How to get rid and how to remove the smell of mold and dampness in an apartment and house
Mold on walls, ceilings, or furniture in the home is caused by the spread of fungal spores. Such formations occur mainly due to high humidity and pose a threat to the health of living people. There are several solutions to the question of how to get rid of the smell of mold yourself. The choice of method depends on the objects affected by the fungus.
Reasons for the appearance
The appearance of mold in the apartment is associated with the following factors:
- high humidity due to poor ventilation;
- roof leak;
- freezing of the walls;
- low temperature due to poor heating performance;
- insufficient ventilation.
The appearance of mold is accompanied by the formation of dark (or black) patches on the walls and furniture. Without proper measures, the fungus will spread throughout the room.
In a private house, mold often appears due to flooding of the basement caused by an increase in the water table.
How to destroy
Regardless of the location of the mold, in the fight against the fungus, it is recommended to carry out the following procedure:
- Ventilate and dry the room.
- Remove the mold with a scraper.
- Treat remaining mold with an antifungal agent.
To prevent the reappearance of fungal spores, it is recommended to eliminate sources of moisture in the room.
Things
If the objects smell of mold, the antifungal agent should be selected taking into account the material from which the affected object is made.
Boura
To clean things up, you need to mix a glass of borax with 2.5 liters of water. The solution is applied to the affected area and rubbed with a brush. After treatment, the mixture does not need to be rinsed off.
Gargle with white vinegar
If the clothes smell of mold, it is recommended to mix washing powder and 9% vinegar, then rinse the affected items in the usual way with this composition. The fungus dies quickly in an acidic environment.
Soak with baking soda
Baking soda is used in a variety of ways to fight mildew on clothes. An effective method for removing an unpleasant odor with the help of a solution of this substance and water is considered effective. To do this, add soda to the liquid in the necessary amount to get porridge. The resulting mixture is then rubbed into the problem areas, left for a few minutes, then soaked and rinsed with water.
You can also apply baking soda to mold stains. After that, the clothes are left in the fresh air for 12 hours. After this period, the soda is removed and the affected thing is aged on the street for about a day.
Carpets, textiles, books
To remove traces of mold from the carpet, it is recommended to treat the affected area:
- With vinegar. The product is applied to the stain, left to act for an hour and rinsed with water.
- A soda. The substance is diluted with water. Then the gruel is applied to the problem area and left to dry completely. The remains of the mixture are removed with a vacuum cleaner.
- Iodine. It is necessary to dilute 20 drops in 10 liters of water. This mixture is then used to treat the moldy stain and allow the carpet to dry completely. This method is suitable for dark materials.
- Tea tree essential oil.You need to mix a tablespoon of the product with a glass of water. The solution is then sprayed from a spray bottle and left to dry completely.
To remove traces of mold from books, they should be aired or dried with a hair dryer. You can also treat the leaves with baking soda. Treating the affected item with hot steam helps control the fungus on textiles. This method is effective in controlling mildew that forms on delicate fabrics.
Air disinfection
The spores of the fungus spread through the air. Therefore, disinfection of the premises is considered an important step in the fight against mold in the house.
air fresheners
Air fresheners are a temporary solution to the problem of unpleasant odors caused by mold. These products throw particles into the air, giving off a pungent and strong odor.
Aromatic candles
Scented candles help freshen up a room with an unpleasant odor. But it is also a temporary solution to the problem.In addition, scented candles are not able to eliminate the damage caused by fungal spores.
Vinegar with essential oils
Tea tree, lavender or rosemary essential oils have deodorant properties and disinfect moldy things. And the bite helps eliminate the fungus. To eliminate an unpleasant odor, simply spray a mixture of a teaspoon of essential oil and a glass of water with a small amount of vinegar on the problem area.
Grapefruit and tea tree oil
Grapefruit oil has a strong citrus scent that suppresses the smell of mold. Tea tree extract disinfects treated surfaces. Both oils can be used both in their "pure" form and added to water applied to problem areas.
Ionizer
The ionizer is used to dust air cleaning and unpleasant odors. This device provides a temporary solution to the problem considered and is not used in the fight against mould.
Clean areas affected by mold
To completely eliminate the smell of mold from the room, you will need to remove any traces of fungus from household items or objects. In this case, specialized means or solutions based on potent substances help.
white
Whiteness is applied to eliminate mold walls and ceilings. It is recommended to dilute this chlorinated product in the proportion indicated on the packaging: 100 milliliters for 1 liter of water. Exceeding the permissible dosage will lead to wallpaper discharge. Gloves and goggles should be worn when handling chlorine compounds.
Hydrogen peroxide
To remove mold from furniture or other surfaces, you will need to add a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to a spray bottle and spray on the affected area.After that, you need to wait 10 minutes and then wipe off the fungus stains with a toothbrush or sponge.
