The appearance of mold in an apartment is not only an unpleasant sight, but also a phenomenon dangerous to human health. Particularly dangerous is black mold.
There is only one reason for the appearance - dampness. This fungus spreads spores indoors, which, spreading through the air, provoke various diseases of the respiratory system.
How to remove mold? Getting rid of mold is not easy, but it is still possible with your own hands, without the involvement of specialists.
Content
Traditional methods of struggle at home
Folk recipes involve the use of products that every housewife has.
How to remove with borax?
Being a natural antiseptic, borax destroys any pathogenic microorganisms, including mold.
To prepare the composition you need:
- 2.5 l. mix water with 1 glass of borax;
- the resulting composition is applied to the affected areas with a stiff brush;
- The applied product is not washed off.
Vinegar
Even if you use concentrated acetic acid, it is unlikely that you will be able to get rid of all types of mold. The advantage of this product is its naturalness and non-toxicity. It's completely harmless.
For application to affected areas a spray bottle or sponge is used. Dilution with water is not required.
Vinegar can be used for prevention, treating the suspected affected areas with it once every 15 days.
Soda
Safe and harmless soda is the enemy of mold. If the area is severely affected, it can be used together with vinegar.
1 tablespoon of soda is poured into 250 ml. water, stir thoroughly and the resulting composition is poured into a spray bottle.
The product is sprayed onto the affected areas and left for some time. Then, using a stiff sponge or brush, these areas are cleaned and rinsed with water.
After this, the soda solution is applied again, but now it is left until it is completely dry. You can put baking soda on a damp cloth and scrub it off mold.
Hydrogen peroxide
The simple composition has an antibacterial and antifungal effect and copes excellently with mold. The main advantage is harmlessness.
Removes fungal infections from any surfaces:
- tiles,
- furniture,
- sanitary ware
To obtain the composition, 3% peroxide is sprayed onto moldy areas and leave for a quarter of an hour. After this, the dirt is removed with a brush and the affected area is washed with water. To enhance the effect, peroxide is mixed with vinegar.
Ammonia
The product is toxic, but has excellent fungicidal properties.
The affected areas are treated with the mixture diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. After an hour, these areas are washed with water.
Ammonia should not be mixed with bleach., as this results in the release of toxic gas.
Soap
Soap is not able to completely solve the fungal problem, so after using it, the area is treated with any antiseptic.
Easy to use:
- The infected areas are treated with a sponge soaped with laundry soap.
- After some time, the foam should be washed off.
Bleach
All bleach is based on sodium hypochloride., which is the main enemy of mold. One time is enough to get rid of the entire fungal colony.
Tea tree oil
An effective composition based on tea tree oil. If you don’t wash it off, then the fungus has no chance of coming back again.
The secret of the product is in special plant components that are destructive to microbes and fungi.
To prepare the composition, 1 teaspoon of the product is diluted in a glass of water.. This composition is sprayed over the entire area with the fungus.
Don't be put off by the strong scent of tea tree oil. After a certain time it will disappear.
Potassium permangantsovka
Ordinary potassium permanganate is detrimental to fungus. For surface treatment:
- Prepare a solution of 1 liter of water and 1 teaspoon of potassium permanganate.
- This mixture is used to spray or wipe moldy areas.
- The solution does not need to be washed off.
Antiseptic primer
An effective remedy is an antiseptic primer.. Such compositions are sold ready-made. Using a roller or brush, the primer is distributed over the affected surface.
After applying the first coat, you must wait until it dries and then reapply.
When working with primer, you should follow safety precautions - use personal protective equipment:
- put on glasses
- respirator,
- gloves,
- headdress,
- special clothes.
How to remove with chemicals?
Hardware stores offer a wide selection of mold removal products. Before purchasing this or that composition, It is advisable to read reviews about it.
Among the chemicals designed to get rid of mold, three stand out in particular.
Dali (Dali)
This is a universal domestic antiseptic composition designed to remove mold from any surfaces. Affordable – 1 bottle of 0.6 l. costs between 150-200 rubles.
The product kills not only fungi and mold, but also moss and algae.
Due to the pungent toxic odor, you should work with this composition only with gloves and a respirator.
More than one application is required for the effect to be noticeable. will have to be processed 2-3 times a week for 2-3 weeks. After using the composition according to the instructions, mold no longer appears.
Alpa (phonyfluid alpa)
A universal domestic product is aimed at destroying mold not only indoors, but also outside (an unheated basement can be treated). If used on a painted surface, then do not worry about the color.
