How to Get Rid of Mould and Mildew on Walls
Mildew and black mould on walls is not only unsightly — it can also be harmful to your health. Fortunately there are ways to stop mould on walls and keep your home healthy.
Mould and mildew are the bane of most households, but luckily, it’s possible to use every day cleaning products to banish and prevent mould from creeping back in again. Mildew, whether on walls or other surfaces, like floors and carpets, is not great news for your health, so it’s also really important to tackle the root cause. Read on for a quick, 3-step guide on how to get rid of mould on walls in your home.
What are mould and mildew and why do they occur on walls?
Mould is a kind of fungus that develops from airborne spores.
It usually grows in damp, warm conditions without much airflow, which is why household bathrooms and loft spaces often suffer from mould.
It is often simply caused by humid conditions and lack of ventilation, but sometimes mould on walls can be due to plumbing leaks, both inside and outside the property. Badly insulated heating pipes can also cause a build-up of moisture behind the walls.
Mildew is the name for the most common type of black mould on walls, characterised by spots that can then spread over larger areas if left untreated.
To find out if you have mildew on your walls, apply some bleach onto the affected area with a cloth.
If the dark colour fades after a few minutes, it’s mildew. If not, the patch is probably just dirt.
Why do I have mould on the walls in my bedroom?
Having mould on the walls in your bedroom can be a real problem. Bedroom mould is usually caused through condensation or high humidity, normally from weather conditions. It can be caused by poor ventilation and moisture in the air. Be sure to check cracks in windows or drainpipes which could be causing a build-up of moisture.
Always follow the instructions carefully when using specially formulated mould and mildew cleaners. Take care to protect yourself by wearing eye protection, gloves, and a face mask, if necessary, and test the product in a small area before continuing.
You will need:
- Stiff-bristled brush
- Cloth
- Chlorine bleach
- Water
How to clean mould off walls in three steps
Time to learn how to clean mildew and mould off walls! A word of caution: mould can cause allergic reactions and poor health, so if you have an extensive problem with mould on walls, it may be best to seek expert help by contact Auckland EcoPainter Limited.
If tackling a smaller area, make sure you wear protective eyewear, gloves, and a face-mask, as contact with the spores can be harmful. Open windows or use a fan in the room while working.
1
Make a solution of chlorine bleach and water usually one part bleach to three parts water
– or get hold of a household detergent with bleach as an active ingredient.
2
Scrub the blackened area using a stiff bristled brush.
3
Rinse thoroughly and dry
Rinse with a cloth and water and leave to dry.
If this doesn’t work, there are products specifically formulated for mould and mildew on walls that may be stronger, but remember never to mix cleaning solutions together as this can cause dangerous chemical reactions.
If the job looks more complicated or delicate, then get in touch with us. We will review the issue on our visit and then advise on next steps, which may be something simple from a thorough wall wash through to stripping the wall and repainting and in extreme cases, removal of the existing leaky wall and replacing it with a new dry sealed wall.
