Can mold grow up on concrete? The answer is yes. The growth of mold always becomes troublesome because it appears to many places especially on concrete.
To identify the growth of mold especially on concrete can be a little bit tricky. It will be easier to identify black mold on concrete. On the other hand, identify the growth of white mold might be confusing.
Either black or white mold on concrete tends to lead the structural damage and health issues. If you find the mold grows and spread around the concrete in your house, you need to get rid of it soon. Here are 8 steps to kill and prevent the growth of mold on concrete.
Table of Contents
1. Select the Suitable Mold-Fighting Agent
There are many mold-fighting agents available in the market. You can select the most suitable mold-fighting agent that fit the condition of the mold on concrete at home. You can choose a diluted bleach, mold-killing detergent, or a commercial mold-fighting agent made specifically for killing mold.
On the other hand, you can also make a handmade-mold-fighting solution to kill mold on concrete. Use the mixture of white vinegar with hydrogen peroxide and warm water or tea tree oil. Put the solution of the mixture in a spray bottle.
If you want to use a commercial cleaning agent, mix it only with water. A commercial cleaning agent tends to produce highly toxic fumes when they are mixed. It is advisable to test a small, discreet area first before you start doing the mold cleanup.
2. Remove Affected Concrete
The next step to do to kill mold on concrete is to remove the affected items. Some organic materials can be infected. Put the items like cardboard boxes into the trash bag. Separate from other removable items like area rugs or furniture.
3. Apply Mold-Fight Solution
After removing the affected concrete, you apply for the selected mold-fight solution to all visible moldy areas on concrete. Use a scrub brush or a heavy duty sponge to scrub the spots or mold parts.
It is advisable for you not to use a wire brush. This type of brush can scratch on concrete. Also, when you do mold on concrete cleanup, you better wear rubber gloves, old clothes, a dust mask, and safety goggles as the protective gear. The purpose is to avoid toxic fumes.
4. Let the Solution Soak
When the spots can’t be scraped off, you can let the solution soak for several minutes. The purpose is to let the solution work efficiently on the mold. After a few minutes, scrub the areas on the solution until the mold is lifted.
5. Rinse Outdoor Concrete
After scrubbing the mold, the next step to do is to rinse outdoor concrete. Use and turn hot water pressure with at least 3,000 psi for a flow rate washer if you want to have a fastest and most effective rinse. If you don’t have hot water pressure, you can use a regular water hose.
Set and place a hose on its most powerful setting to rinse the concrete. Rinse much black mold as you can. Clean the area with a wet sponge if concrete is inside. During the rinse process, protect yourself by using safety tools like sturdy footwear, safety goggles, and long pants.
6. Dry Interior Concrete
The next step to get rid of mold on concrete is to dry the interior concrete items with a towel. Ensure all items are dried. Try to use a fan to dry concrete if the concrete is inside. Once they are dried, check all the mold on the items thoroughly whether any mold left has not been cleaned up.
If you still find visible mold, rinse the mold area clean. If not, try using a more-heavy solution, like diluted bleach.
7. Prevent the Growth of Mold Concrete from Humidity
After getting rid of the mold, the next thing to do is to prevent mold growth. There are many ways you can try such as increasing the room temperature, improving the ventilation, and combining the humidification with good ventilation.
Increase the room temperature
By increasing the room temperature, you can lower the relative humidity. If you increase the room temperature, the concrete wall temperature will remain the same. In result, the growth of mold in concrete will appear.
In contrast, if the climate is fairly mild, the increased temperature of the air will also raise the wall temperature sufficiently so that the condensation can be prevented.
Improve ventilation
Ventilation is very important if the condensation occurs in winter. The fresh air from winter will enable the relative humidity decreases inside the room. Therefore, if the wet, cold air comes into the home through ventilation, the level of humidity will fall.
Combine the humidification with good ventilation
This could be your last option because it requires electricity. But, if you combine the humidification with good ventilation, the air quality and relative humidity will improve.
8. Prevent the Growth of Mold Concrete from Over Moisture
The last step you can try to prevent the growth of mold in concrete is by resolving the over moisture. After removing the mold, try to prevent the growth of mold by resolving the moisture issue. Try to put downspouts away from the problem area or slant the ground away from the wall.
Another alternative is using a French drain or interior footing drain. French drains will fit perfectly when your home is being constructed. Once a house is ready, you need to deal with the excavation of plants, trees, decks, and driveways. In contrast, you can use an interior footing drain for existing homes. You can install this footing drain in the concrete slab, near the wall of the concrete foundation.
In conclusion, these 8 steps can help you to remove the mold on concrete and prevent the growth efficiently. Do these steps frequently to get the maximum result.