How to get rid of black mold safely, and when not to try

To get rid of black mold safely, treat it like any other mold: fix the moisture, protect yourself, scrub it off hard surfaces with detergent and water, dry the area, and throw away porous material that is moldy. The CDC says all molds should be treated the same with respect to health risks and removal, so black mold doesn't need special chemicals. You can usually handle a patch under about 10 square feet on tile, glass or sealed wood. Black mold on drywall, wallpaper or ceiling tiles is a different job, because it grows into the material and the material has to come out. For that, our page on black mold removal in Charlotte covers what a specialist does and what it costs.

What do you need before you start?

Before you clean black mold, you need the moisture source fixed, the right protective gear, and a plan for what to throw away. The EPA recommends an N-95 respirator, long gloves that reach the middle of your forearm, and goggles without ventilation holes. Have heavy plastic bags ready for cloths, sponges and anything moldy you remove.

A short checklist:

• The water is stopped. A dripping pipe, a leaking window or a shower that never dries will regrow the mold within weeks.
• The patch is small. Under about 10 square feet, on a surface you can scrub.
• Nobody vulnerable is doing the work. People with asthma, allergies or weak immune systems should stay out of the room. The EPA suggests talking to a health professional before cleanup if you have health concerns.
• The room is ventilated. Open a window. Don't run the heating or cooling system if you think mold is inside it.
• You have detergent, a stiff brush, cloths and a fan for drying.

How do you get rid of black mold, step by step?

You get rid of black mold by removing it, not just killing it: scrub it off, wipe it clean, dry the surface, and bag what you used. Dead mold left in place can still cause reactions in some people, so the goal is a clean, dry surface. These steps follow EPA and CDC guidance for small areas.

1. Close the door to the rest of the house and move anything you don't want dusty out of the room.
2. Scrub with detergent and water, working from the edge of the patch inward.
3. Wipe clean with a damp cloth, then bag the cloth.
4. Use bleach only if you choose to, on hard surfaces only. The CDC says no more than 1 cup of household bleach in 1 gallon of water. Never mix it with ammonia or other cleaners.
5. Dry the surface completely with a fan or open window. The EPA says wet areas should dry within 24 to 48 hours.
6. Bag and throw away cloths, sponges and any moldy porous items.
7. Check again in a week or two. If the mold comes back, the moisture problem isn't fixed.

Is bleach or vinegar better for black mold?

Neither is necessary. The EPA's advice for hard surfaces is detergent and water, then drying, and it doesn't recommend bleach as a routine practice. Bleach can be used on hard surfaces, the CDC says, at no more than 1 cup per gallon of water, but it doesn't help on drywall or wood that mold has grown into. Vinegar isn't part of EPA or CDC guidance.

What matters more than the cleaner:

• scrubbing the mold off, not just spraying it
• drying the surface fully
• fixing the moisture so it doesn't come back

If you do use bleach, wear your gloves and goggles, ventilate the room, and never mix bleach with any other product.

When should you not try to remove black mold yourself?

Don't try to remove black mold yourself when it covers more than about 10 square feet, is on drywall, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, carpet or insulation, follows a flood or sewage leak, or is inside the heating and cooling system. Those jobs need containment and removal of building material, which is what a mold remediation specialist does.

Other signs it is a job for a professional:

• the mold comes back after you have cleaned it twice
• you can smell mold but can't find it, which often means it is inside a wall
• the wall or floor feels soft, or paint is bubbling over a large area
• anyone at home has health problems that mold could make worse

How do you remove black mold from a wall?

How you remove black mold from a wall depends on the wall. On tile, glass or a sealed painted surface, you can scrub it off with detergent and water. On drywall, black mold usually grows into the paper face and the gypsum behind it, and the EPA notes that porous materials can be hard or impossible to clean fully. That section of drywall usually has to be cut out and replaced.

Before you cut into a wall, think about what's behind it. Mold on the surface of drywall often means there is more on the back, along with wet insulation and a leak. That is where a specialist's containment matters, because opening a moldy wall puts a lot of spores into the room. Don't paint over it. The EPA says paint over mold is likely to peel, and the mold stays underneath.

Questions people ask

Can you safely get rid of black mold yourself?

Yes, for small patches on hard surfaces. Wear an N-95 respirator, long gloves and goggles without vent holes, as the EPA recommends. Scrub the mold off with detergent and water, then dry the surface completely. For anything over about 10 square feet, on drywall, or after a leak or flood, a specialist is the safer choice.

Is black mold toxic?

Stachybotrys, the mold usually called black mold, can produce mycotoxins in some conditions. But the CDC says all molds should be treated the same with respect to health risks, and that a link between Stachybotrys and serious illness in infants has not been proven. Any indoor mold can cause symptoms in sensitive people, so remove it either way.

How do you get rid of Cladosporium?

Cladosporium is removed the same way as any indoor mold. Scrub it off hard surfaces with detergent and water, dry them, and throw away moldy porous items. It often grows where condensation forms, such as window frames and around air vents, so cutting humidity and condensation is what keeps it from returning. The EPA recommends indoor humidity below 60 percent.

How do you dispose of black mold?

Put moldy cloths, sponges and small porous items into heavy plastic bags and seal them before you carry them through the house, so spores don't spread. For small amounts, check with your trash service if you're not sure how to put it out. For larger amounts of moldy drywall or carpet, the business doing the work usually bags it and takes it away.

What kills black mold on walls instantly?

Nothing kills mold on a wall instantly in a way that fixes it. On a hard, sealed wall, scrubbing with detergent and water removes it, and a dilute bleach solution can be used if you choose. On drywall, mold grows into the material, so surface sprays don't reach it. That section usually needs cutting out and replacing.