its growing on the paint of my walls. my landlord comes to paint over it every other month because it grows back after being painted over. is this harmful to me and my childrens health. i have washed the walls down in bleach water with no success. what has to be done?
2007-02-26 16:50:16 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
painting over isn't going to solve the problem. washing the walls with bleach is what you need to do, problem is, it's not long term. so why isn't it?
it sounds like your bathroom doesn't have an exhaust fan, so the moisture from the water sits on the walls and eventually mold spores start to form.
If there is a window in the bathroom, open it up! that'll help immensely.
Otherwise, all you can do is get like a fan and place it in the bathroom so it'll move the water vapors around/out of the bathroom.
2007-02-26 16:54:59 · answer #1 · answered by Eric F 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What color is the mold? If it's black, it may indeed be a health hazard, capable of causing respiratory problems, and even death.
Since the landlord is willing to repaint every other month, there's no shortage of money here. It probably has gotten into the drywall at least a little, so he may as well get that replaced. Drywall isn't so expenisve that it's worth painting every other month... Heck, at that rate, if the drywall only lasts a year he'd probably save some cash... and he could probably put in a fan and check the insulation at the same time.
Next time he paints, make sure he's using high gloss paint. You might also suggest tiling over the walls, since mold can be scraped off of tiles more easily than paint.
Until then, it's YOUR mold, so what to do? Well, maybe you could take slightly shorter showers, because all that warm steam really gets the mold going. If it's just you in the apartment, and there's no fan or window, you might try showering with the bathroom door open. Of course, if you shower long enough to get the whole house steamed up, that will be extremely counterproductive.
You might also try investing in a sponge, and drying off the walls after you shower. That won't exactly help keep your hands clean, but it might slow the mold down enough that the landlord could get away with repainting every third month or so... and after a year or so of that, he should have saved up enough money from unused paint to refurbish your whole appartment complex.
2007-02-26 18:08:30 · answer #2 · answered by ye_river_xiv 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would you say the mold is on the surface of the wall? Or does it seem to be soaking through the paint from inside of the wall?
It may be that the mold is coming from inside the wall, from the insulation. I have seen a room where the drywall was removed, and the mold had completely infested the insulation, and it had soaked through the drywall and finally the paint. The insulation was supposed to be yellow, but it was dark green/black, full of mold.
Get your landlord to cut a small square into your wall, so you can take a look at the insulation. If that's the problem, then he will need to rip out and replace all the insualtion and drywall in the bathroom. It will make a world of difference in there.
2007-02-26 17:07:41 · answer #3 · answered by The Red Orange 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try scrubbing it? Or leaving bleach on for a longer time. You should really consider having your bathroom ventilated. Try leaving the bathroom door open after showers or not running long hot baths cos the water vapor encourages molding. Try keeping your bathroom as dry as possible. No wet clothes or towels hanging inside it if possible. Good luck sweetheart =)
2007-02-26 17:05:20 · answer #4 · answered by Missy8 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Australia we have a product called "Exit Mould" and it works great. Will kill off the mould for several months before it starts to make a comeback.
You need adequate ventilation (as many folks have mentioned).
"Exit Mould" should be used with care though. I find it best to spray it on the walls directly. To do the roof, spray it only a sponge mop and wipe the mop on the roof. Wear eye protection. You don't want this stuff in your eye.
good luck
2007-02-26 17:00:46 · answer #5 · answered by darklydrawl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There needs to be a fan that's vented to the outdoors. Your landlord is an idiot! That kind of mold is not a health hazard but it sure does ruin stuff.
.
2007-02-26 16:53:31 · answer #6 · answered by Kacky 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spray it with X-14 or Bam. Wipe the shower dry after you use it. You may have to move. It is a health hazard.
2007-02-26 16:56:58 · answer #7 · answered by notyou311 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
use more bleach! or move!
2007-02-26 16:58:38 · answer #8 · answered by adriana 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