Mold Removal Made Simple: Concrete Floors, Walls & Patios

Taking care of your house means ensuring every part of it is safe, beautiful, and comfortable. So when green or black mold shows up on concrete and starts making your home smell bad or stain your floors, patio, and walls, you need a lasting solution that will restore the surfaces to a clean and healthy look.

Otherwise, mold can cause allergies, breathing issues in kids, pets, and other family members, structural damage to your home, and even affect its curb appeal! So, what to do if you've noticed mold spots on your basement floor, garage wall, or patio?

Well, we have some useful solutions that you can try out! We'll tell you the best ways to handle minor or major problems with mold in your house so your space stays mold-free for a long time!

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Why Mold Grows on Concrete and Why It's Important to Remove It Quickly

Before knowing how to remove molds from concrete, it's important to understand why mold occurs in the first place. So, that's what we'll talk about here. While concrete looks tough on the outside, it's actually full of tiny pores that can hold water and moisture inside them.

And so, when the water from rain and other sources seeps inside these pores, it stays there. That's how it becomes a perfect place for mold to grow. And dust, dirt, or organic debris on patios or basement floors further helps the growth of mold.

That's why you might often see green or black patches on concrete surfaces that stay damp and dirty. Plus factors, like poor air flow and warm, damp conditions, can make mold grow more and spread quickly.

When you ignore the problem of mold in your property, it can cause bigger problems than ugly stains. It can cause -

Structural damage to your home
Weaken sealants
Bad and musty smell in your home
Allergies and breathing problems
Lower indoor air quality and more.

So, the moment you start noticing the obvious symptoms, you should opt for professional mold testing right away! And if the test comes positive, your next step would be to remove the mold once and for all.

How to Do Mold Abatement?

Although you can clean mold yourself, for a long-lasting and more effective solution, it's always best to take help from professionals.

But if you want to go DIY, here are some steps you can follow.

Step 1: Prepare Yourself

Cleaning mold means disturbing it. And you don’t want to breathe in spores or let them touch your skin. So, before you start, you need to -

Put on gloves, safety goggles, and a good mask or respirator.
Wear long sleeves.
Open windows or doors for fresh air.

This keeps you safe and makes the job easier.

Step 2: Dry the Area

Mold always loves to live in damp places. So, if your concrete is wet, your first step would be to dry it. You can use fans, a dehumidifier, or open doors and windows on a sunny day. The drier the surface, the easier it is to scrub away mold.

Step 3: Sweep or Vacuum

Loose dirt can make your cleaning harder. So, before you start, sweep or vacuum the area to get rid of all the dust and debris. This way, you won’t put dirt deeper into the concrete while you scrub the surface.

Step 4: Scrub With a Cleaning Solution

You can tackle small patches of mold on concrete floors, walls, or patios with simple household products.

Spray the moldy area with a solution made of equal parts white vinegar and water and let it sit for about an hour, scrub with a brush, then rinse and dry.
Or make a paste of baking soda and water, spread it on the mold, wait 10 to 15 minutes, scrub, rinse, and dry.

Both options help kill mold and absorb moisture without harsh chemicals.

Step 5: Scraping & Brushing

If the concrete surface has small mold patches, you can scrape off the top layer of mold with a plastic scraper or putty knife. Then scrub the area with a stiff brush and dry it completely.

This removes mold physically without using any chemicals and works well on concrete that isn’t too deeply affected.

Step 6: Use a Pressure Washer

If you have a big or stubborn mold problem, you can use a pressure washer. You can choose one with about 100 - 200 PSI so you don’t damage the concrete.

First, spray a mold-killing cleaner on the area and let it sit for 10 minutes.
Then wash it off with the pressure washer, moving the spray back and forth instead of staying in one spot. Keep the nozzle at least a foot away for your safety.

You can use this method to clean patios, driveways, and even outdoor drains.

Step 7: Opt for Steam Cleaning

You can kill mold with hot steam as well.

For this, you can use a steam cleaner that gets hotter than 300°F. Point the steam at the moldy spot on your concrete floor, wall, or patio and let it work for a few minutes.
The heat kills the mold deep in the concrete. Then wipe the area with a clean cloth to remove the loosened mold and water.

This is an easy, chemical-free way to clean!

Step 8: Using Chemicals

For removing mold, you can also use chemicals like hydrogen peroxide, bleach solution, or ammonia solution. But all these solutions can irritate your skin, eyes, and lungs, leave strong smells, damage surfaces if used too often or in high concentrations, and may be unsafe around children and pets. So, most of the time, it is better to avoid this method.

Step 9: Take Professional Help

If the mold is deep or covers a large area on your concrete floor, wall, or patio, it’s best to call a professional contractor for mold abatement. They have the right tools and knowledge to remove mold safely and find hidden moisture that makes it come back. This saves you time, protects your health, and ensures the mold won’t return quickly.

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Here’s How To Prevent Mold in Indoor Floors, Walls, and Patios

After you’ve gotten rid of mold, you can follow these tips to prevent it from coming back.

Place mats at doors to catch dirt and moisture before it reaches your concrete floors.
Check for leaks in pipes, windows, or walls and fix them quickly.
Seal small cracks on concrete patios where water can sneak in.
Use fans to improve the ventilation of the patio area.
Use a dehumidifier if the air is very damp.
Move furniture a little away from the walls so air can flow behind it.
Clean floors, walls, and patios regularly to stop dust and dirt from feeding mold.

Quick Answers to Your Common Questions on Mold Remediation

Is mold on outdoor patios dangerous?

Usually, outdoor mold is less of a health risk, but it can make surfaces slippery and damage concrete over time. So, you need to take professional help for mold abatement.

Why does mold keep coming back after I clean it?

If the source of moisture isn’t fixed, like a leak, high humidity, or poor ventilation, mold will return no matter how many times you scrub. In those cases, you need to contact a professional mold removal service right away.

How quickly does mold grow on damp concrete?

Mold can start to grow on concrete in just 1 to 2 days if the surface stays damp and warm.

Takeaway

Every year, millions of Americans complain about mold in their homes. And if you've come across this problem too, it's time to take some proper actions to remove mold from your property once and for all.

You can use DIY methods, like scrubbing, home-made solutions, or a pressure washer. But if you're looking for a better and long-term solution, you need to take professional help for mold remediation.

Get Rid of Mold with Our Safe and Effective Process of Mold Abatement in Sacramento at JM Environmental!

At JM Environmental, we are your reliable partners in ensuring your property stays mold-free for a long time. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, we know how to remove mold safely and by following all the necessary protocols.

Our professional mold remediation in Sacramento will give you the peace of mind you are looking for when it comes to removing mold. Our experts are well-trained and have the knowledge to perform the job efficiently, quickly, and with professional care.

So, call us now at 866-726-0304.