How do I clean black mold?

How to Clean Black Mold From Inside Walls

• Answer:

  Being around mold, even mold growing inside walls, can lead to respiratory problems, cold-like symptoms, skin rashes or asthmatic episodes, according to the North Dakota State University Extension Service. Before you begin to clean up the mold inside the walls, take steps to keep yourself safe as you deal with the mold and to prevent the mold from becoming airborne and spreading further in the house. Difficulty: Moderate Things You'll Need Old clothing Rubber gloves Respirator Eye protection Head covering Spray bottle Pry bar Screwdriver Drill Drywall saw Utility knife Bleach Bucket Scrub brush Fans Dehumidifier Instructions Put on old clothes, rubber gloves, a respirator that will filter out mold, eye protection, and a head covering to avoid coming into contact with the mold spores. Fill a spray bottle with water and spray down any areas of the wall you suspect have black mold growing inside. Use a pry bar to remove any trim from the bottom of the walls and inspect the back of the trim for signs of black mold growth. Insert a large screwdriver into walls that are soft from water damage, making a small hole to allow you to inspect the inside of the wall for black mold. If there is no water damage, use a drill or drywall saw to open up a small hole so you can inspect the inside. Make a note of the location of any electrical lines inside the wall so that you can avoid cutting them when you remove the drywall. Turn off the electricity to the room at the breaker box. Using the drywall saw, cut open the walls that contain black mold and spray all of the mold growth with the water. Cut out any moldy insulation using a utility knife. Put all moldy insulation and drywall into plastic garbage sacks and tie off the tops. Mix half a cup of bleach with a gallon of water in a bucket, then scrub the moldy studs with the mixture and a scrub brush. Keep the wall studs wet with the bleach and water mixture for 15 minutes, then rinse the solution off the studs with fresh water. Dry the studs immediately with towels. Open a window, if possible, and set up fans or a dehumidifier in the room to facilitate drying.