Eliminate mold as soon as you spot it in your home. After that, you can remove the stains it leaves behind.
Things You Will Need
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Mix a solution to kill the mold. The solution should consist of 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide (not the strong peroxide used to bleach hair, but rather the weaker version used as a disinfectant and sold in drugstores), and 2 oz. boric acid. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well to mix.
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Put on a surgical mask. Spray the solution heavily onto the mold and a 1-foot surrounding area. Mold spores may have spread beyond the area where it is currently visible.
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Let the solution stand for about ten minutes, and then wash off the dead mold using paper towels and water. Discard the towels immediately after use.
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Spray the area one more time with the above solution, wait ten minutes, and then wash it off. All of the mold should have been killed by the boric acid-vinegar-peroxide mixture; however, this mixture is not a stain remover. A stain will remain wherever there was mold.
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Mix a solution of 4 cups of water to 1 cup of chlorine bleach. Scrub the stain using scouring pads soaked in the bleach solution. Repeat this step as many times as necessary to remove the stain.
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Eliminate the source of the dampness from your home if at all possible or the mold will return. If you can't find the source, or can't eliminate it, keep a close eye on areas where the mold appeared, and at first sight of new mold forming, use the above solutions to eliminate it.
The Drip Cap
- Mold is a fungus that can grow in damp areas in the home, such as bathrooms, basements and attics.
- Asthma sufferers are especially sensitive to mold.
- Once it takes hold in the home, it will grow, causing black stains on walls and furnishings.
- Mix a solution to kill the mold.
- All of the mold should have been killed by the boric acid-vinegar-peroxide mixture; however, this mixture is not a stain remover.