Painting the walls can improve the interior design of your home, but sometimes, mold buildup can ruin your hard work. Not only that it can make the walls look dirty, but it can also indicate structural problems that need attention. Wondering how you can get rid of pesky mold in your home? We've researched this topic to help you!
If the mold buildup in your home isn't severe, you can use the following household products:
- White vinegar
- Borax
- Tea tree oil
- Bleach
- Baking soda
- Hydrogen peroxide
We will dive into further details on how you can get rid of molds from your painted walls, so keep reading to learn more. That said, let's get right into it!
6 Home Products That Help Remove Molds From Painted Walls
Mold gives an unpleasant look and odor to your home. It can grow in moist areas anywhere in your home, no matter how neat you try to keep your house to be. In addition, mold is usually a clear indication of a structural issue that needs to be fixed before it worsens.
As long as the affected area on your wall is less than 10 square feet, you can eliminate the mold buildup. You should also figure out why mold is building up on your walls and fix the issue so that the mold will not return.
If you're having a hard time getting rid of mold buildups from your painted walls, here are six ways to remove them using products that you can find at home.
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White Vinegar
White vinegar is a type of mild acid that can kill mold at the surface level. It seeps through porous materials to get rid of mold buildups that you cannot see. Vinegar is proven to kill up to 82% of mold buildups by reaching the roots.
To use white vinegar on molds, you will need:
- Distilled white vinegar
- Bottle spray
- Sponge
- Warm water
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to kill molds.
- Pour the white vinegar into your bottle spray.
- Spray an ample amount of vinegar on the infected area.
- Leave it for an hour.
- Wipe the area using your sponge. Soak it in warm water and start cleaning the wall.
Borax
Borax, also known as sodium tetraborate, is often found in cleaning materials. It is derived from a non-metal element called boron and has a pH of 9.3. Due to the pH level, applying borax to the infected part of your wall can make an environment that is less likely for molds to survive or grow since borax increases the pH level.
Here are the things that you will need if you want to use borax on the infected area:
- Borax
- Glass spray bottle
- Hot water
- Sponge
- 1 Gallon container
Follow this step-by-step guide to make a borax mold spray:
- Mix one cup of borax with a gallon of hot water until the solution is dissolved.
- Transfer the mixture of borax and water to the spray bottle.
- Spray an ample amount of the solution onto the infected area and let it dry.
- Scrub the area to get rid of molds on the surface.
- Spray a little more, and do not rinse.
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil is an essential oil used as a traditional medicine due to its ability to kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Because of its germ-fighting ability, tea tree oil is one of the most effective natural products to use in order to eliminate stubborn mold.
To make a tea tree oil mold spray, you will need:
- Tea tree oil that's specifically made from an Australian tree called "melaleuca alternifolia" and contains not less than 30% terpinen-4-ol and cineole that's not more than 10/15%
- Two cups of water
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Cloth
Get rid of molds using tea tree oil by following this step-by-step guide.
- Mix two cups of water with two teaspoons of tea tree oil.
- Transfer the solution to a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution on the infected part of the wall and leave it for one hour.
- Scrub the surface using a sponge.
- Wipe the wall with a clean cloth.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
Bleach
Despite its strong smell, bleach is safe to be applied on painted walls. Its chemical compounds cannot harm the surface and are safe to be used to get rid of mold buildups. However, you must take precautionary measures when working with bleach because it can cause skin burns and other health hazards. In addition, it cannot penetrate porous materials, so bleach can only clean the surface and not the root area.
To use bleach to fight molds at home, you will need:
- Bleach
- Water
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- Clean cloth
- Protective face mask
Follow this step-by-step guide to remove molds.
- Wear your face mask and open windows to allow proper ventilation.
- Mix one cup of bleach with a gallon of water.
- Put the mixture of bleach and water in your spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture on the infected part of the wall and let it sit for ten minutes.
- Clean the surface with a sponge and rinse it afterward using water.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is famous for its many uses. From removing odors to treating several medical conditions, it's no surprise to know that baking soda can also be applied on painted walls that have been infected with mold.
To make a baking soda mold spray, you will need:
- Baking soda
- Water
- Sponge
- Cloth
- Spray bottle
Follow this step-by-step guide to remove mold.
- Mix one teaspoon of baking soda with two cups of water until the baking soda is thoroughly dissolved.
- After mixing, put the mixture in a spray bottle.
- Mist onto the infected part of the wall and scrub it using a sponge.
- Wash the area with water.
- Wipe the wall with a clean cloth.
- Spray one more time and let the solution dry.
See this mold and mildew remover on Amazon.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a well-known solution to fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. It is safe to be used on porous materials to fight bacteria and molds; that's why it is one of the mainstream home products most household owners use to remove mold from painted walls.
To use hydrogen peroxide when removing mold, you will need:
- Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
- Sponge
- Cloth
Here is a simple guide on how to kill mold.
- Transfer an ample amount of hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle.
- Spray the hydrogen peroxide onto the area where the mold is building up.
- After ten minutes, clean the wall using a sponge.
- Wipe the area clean using a cloth.
- Repeat the process if necessary.
How To Prevent Molds From Growing In Your Home
Mold make the infected areas of the house look nasty despite your constant cleaning. If you don't want to go through so many headaches due to mold buildup at home, make sure that you are keeping the humidity level below 50% in your home.
Another way to permanently avoid mold buildups is by letting natural air and light in. You can open your doors and windows during the dry season to promote proper airflow inside the home. By letting in air inside, you can reduce moisture and help dry wet areas prone to mold buildups. If there are areas that are prone to condensation, make sure you insulate them.
See this mold stain cleaner on Amazon.
Does Air Purifiers Kill Molds?
Air purifiers do not directly treat mold, but they catch mold spores that are present in the air. Mold spores travel through the air and spread around the moist areas of your home. So even though air purifiers cannot get rid of existing mold, they can help prevent the possible outbreak.
However, not all types of air purifiers on the market can filter mold particles. HEPA filters with silver ion filters can catch mold spores and get rid of bacteria, while HEPA filters with carbon filters remove bad odors caused by molds.
Wrapping It Up
Mold isn't just unpleasant to look at on your walls, it can also cause harm to your health and home's infrastructure. Although there are plenty of products developed to fight mol, in case you have no access to commercial mold killers, you can always go through your kitchen cabinets to see products you can use to fight mold. Not only will it save you money, but you can also enjoy the benefits of going all-natural.
Before you go, don't forget to check out these related posts!
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