How to effectively and safely remove mold from wallpaper: methods of dealing

Mold on wallpaper is a common problem in Russia due to the local climate.

The constant combination of humidity and warmth in rooms leads to the formation of fungus on the walls, which must be fought so that it does not grow quickly.

You will learn how to clean wallpaper from mold and what tools can help with this in this article.

How to remove fungus from a wall in a room without peeling off the wallpaper?

No one wants to get rid of the result of the repair, so when mold appears, you should not rush to rip off the wallpaper.

For this, there are even folk remedies that are suitable for different types of wallpaper. There are three main types in total:

1. Paper - these are inexpensive wallpapers that are easier to replace than to remove the fungus from them, as they will stain in any case.

   This material is not suitable for wet cleaning, so only dry cleaning agents will work.

2. Acrylic - this type calmly tolerates wet cleaning, however, if mold has appeared on its surface, we can say with complete confidence that the fungus is on the walls themselves, since it simply appears on acrylic very rarely.

   In this case, it is better to contact specialists and carry out major repairs, because even after cleaning, the mold will return.

3. Washable - this type is closer to paper wallpaper with the difference that any dirt, including mold, can be easily removed from it. For cleaning, you need to use wet products, and although it will take some time before the complete elimination of the fungus, it is possible to clean it.

Folk remedies for home use

So, how can mold be removed from the wallpaper in the apartment? The most famous folk remedies for removing mold are:

1. Baking soda - on its basis, a special solution is made, in which one tablespoon of the product falls on a glass of water, and then the resulting mixture is rubbed into the wallpaper with a soft sponge. Soda begins to work as an antiseptic, and not only removes dirt, but also creates a kind of film that prevents mold from reappearing on the affected area.
2. Vinegar - This product allows you to remove mold even from paper wallpapers. Pour the vinegar solution into a spray bottle and treat the affected area with it. Then, after about an hour, use a soft, dry sponge to remove excess product from the surface, together with mold particles. It is important to carry out such treatment several times in a row during the week in order for the effect to take hold.
3. Hydrogen peroxide - treatment with this agent is similar to vinegar, only it acts more gently and not so quickly. It works well if, in addition to the mold itself, dark spots have formed on the wallpaper, since peroxide has a whitening effect. It is important to remember this before applying it to a colored surface, as it will definitely corrode some of the paint.
4. Ammonia - very caustic and effective, although it is better not to use it for wallpaper. Its solution with water in a ratio of 1: 1 copes well with fungus on tiles, wood or plaster.

Chemical substances

Due to the prevalence of the problem, household chemicals companies have long since begun producing products to fight fungus on walls. They quickly get rid of pollution, do not spoil the wallpaper, and the result of their action lasts long enough.

The most effective mold control agents on the Russian market are:

• Odorgone Professional for home Is a chemical product made in the USA that helps fight mold odor and prevents it from spreading throughout the apartment.

  The tool has a local effect, and although it does not help get rid of the problem itself, it works great as an accompaniment to other chemistry for cleaning the fungus.

  One bottle of Odorgone costs from 400 rubles, but since its consumption is very economical, it will be enough for a month of daily room processing.

• Cillit bang... The product works quickly, penetrates the wallpaper and can remove small fungi on the wall itself. A single use is enough to completely get rid of the dirt on the wall, and if you repeat the procedure regularly, you can completely get rid of the very focus of the fungus. The product costs from 200 rubles per 750 ml package.
• Sanitol spectra - this tool is used already in cases where the affected area turned out to be too large, and the fungus itself began to spread not on the wallpaper, but on the walls. Sanitol is needed just to clean the plaster from mold, and to glue the wallpaper on the fresh coating.

  In Russia, it is difficult to find this tool in the public domain, although it periodically appears in specialized stores of construction materials. The cost for it starts from 300 rubles per liter.

How to remove with your own hands if all else fails?

If black dots of mold are visible on the wallpaper, this means that the source of the problem is on the wall, which means that conventional cleaning agents cannot cope with the fungus. In this case, only global repairs will help., which will take place in several stages:

1. First of all, you need to rip the wallpaper from the affected area.

   So that after the repair the mold does not appear again, it is recommended to work with an area that is two meters higher than the place of contamination in a radius, so there is a chance to get rid of the foci that did not have time to appear on the wallpaper.

2. The next step is to calculate all the damaged areas. In places where mold grows, the plaster will be soft and pliable.

   It must be cleaned with a metal brush so that the remaining areas are all strong and untouched by the fungus.

3. At the third stage, it is necessary to treat the walls with a chemical composition that will prevent the problem from returning. This is where products like Sanitol Spectra come into play. After applying it, you need to give the chemistry a little time to soak and dry.
4. At the end of the repair, the unevenness of the wall is eliminated with a putty, which, after drying, is treated with chemical agents again. Only upon completion of this stage can the wallpaper be glued again.

Thus, you can save time and money, and most importantly, you do not have to play with the health of the residents of the apartment.

Learn more about how to remove black mold from ceiling and walls living quarters.

What to do to prevent it from appearing again?

So that the problem with mold does not disturb any more, it is worth adhering to a few simple rules:

• avoid moisture accumulation - ventilate the rooms more often, leave the doors of the rooms open, keep the door to the bathroom open as often as possible, since this is where the main danger of fungus formation is;
• prevent condensation from forming on the windows - moisture can drain down and remain in the openings between the wallpaper and the wall, so you need to make sure that the windows have valves to regulate the air flow;
• buy a range hood for the kitchen - this will allow not to overheat the room and not to provoke the appearance of mold behind the stove;
• do not push furniture close to walls - it is imperative to leave a distance of at least 2-3 centimeters so that air can freely pass through;
• do not ignore the smell of dampness in the room - it can signal stagnant moisture.

More global mold control measures include:

• at the next repair, try to use water-repellent paint when treating the walls;
• replace the old plaster with a new one throughout the apartment;
• check the integrity and reliability of the water pipes.

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Conclusion

Summing up, we can say that you can get rid of any mold. However, the appearance of any fungus on the walls should signal that the microclimate in the apartment is disturbed, and it is necessary to fight not only with symptoms in the form of mold on the wallpaper, but also with the very cause of its appearance.