- 1). Eliminate leaks: The mold is feeding off the dampness caused by them. This means fixing plumbing leaks and preventing water from coming into the house from outside.
- 2). Install a dehumidifier in the room with the mold infestation and run it 24/7. Don't forget to empty it when the bin is full.
- 3). Install fluorescent lights near the mold infestation. Leave them on a few hours each day so the UV light they mildly emit works to kill the mold. A tanning lamp would be even better, if you wear protective eye gear when it is on.
- 4). Scrub away the mold using a mix of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and boric acid. Don't scrub black mold unless it has been thoroughly soaked. Scrubbing dry mold can send it airborne, causing it to spread to other areas in the room and into your lungs---making the job physically tougher to finish. The solution to use is a mix of a half-gallon of 10% H2O2 with a cup of boric acid. Dilute 35% solution with 3 parts water if 10% is unavailable. (A link is provided in the Resources section for online purchase.) Don't use the 3% solution that drug stores sell; it is not concentrated enough. Make only as much solution as you need for four hours, since H2O2 loses its antiseptic quality upon exposure to light.
- 5). Use a layered approach to scrubbing. Scrub away a soaked layer, then wet the layer underneath. Repeat until the mold is gone. If the mold has penetrated too deep into the wall, you may need to bring in a handyman to cut out the affected portion of the wall, bag it, and plaster replacement drywall or sheetrock to fill the hole. While the wall is open, look for signs of mold inside and give them a similar scrubdown.
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