What does black mold smell like?

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asked Jan 13, 2022 in laundry/Cleaning by riverdell (1,040 points)
What does black mold smell like?

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answered Jan 13, 2022 by Boda8oda (820 points)
Black mold will typically have an earthy and musty smell to the mold.

The black mold can even even smell like rotting vegetables or plants and you may smell the mold but not even see it.

A good way to get rid of black mold on walls permanently is to use some bleach and water.

Mix one part bleach to four parts water.

Then using a damp cloth gently scrub and wipe the black mold until the mold is gone.

Then dry the area well with a soft cloth.

Toxic black mold will be a dark black color and will usually appear in dot like form.

Black mold is readily identifiable by its color.

Whereas most other molds are green or gray in color, toxic black mold is a dark black.

Stachybotrys chartarum typically appears black or extremely dark gray in color.

This mold tends to have very round splotches with a speckled appearance.

Often, you see darker layers of mold over lighter layers.

Professional mold removal companies use antimicrobial chemicals to clean any remaining mold and mold stains after demo.

Mold professionals will often use a sealer or encapsulant to make the treated areas more resistant to water damage and mold, and also to help with odor control.

If mold is behind drywall then the drywall will have to be removed and replaced.

The mold could also be on other parts of the wall behind the drywall such as the insulation and studs and so if the insulation is moldy the insulation would have to be replaced.

If the stud is moldy only slightly then it may be able to be cleaned but if not the stud may need replaced.

You can and should remove mold yourself if you take proper precautions.

If it's a small amount of mold just wear some protective equipment such as rubber gloves and a face mask to help prevent breathing in the mold.

Then remove the mold by cleaning the surfaces or if the mold is really bad remove the drywall or molding boards etc.

If it's a big job then you may want to hire a mold removal specialist company to get the job done.

Vinegar is usually better at killing mold than bleach but bleach is a very effective solution to kill mold as well.

Bleach also disinfects better than vinegar although both vinegar and bleach kill mold and do disinfect and kill germs.

Vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties, and it can be a cheap and effective treatment for many types of mold.

Research has found that vinegar is effective at preventing mold growth on fruit and at removing some common household molds , but it isn't effective at killing every type of mold.

The best mold killer that you can buy commercially available is RMR-86 Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover Spray.

Other good mold killers are.

Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover 16 Fl Oz.
Concrobium Mold Control Household Cleaners.
Professional Disinfecting Mildew, Virus & Mold Killer – Cleans & Deodorizes, Lemon Scent.
Mold Armor Cleaner.

You can also use bleach to kill mold as well.

Bleach is another very effective mold killer.

A bleach solution also works to kill mold.

Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse.

Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.

Ammonia is also good to kill mold as well but just don't mix the ammonia and bleach together as it creates a very toxic gas that can easily kill you.

Black Mold can be dangerous and can cause breathing issues as well.

If you have black mold the black mold should be removed from your home and black mold could also be hidden behind drywall as well.

In those cases you need to remove the moldy drywall to get rid of it.

Black mold can kill you if you already have breathing problems or you're very young or very old.

It's still not a good thing to breathe in black mold spores or live in a house where mold including black mold is hanging around and growing.

If you do have black mold in your house it needs to be taken care of because not only does the black mold look bad it can also cause health issues in some people.

Any type of mold should be gotten rid off using bleach or something else to kill the mold.

If the mold is in drywall you should cut out the moldy drywall and clean behind the wall and then replace the moldy drywall with fresh new drywall.

Bathrooms are more prone to getting mold including black mold due to the high moisture content in the bathroom.

Using a vent van to help draw out moisture can help keep the mold from happening.

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