Ammonia
If traces of fungus appear on large areas, it is recommended to use a solution of ammonia and warm water, taken in equal proportions. The mixture should be sprayed from a spray bottle on the affected area. If necessary, this solution can be left for 3 hours. After processing, the composition is wiped off with a brush and a towel that absorbs moisture.
table vinegar
Table vinegar is used in the fight against mold that has appeared on non-porous materials (tiles and others). It is not recommended to use this method to remove stains from wooden surfaces.
Table vinegar should be poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the problem area, then scrubbed with a stiff bristle brush.
baking soda solution
Baking soda solution is used to treat wooden things or objects. This folk remedy not only removes mildew stains, but also freshens the air, helping eliminate unpleasant odors. Depending on the type of material, baking soda is either used "neat" or added to water to make a porridge. This last option is suitable for handling things.
Lime in pieces
Quicklime is used to fight mold on walls and ceilings. It is recommended to use this tool both in "pure" form and in combination with copper sulfate. Quicklime is mainly used for the walls of cellars, cellars or garages.
Copper sulfate
Remove mold from walls a solution of a tablespoon of vinegar, 30 grams of copper sulphate and a liter of warm water helps.This product is applied to a surface previously sanded with sandpaper and treated with a soapy mixture. The procedure is carried out at least twice.
Furacilin
Furacilin has antiseptic properties. 10 tablets of this drug should be diluted in 250 milliliters of water. The mixture should be treated with problem areas, and after drying, wipe the walls with sandpaper.
Features of cleaning different rooms
It is recommended to select methods of combating fungus taking into account the conditions in which the mold appeared. In particular, consider the type of material on which the foul stains appeared.
Living room
If mold appears in the living room, it will be necessary to process not only the walls, but also the upholstered furniture. To clean these and carpets, use a mixture of 500 milliliters of hot water, a tablespoon of dishwashing detergent (washing powder) and soda, 100 milliliters of vinegar. This solution is then sprayed on the problem areas.
Bathroom
Mold appears more often in the bathroom than in other rooms. When disinfecting this part of the apartment, it is necessary to pay special attention to the seams between the tiles, rubbing these areas with a toothbrush.
Rinse towels and other bathroom items with a mixture of water and chlorine.
Bedroom
To eliminate the smell of mold, it is recommended to put various citrus flavors or skins in the cabinets. It is also necessary to regularly air the room and periodically leave open containers of vinegar on the shelves.
How to remove the damp smell?
The damp smell is typical for apartments on the first and last floors.Getting rid of this unpleasant "smell" helps the usual ventilation of the premises.
Causes
The damp smell is caused by high humidity in the premises. The latter is facilitated by leaks, floods or poor location of the apartment.
Flooding by neighbors
After a flood, the level of humidity increases in the room, which contributes to the appearance of a damp smell. This problem is eliminated after cleaning and airing the room.
Basement
Basement and ground floor apartments often smell damp. In the latter case, unpleasant "odors" come from the increase in humidity caused by the proximity of the pipes. And basements often smell damp due to rising groundwater.
roof leak
If the apartments on the top floor smell damp, but there are no stains on the walls, this indicates a hidden roof leak. You can only solve the problem by identifying and eliminating the fault.
cracks in the walls
Due to cracks on the walls, condensation accumulates, the appearance of which is explained by the difference between the ambient and room temperature. As in the previous case, eliminating the fault helps to cope with the problem.
Indoor fighting methods
The main method of combating the smell of dampness is the organization of effective ventilation. You will also need to eliminate any defects that contribute to the formation of condensation and the accumulation of liquid inside the parts.
Regular ventilation
Ventilation is the main means of combating unpleasant odors in rooms.It is especially important to carry out this procedure in rooms with constantly high humidity.
Turn on electric heaters
The rise in temperature of the room favors the evaporation of the liquid. The installation of radiators makes it possible to solve the problem under consideration.
Ventilation repair
Without effective ventilation, excess moisture will constantly accumulate in the room, which will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor. Therefore, if traces of moisture are found, it is recommended to look for a problem in this system.
Roof and basement renovation
If the rooms on the first and last floors smell damp, it is necessary to check the basement walls and the roof for defects. The latter must be sealed with an appropriate material (mastic, cement mortar or other).
Special cases
In humid conditions, household items and clothing begin to smell damp. A similar problem arises from the Gulf of the interior of the vehicle.
Cloth
To refresh clothes, bad smelling items should be kept outside for 2-3 days. If necessary, things can be treated with perfumes. It is also recommended to wipe down the interior walls of the cabinet with hydrogen peroxide or a weak alcohol solution.
Furniture
Furniture that smells damp should be taken outside for a few days or dried with a hair dryer or household heaters.
In the car
Ventilation helps to deal with the smell of humidity in the passenger compartment. Vinegar, coffee or a green apple, which should be left in the car for a day, help to refresh the interior.
Preventative measures
The basis for preventing the appearance of mold is regular ventilation and keeping the humidity at an acceptable level. In order to avoid the formation of fungus on the walls and objects, it is recommended to eliminate flooding in a timely manner and periodically dry the room with heaters.