Mold on wallpaper: reasons for its appearance, how to treat it, how to remove it

As soon as mold appears on various surfaces of the apartment, it should be removed immediately. Otherwise, it will not only spoil the appearance of the walls, but will also have a very negative impact on the health of all household members. To remove mold from wallpaper, it is not necessary to re-glue it. Under certain conditions, you can do without cosmetic repairs by simply using industrial fungicides or home remedies. But simply disinfecting the room will not be enough. In order to completely destroy mold, it is necessary to create unfavorable conditions in the apartment for its proliferation - reduce humidity, increase temperature and allow sunlight to freely penetrate the rooms. It is this set of measures that will allow us to completely forget about this problem.

What is mold and its harm to humans?

Mold is a colony of toxic single-celled fungi. Their spores are extremely dangerous to human life and health. Once in a favorable environment (optimal conditions: absence of light, oxygen flow, high humidity), the spores multiply very quickly and enter the human body by air, provoking:

a sharp deterioration in general health;
constant headaches;
development of acute allergic reactions;
decreased human immunity;
the appearance of diseases of the respiratory system.

Pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk.

Introduction

The fungus spreads through the air in the form of spores that settle on wood, stone, concrete and many other types of surfaces. Mold spores are present in any room, but under favorable conditions they become especially active and cover large areas. A musty smell in the room clearly indicates the presence of mold.

Colonies quickly grow and take over new territories for the simple reason that mold feeds on almost anything: fabrics, plaster and even oil paint. Wallpaper is an excellent breeding ground for spores, so mold happily settles under the canvases and on their surface. The depressing smell of rot becomes a kind of calling card of old houses and premises that have not been renovated for a long time.

People who constantly live in moldy rooms often suffer from allergies, asthma, and dermatitis. Failure to correct the problem in a timely manner can lead to more serious illnesses.

Note! The ideal conditions for the development of fungus are a temperature of +20 °C and a relative humidity of 70%, that is, the usual environment of apartments and private houses.

Reasons for appearance

Factors contributing to the development of mold fungi:

High humidity.
Lack of ventilation. The lack of fresh air flow (hermetically sealed windows) creates a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Furniture moved close to the walls disrupts natural air circulation.
Lack of insulation (sharp temperature difference in the wall). Violations of the construction process, insufficient waterproofing of floors (and sometimes its complete absence) lead to sharp temperature changes in the wall in the autumn-winter period, which has a beneficial effect on the proliferation of mold fungi.
The influence of dampness from the basement or poor insulation on the roof. For residents of the first and last floors of apartment buildings, the problem of mold is known. This is because leaking floors, roofs, and damp basements are an ideal environment (damp and dark) for the growth of mold fungi.

Where is mold most likely to be found in a home?

In a private home, stains can appear everywhere - on the floor, ceiling, in corners, on furniture. It depends on where exactly the problem is.

It's a little easier with an apartment. Mold usually appears in high-rise buildings:

In the bathroom, where the microclimate is ideal for her. If there is no or poor hood without draft in the bathroom, and the door is closed all the time, then mold will appear in a couple of months.
On plastic windows. The reason is condensation due to temperature changes.
Stains appear on corners and walls due to poor waterproofing of concrete slabs and poor ventilation.

Mold under wallpaper after renovation

There are several reasons why mold fungi appear immediately after repairs:

Use of low-quality, already contaminated building materials. Most often these are sheets of plasterboard, the layered structure of which perfectly preserves pathogenic microorganisms.
Installation of super-tight metal-plastic window blocks.
Mistakes made by craftsmen during repairs. So, by gluing new wallpaper onto damp plaster or putty, after a while you can find fresh traces of mold on the decorative wall.

Useful tips

Useful tips will also help you avoid the appearance of mold:

The basement must be well insulated, and interpanel seams must be repaired if necessary.
Give preference to hinged models of metal-plastic windows, which will provide effective ventilation.
It is advisable to install an additional hood.
If there is groundwater and melt water in the basement, the problem should be eliminated to prevent it from entering the apartment.
Try to complete the repairs before the onset of autumn or start gluing wallpaper after turning on the central heating.

