Mold is a fungus that grows on various materials. It can even grow in concrete, which means you may have mold growing under your feet as you walk across the floor of your home or office building. Concrete is porous and permeable, and it absorbs moisture from indoor air. Mold needs this dampness to reproduce spores in the presence of organic material quickly. In the case of concrete, that material could be a dead rodent or one small spot of mold growing on wood floors near the door. When your floor is affected with large patches or stains, it can become dangerous to your health and release toxic spores into the air where you breathe. That’s precisely why it needs to be removed. Let’s find out how to remove mold from concrete.
Equipment needed:
- Gloves
- Dust mask
- Protective gloves and goggles
- Bright light source
- Pressure washer
- Bleach
- Brush/Push broom
Mold removal procedure:
– Dry the affected area
Getting out mold from a wet area could be difficult. Dampness could be preventing the chemical from penetrating deep into the affected area to kill mold completely. You could use heat or a fan or even expose the area to sunlight. After drying, you can sweep the area as much of the remaining mold as possible.
-Use pressure washer
Use a pressure washer to clean the area. Compressed air could dry out mold spores and prevent new ones from growing in their place again. You can also use a brush or broom to remove loose mold if you think there’s any stuck on the floor.
– Use bleach
Soak the moldy area with water and add half a cup of bleach for every gallon of water poured. Start by pouring bleach and then using a broom to spread it around. Use a pressure washer to wet the area once again. Bleach is effective because it kills by disrupting the cell structure of a fungus, which causes it to die immediately. In the absence of bleach, you can use vinegar. Vinegar is, however, not as effective as bleach, and it needs to be reapplied. Chlorine bleach is the best cleaner for concrete, but if you’re worried about its safety, then choose safer alternatives like vinegar or borax.
– Rinse with clean water
Rinse the affected area using a high-pressure sprayer. Scrub off any remaining mold if visible. Since bleach is corrosive, you will need to be careful when cleaning it off your floor’s surface. Not only can it damage your floor, but bleach can also wreak havoc on other surfaces nearby if it gets onto them.
– Use commercial cleaners
If the above procedure didn’t get rid of all the mold or if you want to keep it away from your concrete floor permanently, use a commercial cleaner that will seal in the moisture and prevent mold from returning. The best ones include antimicrobial treatments as well as fungicides. Anti-mold coatings made from epoxy resins or polyurethane provide a sound barrier against the future growth of mold on the floor. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to getting rid of mold in as much as concrete is concerned.
– Restrict reoccurrence of mold
Prevent re-growth of mold by keeping the floor dry. Change air filters regularly if there are vents in the room, and also make sure that any windows and doors seal tightly to prevent moisture from getting inside. It’s essential that you also ventilate your living space as mold thrives when there is trapped moisture in still air. You can also prune trees and bushes around the area.
Conclusion
When you have an infestation in your home or office building, don’t settle for just cleaning up the area; remove all traces of mold by cleaning the concrete floor with bleach, pressure washing, and sealing it with a mold sealant to avoid re-growth. San Bernardino Concrete are experts in mold removal from concrete. Contact us now or call at (909) 435-0788.