How to Get Rid of Black Mold if You Can't Afford a Professional
The Washington State Department of Health recommends hiring a professional to remove mold in your house that infests an area larger than 10 square feet. However, many professional mold removers are expensive, and many homeowners cannot afford the hefty price. Fortunately, you can remove black mold without hiring a professional. At all times while removing black mold, wear the proper safety attire, including an N-95 respirator, safety goggles without vent holes, and rubber gloves.
Clothing and Fabric
Step 1
Take the item outside, and brush or shake the surface black mold off the fabric. Do not allow the wind to blow the mold back onto you.
Step 2
Launder the clothing or fabric on the hottest water temperature with 1/4 cup of laundry detergent and 1 cup of white vinegar.
Step 3
Remove the items from the washing machine immediately, and hang them to dry in sunlight, or place them in your clothes dryer.
Walls and Ceilings
Step 1
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with 4 cups of lukewarm water and 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate. Dampen a sponge in the liquid, and gently wipe the black mold off the walls and ceilings.
Step 2
Pour 2 cups of chlorine bleach into a plastic container. Alternatively, mix 1 cup of oxygen bleach with 1 cup of warm water. Oxygen bleach is the safer alternative to chlorine.
Step 3
Dip a white cloth into the bleach, and wipe the area where the black mold was present. Let the bleach air-dry on the surface. The bleach will kill any lingering mold and spores.
Step 4
Rinse the bleach off the walls and ceilings with a clean, white cloth dampened in water.
Wood, Tiles, Plastic and Other Hard Surfaces
Step 1
Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar. Mist the black mold liberally with the vinegar. Leave the vinegar on the mold for 15 minutes. White vinegar eliminates mold, its spores, and any lingering odors.
Step 2
Dampen a clean cloth or sponge with water. Wipe the black mold off the hard surface.
Step 3
Mist the surface once again with vinegar, and let the surface air-dry. This step will kill any lingering mold spores on the surface.
Carpet and Upholstery
Step 1
Dissolve 1/2 cup of borax in 1 gallon of water. Whisk the contents together until well blended.
Step 2
Dampen a soft-bristled scrub brush in the mixture. Begin scrubbing up the black mold from the carpet or upholstery with the brush.
Step 3
Continue dipping the brush in the mixture and scrubbing the surface until all traces of the black mold are gone.
Step 4
Blot the mixture from the fibers with a cloth dampened in water. Pat the fibers dry with a towel.
References
Writer Bio
Amanda Flanigan began writing professionally in 2007. Flanigan has written for various publications, including WV Living and American Craft Council, and has published several eBooks on craft and garden-related subjects. Flanigan completed two writing courses at Pierpont Community and Technical College.
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