Sold in 2 liter bottles, the price of one is 600 rubles. One bottle is enough to treat 10 square meters. meters.
If the composition is planned to be applied to a highly porous surface, then it is better to sand it first.This will ensure deeper and more uniform penetration of the active components.
Both a spray bottle and a simple sponge are suitable for application. Fongifluid can only be used at temperatures above 5 degrees.
After applying the composition, the mold self-destructs within a few days. After 7 days the treatment can be repeated.
Olympus Stop mold
The advantage of this product is its safety. Universal, can be used to treat any surface.
The composition applied to the surface is left for 2-3 days, after which it is wiped with a dry cloth. For maximum effect, this procedure is repeated immediately.
In rooms with high humidity, mold treatment should be done once every 3 months. To avoid health problems, processing work should only be carried out using a high-quality respirator.
How can you get rid of the smell?
If, after destroying the mold, the corresponding smell remains, this can only mean that the fungus was not completely removed.
Great for eliminating unpleasant odors:
- lemon juice or acid;
- vinegar;
- bleach;
- washing powder.
These products are used to moisten a cloth or sponge and wipe the problem areas.
The problem can be solved with the help of copper sulfate, but it is used only where it is not able to be absorbed. Excellent removes mold odor essential oils, such as grapefruit or tea tree oil.
Find out more about mold odor control here. Here.
Features of removing fungus in different places in the house
Features of removing mold from various surfaces:
| Place | Removal Features |
| In a refrigerator | Mold can be eliminated using special detergents. This method requires careful treatment with water. But modern formulations contain abrasive components that can damage plastic. |
| From books | First, the book should be dried. Then the cotton napkin is moistened in a 2-3% formaldehyde solution (can be replaced with ammonia). Use a well-wrung cloth to wipe the affected areas. A clean sheet of paper is placed on the cleaned page to absorb excess moisture. Finally, the book is dried again. Sometimes you have to repeat this procedure. |
| From wooden surfaces, boards | Wood is a fibrous and porous material. The spreading spores eat deeper into the wood. If you do not quickly respond to the problem, then no mold treatment will help. Even minor lesions require serious work to eliminate it. The folk recipes described above will help in the initial stages. |
| On the balcony | In most cases, it is possible to solve the problem of mold on the balcony by establishing natural ventilation. To do this, holes are drilled in the double-glazed windows, or a small supply fan is installed. |
| In the washing machine | It is better to get rid of mold in a washing machine using available means: bleach or other products containing high concentrations of chlorine. |
| In the bathroom | The choice of remedy for mold in the bathroom depends on the severity of the damage. Small spots on the tile joints can be treated with ordinary table vinegar. In a poorly ventilated area, fungus will appear constantly. Read about removing mold on sealant Here. |
| From the windows | Mold on windows forms due to high humidity. The solution to the problem lies in changing the microclimate of the room. You should check the external seal of the window frame and the quality of the installed slopes. If mold has already appeared, then it must be thoroughly cleaned and the area treated with an antifungal compound. |
| In the corners of an apartment, room | Mold in corners most often appears due to freezing of the seam. The solution to the problem lies in eliminating the freezing area and insulating it. For complete removal, you can use folk remedies, but before doing this you need to dry the room. |
| From drywall | Drywall is easily dismantled. If mold is found on surfaces made of this material, it is recommended to dismantle the slabs and replace them with similar ones. New slabs must be carefully treated with an antifungal compound. |
| From the dishes | The best way to remove mold from dishes is with ordinary baking soda. It will not only clean well, but also disinfect perfectly. |
| From upholstered furniture, fabrics And clothes | Upholstered furniture is treated with 6% hydrogen peroxide. For light-colored upholstery, you can use bleach. or any other chlorine-containing compound. It is better to remove mold from fabric with table vinegar, furatsilin solution or fresh lemon juice. |
Read about ways to remove mold from wallpaper Here, from the walls - into this article, from the ceiling - here.
Prevention of occurrence
It is much easier to prevent a mold problem than to spend a long time trying to get rid of it. Among the most common preventive measures, several are worth noting:
-
An antimicrobial spray will help prevent fungal growths.An alternative is to purchase anti-mold paint.
- Shower curtains and towels should be carefully straightened after use.
- Problems with leaking plumbing should be addressed immediately. To prevent moisture from accumulating in cracks under the floor.
Conclusion
The appearance of mold is an unpleasant problem, but you can get rid of it. The main thing is to take measures in a timely manner and prevent the spread of the fungus.
Compliance with simple preventive measures, ventilation of the room, maintaining temperature conditions are the main enemies of mold.