It is not easy to destroy mold on wallpaper on your own, but it is possible if you follow all the recommendations. If possible, you should seek help from professionals. When starting a renovation, before gluing the wallpaper, you need to treat the walls with an antiseptic solution in order to prevent the appearance of mold in the future.

How to stop the spread

You can stop the development of mold colonies:

saturating the room with sunlight and air;
installing a forced ventilation system;
providing an influx of warm, dry air (temperature 20-23C). Electric heating devices will come to the rescue;
Having eliminated sources of dampness, carry out wet cleaning more often using antibacterial drugs.

Mold in the washing machine: diagnosis or death sentence?

Mandatory protective equipment

When treating surfaces with antibacterial drugs, it is very important to use personal protective equipment:

specialized clothing (robe, overalls);
respirator (protects the respiratory system);
special glasses;
latex gloves.

When cleaning walls, ceilings, and floors, it is important to ensure that the room is well ventilated. It is necessary to avoid contact of antiseptics and antifungal drugs with the skin. After finishing work, be sure to take a shower.

How to detect mold under wallpaper

Mold colonies appear very quickly. The first signs that fungal spores are growing under the wallpaper will be small black spots on the surface. Most often they can be seen in corners, on the wall behind furniture.

In the room where mold fungi develop, there is a rather persistent, very unpleasant smell of mustiness and dampness. Upon entering, you feel like you are entering a basement.

Degree of infection

The previous instructions suggest radical methods of control - remove all contaminated materials. If you add preventive methods to this, then you can get rid of the fungus once and for all, contrary to the common myth that says that mold cannot be killed.

But is there really a need for such difficult and costly actions to destroy mold under the wallpaper? What to do if fungi appear in a small area?

The critical figure is considered to be 20% of surface damage. If the colony has grown to this size, then radical measures will have to be taken. Otherwise, you can try to kill the fungus from the outside - burn it out with bleach, vinegar or a special spray. Such measures can be crowned with success, especially if the wallpaper is not multi-layered and not embossed, otherwise the mold will persist and will soon grow.

But what you definitely cannot do is mask the stain - cover it with new decoration, painting or furniture. This will make the situation even worse.

How to deal with large-scale pollution

When mold has grown not only into the wallpaper, but also into the layer of plaster, following a clear algorithm of actions will help eliminate the problem.

Removing wallpaper

Rip off contaminated coverings ruthlessly. If fungi have grown into the layer of plaster, hopes that black stains from the wallpaper can be removed with a damp cloth are in vain.

Mechanical cleaning of walls

Using a spatula, remove the layer of plaster under those parts of the decorative coating that have become infected.

Treatment of walls with construction chemicals against fungus

There is a fairly wide selection of anti-mold drugs available to the consumer (Fitoline, Xiolate). Having chosen the most suitable composition for yourself, the product is diluted with water according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the affected areas of the decorative coating are treated. Experts recommend re-treatment no earlier than six hours after the first.

Subsequent treatment of walls with antiseptics

Upon completion of treatment with an antifungal solution, the wallpaper is additionally coated with special antiseptic agents. They are presented to the consumer in a large assortment, and there is no need to breed them. An antiseptic prevents the appearance of fungus.

Puttying walls and wallpapering

After the dark spots of mold have been removed, you can begin decorating the surface. First, it is treated with finishing putty, and then covered with new wallpaper.

Instructions for cleaning walls from fungal colonies

How to get rid of mold under wallpaper? To do this, follow the step-by-step instructions:

Clear passage to the contaminated area. Remove furniture and carpets after inspecting them for stains.
You can dry the wall naturally, through an open window, but it is better to use a hair dryer, air heater or any household heater.
Remove all damaged areas - pieces of wallpaper and plaster down to the concrete. You need to capture the area with a reserve.
Sand the area thoroughly with fine-grit sandpaper.
Treat the slab with an antifungal spray, impregnation or special primer. At least 3-4 times, each time waiting until the previous layer has completely dried.
If possible, illuminate the wall with a UV lamp.
Prime the slab with a special antiseptic primer. Plaster.
Paste new wallpaper.

