Everyone has experienced black mold at some point in their lives. This dangerous fungus grows in damp, dark and isolated spaces, such as the bathroom. To make matters worse, mold can hide behind the walls making it even harder to remove. Leaving black mold to develop can cause serious health problems such as asthma and other respiratory tract disorders. That’s why you have to tackle black mold down as soon as the first mold spores appear on bathroom walls.
The first step in preventing and getting rid of mold on bathroom walls is to increase ventilation in your house, especially in the bathroom:
- open the bathroom window after showering (leave it open for a long period of time)
- if you don’t have a window, use fans or a dehumidifier
But, if mold spores started to grow on your bathroom walls and ceiling, don’t panic because there are many methods you can use to remove black mold from painted walls.
A good place to start is Chlorine Bleach…
- Mix a solution of one part bleach to three parts water in a spray bottle, and thoroughly saturate the moldy areas of the wall.
- Open a window and/or keep a fan running as you work; bleach fumes are unpleasant and can be irritating to the lungs.
- Let the bleach soak into the mold on the walls for several minutes, then use a scrub brush to remove the stains.
- If the stains are extensive or deep, you may need to repeat the process to remove all discoloration.
Bleach is the most effective solution to kill black mold, but somehow it doesn’t penetrate well into the dry walls, leaving the “mold roots” still stuck deep in the walls. So chances for the mold to re-appear are pretty high.
…and continue with Vinegar
- To kill mold beneath the surface, simply spray undiluted white vinegar onto the affected area and let it dry. Don’t worry about the odor; the smell will dissipate once the vinegar is completely dry.
Many choose vinegar over bleach or other chemicals because it is 100% natural and safe. It does not emit any dangerous fumes into your home like most chemicals do. However, if you use these two methods chances to kill black mold on painted, dry walls will increase. Bleach is great in destroying surface mold while vinegar is great in killing mold spores inside dry walls.
