The most favorable environment for mold spores to spread and create a colony is dark, moist, and damp. So that makes the basement the ideal place for mold formation. But it also makes the home environment really unhealthy and uninhabitable. Thus, it is important to get them removed, but how do you do that? Do not worry, this article will walk you through how to get rid of mold in basement drywall step by step. Also, mold can be grown in many places. You can visit GotAbout to know more processes of removing mold.
Precaution and accessories
Attaining personal safety confides precautions here as there are mold and many strong chemicals involved in the process. So, use protective gloves, protective goggles, face mask, ear covering head cap/cover and of course Long sleeve shirt and long pants. And the other accessories needed for the process are-
- Industrial mold-killing cleaner
- Vacuum
- Spray bottle
- Cleaning wipes
- Cleaning brush
- Adjustable fan/wall dryer
- Utility knife
- Bleach water solution
How to get rid of mold in basement drywall?
You can do it by following these simple steps discussed below.
Step 01: Stopping the moisture source
The source of moisture can be internal and external. Most of the time it is the defective plumbing or leaky window or trapped vapor. Whichever it is, it needs to be fixed right away. You will require professional help to fix this problem. Then you can move to the next step which is cleaning the drywall down there.
Step 02: Cleaning the mold foundation
There are three ways to get rid of the mold foundation off the surface. First, you can easily scrape it off with a scraper and for this, you will need to put plastic sheets on the floor to prevent mold spread. Secondly, you can vacuum the visible molds. Use a separate filter bag in the vacuum and sterilize the machine completely top to bottom, inside and out after using it. And finally, you can use the wipe-off technique.
For this, you need a damp clean cloth and two-part baking soda, one-part white vinegar, and one-part water solution. Generously spray the solution all over the mold foundation and let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Then wipe it off with the cloth and you are done. but if the mold has infected the wall too deep you will need to cut off the ruined portion with a utility knife and get rid of the deeply mold infected parts.
Step 03: Killing and cleaning up the mold
For this step, you will need the Industrial mold-killing cleaner and a bristle cleaning brush. Spray the mold-killing industrial cleaner all over the wall and leave it to dry for 10 minutes. When it’s completely dry, spray the cleaner on the brush fiber and scrub the entire wall with it. Keep the brush damp by spraying the cleaner on it. When done, use a damp clean cloth to wipe off the whole thing completely clear and your wall is now mold-free.
Step 04: Drying and repainting
You can use an easily adjustable moving fan to dry the wall. Or you can use a wall dryer just as conveniently. Drying the wall will prevent the molds from forming a colony again. So, after you successfully dry the wall from top to bottom, you will have to paint it to cover the stains also to prevent the mold from coming back. So before painting the drywall you have to spray bleach water solution all over the wall and let it dry. Then use mold preventive paint to repaint the wall. And if you have followed every step thoroughly till now then now you have a mold-free, freshly painted, beautiful drywall in your basement.
Step 05: Adjusting the ventilation
You may think your work is done after painting but it is certainly not. You have to make sure the basement has the correct humidity level. Not too moist, not too dry. For that, you install a humidifier. Which will control the humidity level down there and make sure the basement has a fairly working ventilation system. Air purifiers also are a great investment in maintaining the basement environment healthy and keeping your home healthy and mold-free.
Bottom line
Mold spores are by default in the air and always in the environment around us. It just needs the ideal place to multiply and basement drywall is the perfect place for that. Thus, you cannot take it lightly. Check for mold foundation every month and keep the basement dry. And if after taking all the precautions your drywall still gets infected by molds, now you know how to get rid of it after reading this article.
