White mold in the basement - why this fungus is dangerous

The most favorable place for mold to appear is the cellar. The cause of the fungus may be poor ventilation and waterproofing, and as a result - increased humidity and harmful spots on the ceiling and walls. Anyone who is worried about their health should remember that if mold wounds on the walls, then the fungus will spread very quickly to the products contained in the basement and significantly reduce their shelf life. White mold in the basement, why the fungus is dangerous and what harm it can cause to health, we will consider in the article.

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Where do fungi and mold come from?

A successful mold control strategy is not possible without identifying the cause of its occurrence. Mold spores are microscopically small and can surround us literally everywhere. When mold spores find a place with optimal conditions for their life, they settle there and begin to develop, forming a mycelium (mycelium), penetrating deeper into materials and forming new spores.

That cellar is an ideal place for the propagation of fungi for the following reasons:

  1. Lack of circulation - almost no air enters the basement or cellar.
  2. High humidity.
  3. Condensation
  4. Poor waterproofing.
  5. Long-term storage of spoiled products.
  6. Sometimes in the cellar, shelving boards infected with wood fungus are used.
  7. Close proximity to the groundwater table.

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How to learn about the appearance of mold?

The first signs of the appearance of a fungus that should encourage you to find a solution to how to deal with mold in the cellar are:

  • Stale, musty air. The main feature of the fungus is the ability to absorb the substances it needs from the environment. When processing them, mold spores emit carbon dioxide, as well as toxins and ethers, which produce a specific, familiar smell of fungus.
  • The appearance of water droplets on the walls, in the ceiling and other structures of the basement. Since the cellar has high humidity, condensation forms on the walls and moisture cannot evaporate due to poor waterproofing and ventilation.

Important! To forget about the fungus problem forever, you need to establish not only a good ventilation system, but also eliminate all possible sources of water entering the cellar. If you normalize the humidity in the room, you just have to get rid of the already formed mold on the walls.

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What are the types of fungus in the cellar and how to determine them?

The fungus is the oldest organism on the planet. Mold is the folk name of the fungus. In our conditions, in the house and office premises, the following types of fungus are found:

  1. Mold fungus. Usually found and appears on concrete, stone, as well as on any other surfaces treated with low-quality paint. Mold fungi are spots of black, brown, green or blue. Such a fungus is able to destroy the entire decoration of the house and all the material, so it is natural that you need to find the most effective way to deal with mold in the cellar.
  2. Blue fungus.It is very dangerous for a wooden house, as it affects the structure of wooden coatings and paints the tree blue. The appearance of blue fungus leads to increased moisture in the wood and the penetration of other types of mold. It is these changes that affect pine.
  3. Rotting fungus damages exclusively wooden surfaces. There are several types of such a fungus:
    • Bacterial rot. Negatively affects the strength of the tree and stains it in gray.
    • Brown rot. Able to split even the strongest wood.
    • White rot. Very quickly destroys the material - 4 cm oak planks white rot can destroy within a month.

Important! White mold in the basement is very dangerous and requires special attention. She is able to quickly move to any neighboring rooms.

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What is dangerous fungus?

Mold spreads quickly enough on all surfaces. The fact that the fungus fills the entire wall is half the trouble. Much more dangerous are mold spores that enter the body through the airways, settling in the lungs. Also, spores of microorganisms can penetrate into a person through the skin, hygiene items and food.

Some types of fungi provoke the development of diseases such as:

  • Asthma.
  • Migraine.
  • Various diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
  • Sinusitis.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Stomach upset.
  • Nosebleeds
  • Skin rashes.

Important! Prolonged exposure of the fungal spores to the human body can lead to internal bleeding, damage to the liver and kidneys, and emphysema. Human poisoning by mold is called mycosis. You can diagnose the presence of a disease or allergy to a particular mold in any laboratory or allergocenter.

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How to deal with mold in the cellar and basement?

As soon as you understand the main causes of mold in the basement, take up the fight against it. Today, there are 3 effective fungus control methods that can successfully remove mold from any room. In addition to these techniques, there are also special chemicals, as well as folk remedies aimed at the complete destruction of the fungus.

tumblr_nm5ffdNtZx1uq5k5xo1_500Most mold control methods involve major repairs in the basement with disinfection and improved ventilation, as well as waterproofing. How to carry out these works - we will consider a little later, and now we will tell you what to do if only small areas are covered with mold, and the risk of their reappearance is too small.

