Why does black mold appear and how to get rid of it

Such a nuisance as black mold in an apartment is quite common. She does not look aesthetically pleasing, moreover, it poses a threat to health. Mold appears suddenly and for no particular reason, but getting rid of it is not easy. And yet, there are ways to combat black fungus.

Where does black mold come from?

The reason for the occurrence of black mold is high humidity. This environment is ideal for any kind of fungus. Condensation often appears on the ceiling and walls of rooms with high humidity, in which mold actively multiplies. Those who dry clothes in the room are also at risk. In the absence of a balcony, it is better to spend money and purchase a drying machine than to constantly fight the fungus.

There are other reasons for this phenomenon:

• Stagnant indoor air. If it is not ventilated, mold will feel quite comfortable. This usually happens in rooms that are not ventilated for objective reasons, for example, in basements.
• Significant temperature changes, due to which condensation appears on the walls. This often happens in newly built houses if the building materials are not completely dry.
• Lack of daylight source like in bathrooms.

Most often, black mold affects bathrooms. The second place is taken by the kitchen, where there is also enough humidity. Daily washing of dishes adds to it, moreover, not every apartment has a high-quality cooker hood. Often, black fungus can be seen in garages.

Window frames are another weak point. Due to insufficient tightness and temperature fluctuations, condensation on the windows is common. In such conditions, mold feels at ease.

It is almost impossible to destroy mold fungus forever. It survives at sub-zero temperatures and boiling, destructively affects any materials. Malicious spores can destroy even a concrete wall over time.

Black mold in the bathroom

In the bathroom, black mold spores appear most often. It can arise not only due to high humidity, but also due to poor ventilation, as well as old pipes. Since the bathroom is usually tiled, it is difficult to detect fungus. It is often found on sealants, tile joints, or under the tiles themselves. To find the source of infection, you will have to carefully examine the entire room.

Why is black mold dangerous?

Black mold in apartments is not uncommon, but many underestimate the threat it poses. This is the most dangerous type of fungus. Her disputes can provoke the development of allergies, colds and even cancer. The presence of black mold can negatively affect the state of the respiratory system, vision, and the musculoskeletal system.

Moreover, neither filters nor masks will help protect against this muck. When fungal spores get on the skin or mucous membranes, they quickly germinate and begin to harm the body. Symptoms of the infection are constant fatigue and headaches. Sometimes this is the only sign by which you can determine the presence of black mold. The fungus is very cunning and can hide in unexpected places: behind wallpaper, under tiles, in the ground in which indoor flowers grow.

How to get rid of black mold

It takes a lot of work to drive an intruder out of your home. Washing the walls with soap is useless: the mycelium is very tenacious, and the mold will soon reappear. Here are some effective ways to deal with a nuisance:

• The most famous remedy is a mixture of washing powder and soda. Even the cheapest powder will do. A bucket of water will take a pack of baking soda and a tablespoon of powder. Despite the simplicity of the method, it works flawlessly: the fungus does not survive in alkaline water.
• Ordinary vinegar also works well. Wipe the cleaned surface well with a cloth dampened with vinegar and leave for an hour. Then the product is washed off, and the room is ventilated. If the infection is very strong, treatment must be carried out twice a week; vinegar does not pose a threat to health.

• If you need to remove black fungus on non-porous bathroom walls, you can use bleach or a one in ten bleach solution.
• The affected area cleared of the fungus is treated with hydrogen peroxide. However, this tool cannot be used on painted surfaces, since peroxide has a whitening effect.
• You can prepare a solution of potassium permanganate. Take a teaspoon of powder per liter of water. To make the treatment more effective, this liquid does not need to be washed off.
• Sometimes the fungus grows in the ventilation pipe. You can destroy it with a special vacuum cleaner, for which you will have to call specialists from the housing office.
• All old items that have an unpleasant musty smell are best discarded.
• Stationery glue, which is diluted in half with water, can help. True, this simple and inexpensive remedy does not always bring results: it does not work on some types of fungus.

Black mold is an extremely unpleasant phenomenon, but you can fight it. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the apartment, and if signs of black fungus still appear, modern means will help to cope with it.