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Basement Mold: What It Is, How to Get Rid of It

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Basement mold is a common occurence in homes that are old, flood damaged, or in disrepair. The most common cause of mold is leaking pipes that soak the wood, paint, and drywall. But basement mold can also occur when the basement is not properly finished, and groundwater leaks into the walls. You can tell you have a basement mold problem by smell and sight. It gives off a musty and slightly rancid odor, and frequently appears as black dots or streaks. Some mold may grow out of sight behind walls, under the carpets, or in the air ducts, but you will still smell it!

Basement mold poses not only a cosmetic problem, but a health hazard as well. If not removed, the fumes from this fungus can cause lung damage. If it is accidentally ingested (by touching the mold and then putting your fingers near your mouth) it can also cause severe stomach problems.

What is mold (and mildew)?

Mold is a type of single celled fungus that grows in dense colonies. As a fungus, it is very hardy and can survive by eating a variety of living non-living matter. For example, many varieties of indoor mold, consider paint a favorite food. Not all molds are harmful; many species are used to produce basic foods and medicine, such as cheese and penicillin.

However, molds that belong to the genus Stachybotrys (aka black mold) produce toxins. These are the dangerous molds that homeowners often find in their basements. (Learn to identify black mold so you decide whether to clean the mold yourself, or hire a professional mold remediation company.)

'Mildew' is another generic term for mold, and does not denote any particular variety. People most often use the term 'mildew' when referring to a colony, or patch of mold growth.

How to Get Rid of Basement Mold

Basement mold removal occurs in several stages. The first stage is to clean out the basement by removing all the furniture, carpet, curtains, and other items made of porous materials. This should be done wearing a breathing mask, with the basement windows open if possible.

The next stage is to thoroughly clean the walls, floor, ceilings, and windows with a scraper, sand paper, and disinfectanct solution. Again, it is important to wear a mask. Start by scraping and sanding the mold off the surfaces, and then washing with bleach or a commercial mold removal product.

Also clean the heating and cooling ducts that lead into the basement.

Use fans to help the area dry once you have finished cleaning so that moisture does not encourage more mold growth.

Next, you need find where moisture in entering and seal the basement properly. You can install a pre-fabricated basement finishing system, or fix it yourself. If you don't complete this step, your basement mold problem will return year after year.

Once the basement is cleaned, dried, and sealed, you can refurnish it and repaint it. Be sure not to re-introduce moldy furniture. Be diligent about cleaning the basement frequently and keeping an eye out for new mold growth.

Keep the basement well ventilated to prevent humidity and moisture from building up. You may want to redo the system of air ducts, or put screens in the windows to ventilate with outside air.