Prevention and control of small mold

To do this, use the so-called preventive techniques. The most popular solution is as follows: Mix 10 liters of water with 250 ml of 40% formalin. Treat the affected area with the prepared solution, and after the agent has dried, plaster and re-whiten the walls and ceiling.

Important! If the cellar has good ventilation, then after such treatment, mold will never bother you.

Capital measures

If the fungus has affected vast areas of the room, then in this case the following methods will help you:

  1. Active heating of all infected rooms with warm air.
  2. The use of potent drugs and anti-mold solutions.
  3. Repair, which includes the replacement of damaged infected wood panels, as well as the repair and improvement of ventilation.

Consider how to conduct activities to combat the fungus, and what means and materials to use.

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We derive the mold sequentially: the stages of work

The fight against mold in the cellar or basement should be comprehensive and include several stages.

Stage number 1. Room preparation

Room preparation includes the following steps:

  1. Fully empty the cellar to provide access to all surfaces as well as possible mold habitats. To do this: remove all racks, cans, food stored in the cellar.
  2. Remove all furniture and items stored in the cellar so that they can be carefully examined and, if necessary, cleaned and disinfected. In addition, all unnecessary items will interfere with the processing of the premises, and you must deal with mold in the cellar or basement very carefully and scrupulously.
  3. Determine how deep the mold penetrated the walls, surfaces of materials.

Important! Many experts recommend using drastic measures to completely get rid of mold, since if the upper layer of the fungus is eliminated, this may not give any result.

  1. Remove the wallpaper (if any), clean all the walls with a metal brush. Pay particular attention to areas of plaster that have become loose or soaked.
  2. If the floor is earthen, then remove the topsoil (10-20 cm), as it is also likely to be affected by mold.
  3. Clear out the cellar, removing all accumulations of fungus. Throw affected wooden structures, as the tree must have rotted almost through and through.
  4. Dry thoroughly after cleaning.

Important! To deal with mold in the cellar for sure, take your time, act sequentially, paying attention to every centimeter of surfaces.

Stage number 2. Disinfection

The fungus cannot be simply removed; it must be destroyed and destroyed. You can use specialized antiseptics for this purpose, which have antifungal and antibacterial effects, as well as folk remedies.

Disinfect as follows:

  1. Clean the walls with a cleaning agent. This will help not only remove the film from the cement, but also open the pores of the material.
  2. On the affected areas, apply special preparations that neutralize mold, for example, dilute dry antifungal powder with water (following the instructions), and apply the product on the walls with a roller or brush. Cover all the walls completely, and not just the affected areas, to get rid of fungal spores.

Important! Apply an antifungal agent with a margin of 1 meter from the affected area so that micro-mycetes invisible to the eyes do not infect new surfaces. Treat the affected area at least two (preferably three) times, and only after the previous layer is completely dry.

  1. After treatment with an antifungal agent, cover the walls with a deep penetration primer. For example, “Universal” or “ArmMix Universal” acrylate primer can be used. These products have antiseptic properties, and also make the surface more durable.
  2. Prepare the waterproofing composition, according to the instructions on the packaging, and apply it on the walls.
  3. Repeat the primer procedure.
  4. Plaster and plaster the walls.
  5. Carry out the primer procedure again.
  6. Leave the treated room for about 3 days, providing good ventilation.
  7. If desired, paint or wallpaper the walls.

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Method for removing mold using sulfur

For disinfection, experts recommend the use of sulfur dioxide vapor (sulfur block). Due to its state of aggregation, sulfur fights against mold and fungus in the most inaccessible places. Use a time-tested tool as follows:

  1. Block all vents and outlets.
  2. Place the sulfur checker in a stable metal container.
  3. Set fire to the saber and quickly leave the room, closing the door behind you.
  4. Leave sulfur to act on the fungus for several hours, and preferably at night.
  5. After 10 hours, thoroughly ventilate the treated area.
  6. After processing the premises, walls, floor and ceiling, whitewash with slaked lime.

Folk disinfectants

To combat mold in the cellar, you can use the following folk recipes:

  1. Treat affected surfaces with normal whiteness.
  2. An effective anti-mold agent is citric acid. For maximum effect, use a concentrated composition: in 1 liter of water, dissolve 100 g of citric acid powder.
  3. Dilute formalin and bleach with water. Carefully treat all surfaces with the resulting product.

