How to Get Rid of Blue-Green Mold
Mold can appear in many different colors, one of which is blue-green. Some common molds that may be blue-green include cladosporium, aspergillus and penicillium. However, the treatment for removal is the same regardless of the color of the mold. Mold can occur in warm, damp areas such as bathrooms and basements. Certain types of mold can cause irritation and breathing problems in some people, so you will need to remove it as soon as possible and prevent it from returning.
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Put on eye protection and a mask or respirator that will filter out mold spores, such as an N-95 mask, if you have heavy mold infestation.
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Dampen the moldy surface using a spray bottle filled with water. This will minimize the number of airborne mold spores and limit the spread of mold and the chance of associated health problems.
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Fill a bucket with a non-ammonia soap or detergent and warm water.
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Wear rubber gloves and dip a scrub brush into the solution. Scrub away the mold.
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Pour 1 gallon of water into another bucket. Add 1/2 cup of bleach.
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Using a sponge, wipe the surface with the mixture. Allow the solution to remain for 15 minutes.
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Rinse the sponge with clean water and wipe the surface to remove the solution. Wipe the surface with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Set up a fan to blow directly on the surface to help it dry rapidly.
References
Tips
- To avoid mold and mildew in the future, keep the relative humidity (RH) level of your home between 30 and 50 percent. There are dehumidifiers and RH meters that can read your home's relative humidity. In addition, be sure to clean up excess moisture and condensation wherever it occurs, such as on shower walls and above stove tops.
Warnings
- It will be almost impossible to remove mold from porous materials, such as carpet padding, so you should consider throwing away these materials.
Writer Bio
Thomas King is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he served as managing editor of the "Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law." He currently lives in Aberdeen, Washington where he writes and practices law.
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