Best Way to Get Rid of Damp Mold

Most mold forms in areas high is moisture; therefore, mold is most commonly found in damp environments such as your home's basement. Mold contains mold spores that can be released into the air causing health problems to those who are sensitive to these mold spores. You should remove any damp mold as soon as possible to prevent this mold from growing and spreading to other areas in your home.

Remove the Moisture

Mold thrives in moist conditions. In order to affectively remove the mold in your home, you will need to remove the moisture in the air that contains the mold spores in which mold grows and thrives. Purchase a quality dehumidifier that is powerful enough to treat the affected areas, you may want to purchase one for each floor of your home if you live in a home with more than one story.

Look for the Cause

Mold is usually caused by a leak or area where moisture was allowed to sit without proper ventilation to dry. You should inspect all of your drywall for water damage; this could indicate a leak in a pipe behind your drywall. Another common source of excessive moisture is under a kitchen or bathroom sink where the pipe fittings have become loose and are leaking under your sink. Basements can be naturally moist and should have a dehumidifier running in order to prevent mold formation.

Treat Affected Areas

• Bleach - Bleach is powerful enough to treat and kill mold. Mix a solution of one cup bleach to each one-gallon of water in a large bucket. Use a scrub brush or sponge to clean the affected areas. If you have large amounts of mold, you may want to first use a shop vac to remove the majority of the mold before cleaning and disinfecting the area.

• Air Purifier - If you have mold, then you have mold spores in the air in your home. Active mold releases mold spores into the air. These mold spores can often make people who are allergic to mold suffer from headaches and other respiratory ailments.

• Vinegar - If you have any clothing or fabric that has been exposed to mold, you can easily remove the mold from your fabric. Simply add one cup of vinegar to the load of clothes and other fabric and allow the washer to run its full cycle length. When it is done, add detergent and re-run the washing machine to remove the vinegar smell from your clothes or other fabrics.