How to Remove Mold

Thankfully, most homeowners will only ever have to deal with mold on the most basic and minor levels, such as windowsills, wall joins, and basements.

Mold from excess moisture will show itself as black sludge or stains on the edge of putty along windows, or the edge of windowsills where the window shuts. This can occur when your house is sealed too tightly, and there is not enough air exchange, particularly in winter with the cold weather outside and warm air inside. Moisture builds up, runs down and lies there, making it a breeding place for mold.

Cleaning mold on windows or around doors is relatively simple, and involves only a good scrubbing with soap and water. Be sure not to use a soap that contains ammonia or other related chemicals, as it is always wise to follow up your initial cleaning with a bleach washing to kill and disinfect the surface. A quart of water with 1/4 cup of bleach is usually sufficient. The surface should stay wet for 15 minutes to allow the bleach to work. Then dry it off, in order not to let the water soak further into your wood sill or window trim.

Most painted surfaces can be treated this way, whether they are in a cupboard, or the corner of a closet. However, mold in a home in any location, is an indication of too much moisture, and is likely to re-occur. So besides the cleaning, you'll have to look into the cause.

For large mold cases, removal may not be as simply as a good scrub. Those people who have experienced basement flooding due to pipe ruptures or elevated water levels where they live, know that a well-soaked basement can take months to dry out, during which there will be mold growing. Some things may be cleanable, but while working on them, be sure to wear a protective mask, so you don't breathe in any spores. Surfaces such as wallpaper, and other porous surfaces like wallboard, may not be cleanable, and will need replacing.