Important! This recipe can be used as a preventive measure to prevent the appearance of fungus.

  1. Mix 1 kg of slaked lime with 100 g of copper sulfate and dissolve the mixture in two buckets of water. Pour the solution into the spray bottle and treat the walls.
  2. Dissolve 1 kg of salt and 100 ml of boric acid in 5 l of boiling water. Apply the product on the walls.
  3. With a deactin solution, treat the shelving and all painted surfaces.

Important! Perform the disinfecting procedure with deactin in the open air to avoid poisoning.

Stage number 3. Creating normal indoor conditions

To get rid of the fungus in the cellar forever, it is necessary not only to remove all visible and invisible accumulations, but also to create such conditions that the mold can never appear in the room, and even more so, exist and multiply.

For this:

  1. Even at the construction stage, you need to worry about good waterproofing of the cellar, not only outside but also inside. External waterproofing involves a well-equipped drainage system, that is, equipment for a drainage system, drainpipes and slopes on the porch and roof. If at least one of these elements is missing, it must be urgently put into operation.
  2. As soon as the external waterproofing is put in order, proceed to the internal:
    • Dry the room and get rid of the crumbling coating.
    • Using a metal brush, clean the cracks and fill them with putty or cement mortar.
    • As soon as the plaster dries, apply an antifungal agent to the surface of the walls and coat all the walls and ceiling with waterproofing material.
  3. Carefully monitor the condition of the concrete floor screed and remove any gaps in time. We recommend covering the concrete screed with expanded clay or other moisture-resistant material.
  4. Circulate the air in the cellar or basement. Ventilate the room as often as possible by performing this procedure at least once a day for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Arrange the ventilation by making several holes in the doorway, providing free space under the door.

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Important! To ensure ventilation, two pipes can be taken out of the room, one from the floor, the other from the ceiling. Thus, oxygen will constantly get into the cellar and prevent the appearance and reproduction of mold.

  1. Move all objects away from walls to prevent condensation.
  2. To reduce the humidity in the basement, periodically use a heater. You can use heated ceramic bricks, placing them around the perimeter.
  3. To absorb excess liquid, place a container of quicklime in the corners of the cellar.
  4. Make sure that all containers with liquid compositions in the basement are tightly closed.
  5. Take preventive measures to control the fungus annually. To do this, carefully clean the cellar and thoroughly dry the room. Spend this event on warm, sunny days, at the same time, handle all racks and other items with soapy water and dry them in the bright sun. After drying, treat the cellar with an antibacterial agent and dry for several days.

Useful Tips:

  • If mold is not visible in the house or cellar, then still carry out preventive treatment. For example, treat all surfaces that are prone to mold with monarda essential oil. A natural remedy has a very powerful antiseptic effect.
  • If you find small brown spots on the walls in the basement or cellar, then get rid of them with table vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Put the selected product on a cotton pad and treat the problem area.
  • Constantly monitor the temperature in the cellar. If the storehouse is too hot during the winter, leave the door, vent cover or hatch open for a short time until the temperature drops to the required levels.If on the contrary - it is too cold in the storage, then use heating devices or cover the stored supplies with insulating materials. For example, in rural areas, a thick layer of straw or snow is sprayed outside the cellar hatch, and to lower the temperature, snow is cleared from the hatch.
  • To check the quality of the ventilation opening, bring the burning candle to the ventilation outlet (do not forget to close the basement door tightly first). If the flame sways, then there is air movement.
  • It is possible to improve the circulation of air in the storage using an exhaust fan by installing it on the ventilation hole. A small forced draft fan will not only improve air exchange, but will also prevent the formation of dampness.
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Precautions when processing the room:

  1. Before treating the cellar with chemicals, wear protective clothing and use a respirator or gas mask. Protect your hands with rubber gloves.
  2. Never touch the mold with your hands or sniff it. It can be dangerous to your health.
  3. After processing the room with special means, immediately leave it and do not go in until the basement is ventilated.
  4. Never eat moldy foods. Remember that the disease is easier to prevent than to treat.
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The fight against mold involves the use of special antiseptic agents, improved ventilation and waterproofing, as well as the constant implementation of preventive measures. If you adhere to just such a scheme, use our tips and tricks, then you will never have the problem of the appearance of a fungus, and you can protect your home from its harmful spores.

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