How to Get Rid of Black Mold in Your Bathroom

One of the places that the dreaded black mold likes to hide is between the wallpaper and the wall in the bathroom. This can become quite unsightly when it seeps through the wallpaper, creating ugly, black splotches on the walls. Another place black mold likes to hide is in the fan vent on the ceiling. Black mold is caused because of the amount of humidity that can build up in the bathroom on a daily basis.

If the mold is behind the wallpaper, the only way to get rid of it is to remove the wallpaper. Before you start this project, line the bathroom with plastic – the black mold is toxic, so you do not want it to touch other places. Cover the floors and the fixtures with plastic.

Ventilate the room. Open a window. If you do not have a window, run the exhaust fan. When you disturb the mold by removing the wallpaper, the mold is going to start flying around. Always wear heavy rubber gloves and a mask. There are masks that are made specifically for mold cleanup. They can be found at the local hardware store or some big-box home improvement stores.

Try to seal off the bathroom, so the airborne spores do not spread to and infect other areas of the home. Cover the doorway with plastic using duct tape to tape the plastic to the door frame.

As you remove the wallpaper, put it in large, heavy-duty plastic trash bags. The heavy-duty lawn bags will work fine.

Clean the mold off the wall by misting it with a spray bottle. This will dampen the spores and help keep them from becoming airborne. Wash the area with soap and water, then apply a disinfectant to the walls. Allow the walls to dry completely.

You can use various disinfectants including:

1. Ethanol alcohol, isopropanol alcohol – these are highly flammable, but do not stain

2. Quarternary ammonoum compunds – these are inexpensive, but are inactivated by organic matter

3. Phenolics – these are inexpensive, but are toxic and may be irritating to the user

4. Lodophors – these are stable, but are inactivated by organic matter. They are also expensive.

5. Glutaraldehydes – these are unaffected by organic matter, are noncorrosive, but can be irritating, have damaging vapors, are expensive and highly toxic

6. Chlorox bleach (hypochlorites) – this is inexpensive, but will bleach walls and fabrics, it is corrosive and inactivated by organic matter.

7. Hydrogen peroxide – this is a stable product to use on molds, but is expensive, corrosive and will degrade in heat or UV light.

Once the mold is removed, the area is disinfected and dried, you are ready to re-wallpaper or paint the area. Once the area is completely repaired, invest in a dehumidifier to help control the humidity in the bathroom. You should also turn the exhaust fan on when using the shower or taking a bath.