Mould on interior walls doesn’t just look unpleasant, it can also be bad for your health.
Mould spreads incredibly quickly. This means one single pore can reproduce many more mould spores in the space of a few days.
Excess moisture from leaks, flooding, or humidity can cause mould to grow on wall surfaces and underneath the paint.
Property experts at Advanced Damp had shared step-by-step instructions for “effectively” removing mould from painted walls “without damaging the existing paint layer”.
The first step is to assess the extent of mould growth on your walls. Check whether the mould is surface mould growing on top of the paint or if there are indications it has spread underneath the paint layer.
Click here to join our Whatsapp community to be the first to receive the latest household hacks
The next step is to prepare the area by removing any furniture, wearing protective gear, opening windows to maximise ventilation and allowing the walls to dry thoroughly after cleaning.
The experts recommend creating a “natural cleaning solution” for surface mould removal that can “kill mould and mildew”.
To do so, mix a cup of white vinegar and a quarter cup of dish soap into a bucket of warm water.
The white vinegar helps “counteract the mould”, while the soap “boosts the cleaning action”.
For extensive mould under paint, consider using baking soda mixed with water to create a paste that can “penetrate and lift the mould from underneath the paint”.
Start with a cup of baking soda to a gallon of warm water, and add more powder if needed to reach a thick paste consistency.
Then begin to use the “mould-killing cleaning mixture” and scrub brushes to scrub affected areas gently.
Apply the solution liberally and scrub at the mould, being careful not to let the bristles damage the paint. Change scrub brushes and cleaning mixture frequently as you work.
Scrub gently in circular motions, but don’t scrub so hard that you damage the underlying paint layer. The goal is to “lift and remove mould without damaging the paint”.
Wipe the walls with clean rags or sponges frequently to absorb excess moisture and remove mould residue.
Work in small sections and keep rinsing your tools and changing rags to prevent the spreading of mould spores.