How to remove local manifestations of mold

You can quickly and effectively remove local foci of mold fungi by following a clear algorithm of actions:

Determine the location of mold fungi.
Wipe the infected area of the wallpaper with a damp sponge.
Treat dark spots with hydrogen peroxide or diluted sting solution.
Dry the treated area of wallpaper very well.
Carry out wet cleaning in the room, treat the infected area with an ultraviolet lamp.
Check ventilation. Move the furniture slightly away from the wall.

Fungus in the bathroom - causes, consequences and solutions

Folk remedies

There are a sufficient number of folk remedies that help quickly remove the fungus:

Copper sulfate. To treat the damaged area, prepare a solution at the rate of 5 liters of water, 50g. copper sulfate. Thoroughly stir the resulting solution, and use a roller to very carefully treat the surface area contaminated with mold.
Chlorine-based bleaches. The main active ingredient in bleach, sodium hydrochloride, is the worst enemy and killer of mold spores. Important: chlorine is a highly toxic substance. You can work with bleach only in a well-ventilated area, using personal protective equipment (gloves, respirator). For treatment, use a solution prepared at the rate of five liters of water and half a liter of bleach. The product is applied with a roller or stiff brush.
Laundry soap is effective when the fungus is just beginning to germinate. To treat damaged areas, rub a bar of soap and dissolve it in 10 liters of warm water. A strong soap solution is applied to the wall and allowed to dry thoroughly. The treatment is repeated several times.
Vinegar is a non-toxic remedy for fighting mold spores. Vinegar is sprayed onto the wall, and then the loose layer of mold is scraped off with a spatula. It is necessary to wear a respirator when working with vinegar, as its smell is very strong and unpleasant.
Baking soda combined with vinegar gives an excellent result for combating mold damage. Soda is diluted with vinegar to form a paste or slurry. The resulting product is used to treat the required area until the black spots disappear.
Borax (also known as sodium tetraborate) is non-toxic and most effective for combating mold. To prepare the product, dissolve a glass of borax powder in three liters of water. The solution is applied to the surface with a stiff brush, simultaneously removing the visible black layer of fungus.
Ammonia or ammonium hydroxide. Water and ammonia are poured into the sprayer (ratio one to one). The resulting product is thoroughly sprayed over the infected surface. After an hour, when the wall is completely dry, the treatment can be repeated. Important: ammonia emits a pungent, toxic odor. It is necessary to work with this product using a respirator.
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective, non-toxic drug in the fight against mold. Apply peroxide, without diluting, to the damaged area and leave until completely dry. The treatment is repeated several times. Attention: hydrogen peroxide whitens surfaces well. Do not use it on unstable painted surfaces
Tea tree oil has unique antibacterial and antifungal properties. Dissolve a few drops of tea tree oil in 250 ml of water. The resulting mixture is sprayed onto the stain.
A UV lamp is effective for the initial manifestations of mold infection, as well as for prevention purposes. The treatment time for the damaged area is 10-15 minutes.

What to do if the affected area is huge?

If you accidentally looked behind a closet or modular cabinet furniture, and literally all the wallpaper there changed its color to gray-black, the sequence of actions is as follows:

Make this room temporarily uninhabited, remove all furniture, which should also be treated with fungicidal agents.
Open the window and ventilate the room well.
Remove the wallpaper, place it neatly in a bag and immediately take it out of the living room.
Dry the walls using hot air and ultraviolet light.
Proceed with processing using all possible means, alternating them with each other.
After each treatment, let the wall dry completely.
Be sure to clean the floor in this room several times a day using chlorine-containing products, as fungal spores can settle on the surface.

Be sure to establish what exactly caused the massive development of fungus under the wallpaper, paying attention to such nuances as:

Drying laundry in large quantities

Makes the air humid, which is especially good for the development of fungus under the wallpaper. Take your laundry out onto the balcony or street, or use a household dryer.

Dampness of the outer wall

It is necessary to insulate it in any convenient way, otherwise the temperature difference in winter will provoke condensation, especially in the corners, which will create the most comfortable conditions for mold. In the blink of an eye, huge circles grow from the black dot.

Cold floor and lack of proper heating

The drier the air, the worse it is for mold.

Use humidifiers wisely, ensuring the humidity does not exceed the recommended humidity.

If there was plaster under the wallpaper, it will have to be removed. The task is not easy, but you will have to bother, otherwise subsequent wallpapers will suffer the same fate.

