaned. Repeat the process of spraying the area with undiluted vinegar, and then allow it to air dry. Keep the windows open to speed up the process of drying the areas that have been cleaned.

Step 4:

Maintain an adequate supply of vinegar in your spray bottle so that you can apply it once or twice per week to areas that are prone to the growth of mold.

Make Sure Your House Doesn't Have Any Mold!

The prevention of mold growth in your home is dependent on your ability to keep dampness and moisture under control. Make sure that all of the leaks are fixed, and that the gutters and drains are clear and unblocked so that you can avoid the problem. If water does manage to get into your home, you should clean and dry everything, and if the damage is too severe, you should replace your carpets, insulation, furniture, and other building materials. Having adequate ventilation is essential to maintaining a clean home that is also mold-free. Make sure to turn on your exhaust fans after taking steamy showers, while cooking in the kitchen, or while doing the laundry if you are using hot steamy water. When the weather is nice, you should have the windows open to increase the amount of ventilation. Other useful hints are as follows:

• Reduce how frequently you use humidifiers.
• Reduce the number of plants and fish in your indoor aquariums.
• Do not use gas heaters that are not flued.

Rising Damp
"Rising damp" is the term used to describe what happens when moisture from the ground seeps up into a brick or stone wall, and mold will happily grow there. If there is insufficient ventilation or, even worse, moisture in the subfloor, then dampness will rise. The traditional approach to resolving this issue is to install a "damp course," which functions as a watertight barrier. It is highly recommended to keep air vents and weep holes uncovered so that air can get to the subfloor and dry any dampness, which in turn discourages the growth of mold.

Mold removal from walls and ceilings is not a pleasant task, and if you suffer from allergies or have respiratory problems, it can be very unpleasant. Cleaning up mold can be hazardous to your health. Myhome is able to complete the task for you and ensure that mold spores do not settle on your belongings or pollute the air even if you have a full-time job or are a busy parent. For a quote, please contact us as soon as possible at 132231.

Reference:
https://www health nsw gov au/environment/factsheets/pages/mould aspx