Store products

Top most effective store-bought anti-mold medications:

Dali (Russia). Available in 5 liter containers. The product is intended for treating any surface. Dali is a universal remedy, effective not only against mold fungi, but also against moss and other manifestations of dampness.
Fongiflud Alpa (Russia) is produced in containers of 2, 5, 20 liters. The product is intended for treating surfaces against fungus inside the house, from the facade. The drug retains its antiseptic properties even at low temperatures.
Olympus stop mold (Russia) is an ideal remedy for fungus and mold spores affecting the surfaces of bathrooms, living quarters, basements, cellars. The product is suitable for treating any surface.
Biotol spray is an environmentally friendly antiseptic. Non-toxic, safe for residential use.
Ftlas mykos (Poland). The main active ingredient is ammonia. The drug is effective in combating mold spores and perfectly removes damp stains.

Getting rid of mold in the bathroom forever

How to remove mold without tearing off wallpaper

The need to remove wallpaper in order to remove mold is easy to determine. Tear up a small section of the wallpaper and carefully inspect the wall underneath. If the plaster is dry and light-colored, then mold fungi can be removed without removing the wallpaper.

Wallpaper paper

Removing mold from paper wallpaper is a labor-intensive and troublesome task. Under no circumstances should they be wet. A soft brush, a hairdryer, and a lot of patience will help remove dark spots.

Dry the wallpaper and carefully remove the stain with a soft brush.

Non-woven, acrylic, washable, vinyl wallpaper

This type of wallpaper is characterized by good resistance to moisture and abrasion. You can clean dark stains from such surfaces using any chemical or folk remedies.

Cleaning different types of wallpaper

It is recommended to fight the fungus with drastic means. If repairs are not planned in the near future, you can try cleaning the wallpaper. However, it is worth keeping in mind that this can only give temporary results.

Methods for cleaning wallpaper depending on the type:

Paper wallpaper. It is not easy to clean such wallpaper without consequences. First you need to dry them. Use a hairdryer or iron, and then carefully clean the spores with a soft brush. If the wallpaper comes off during the procedure, you need to clean the primer layer underneath it and then glue it back. After drying, dry again with a hairdryer. When using this method, streaks may remain on the surface.
Washable wallpaper. This category includes acrylic and non-woven samples. To eliminate mold, it is necessary to prepare bactericidal preparations that kill spores. If mold is present under the wallpaper, you should carefully remove the covering and then glue it back.

It is very difficult to remove mold without complete repair. Folk and industrial preparations will most likely give only temporary results. Repairs will still need to be done in the future.

When you can't handle it on your own

In a situation where time is lost, mold fungi have managed to grow, penetrate the plaster and begin to destroy the brickwork, it will no longer be possible to eliminate the problem on your own. The solution will be major repairs or disinfection carried out by SES specialists.

Professional disinfectors use a whole range of techniques: gas treatment, cleaning surfaces with cold or hot steam. Special devices - thermal imagers - help to accurately diagnose the degree of damage by mold spores.

What to do to prevent mold from occurring again

You can prevent the appearance and growth of mold fungi by creating a certain microclimate and following certain rules:

check the ventilation system regularly;
if necessary, install a forced ventilation system;
During the day, open the curtain to let in ultraviolet rays;
do not close the door to the bathroom (provided there are no people there);
never dry clothes in living rooms;
When cooking, turn on the hood and open the window;
monitor the serviceability of plumbing fixtures;
ruthlessly throw away things contaminated with mold spores;
ventilate the apartment regularly;
think over a competent home insulation system.

Removing mold from wallpaper is difficult, but possible, subject to timely reaction and knowledge of the most effective methods for solving the problem.

Preventive measures

What should I do to prevent mold from appearing under the wallpaper in my apartment? To do this, you need to follow the following recommendations:

improve the heating system;
insulate the home;
establish normal ventilation with good draft.
do not dry a lot of things in the rooms;
do not place furniture along freezing walls;
install a hood in the kitchen;
install an air conditioner to maintain an optimal microclimate;
eliminate all leaks;
wipe the walls after using the shower;
if necessary, reduce the number of flower pots.

The most important items on the list are the first three. If they are followed, the remaining recommendations are not so significant.