Douse the insulation in a bleach solution (1 cup bleach and 1 gallon hot water) and scrape clean with a wire brush.
Mold and mildew can threaten the health of everyone in your household. When portions of insulating material harbor mold spores, then you should replace it. Even if the material dries out, mold spores can become airborne and travel to other wet areas of the house.
Unfortunately, removing mold from insulation is often difficult and more often impossible. Depending on the scale of the problem, some chemicals such as mildicide may be applied to make the mold inert although this is only a temporary fix as the mold re-grows the moment moisture is reintroduced into the space.
The Effects of Using Bleach on Porous Surfaces
By now you should have a pretty good idea that you shouldn't use bleach to attempt to kill mold on a porous surface like wood, drywall, insulation, fabric or cardboard.
You may not think it but bleach is actually 99% water based. So if you were to treat the mold infested area with bleach, you are going to get the opposite effect. The water components encourage the growth of mold, rather than killing the bacteria.
While it is possible to use bleach to kill mold as well, experts agree that vinegar is a much better option. Unlike bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, which means it's less likely to return. Vinegar is also less toxic than bleach, making it a better choice for household use.
White vinegar is a mildly acidic product that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects. It can also kill 82% of mold species, including black mold, on porous and non-porous surfaces. You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle.
In most cases, mold growth on the insulation is found when mold on the roof sheathing is present as well. In these cases the mildicide treatment applied to the roof sheathing will also treat the mold on the insulation.
As mentioned, loose fill insulation like fiberglass becomes discolored when it filters the air leaking from your house. While it might not be immediately noticeable, over time the air leaking from your house carries dust, other particles and moisture, which is what ultimately turns the fiberglass insulation black.
Bleach quickly dries off on the surface and will not reach into the deeper part of the material to the mold's root. So, in a few days or weeks, the mold regains its color and grows back to become even worse than it was before you applied the bleach.
Getting rid of black mold with white vinegar
'Bleach will kill mold spores growing across a hard surface, but if the mold has extended below the surface, then white vinegar is the best choice,' she says. 'The vinegar will penetrate to kill the mold and mildew at the root, preventing it from regrowing. '
Any insulation that turns black and smells muggy has most likely become the victim of mould growth. Mould growth can be easily seen when glasswool insulation becomes discoloured and black patches present. Unfortunately, condensation near your insulation can be the reason for mould growth.
Dirty insulation is a phenomenon that is especially common in older, leaky houses. Air leakage through electrical outlets, wiring penetrations, gaps in the vapor retarder, and gaps around furnace ducting, chimney can cause dark streaks to appear on your insulation.
Mildew (mold in early stage) and molds grow on wood products, ceiling tiles, cardboard, wallpaper, carpets, drywall, fabric, plants, foods, insulation, decaying leaves and other organic materials. Mold growths, or colonies, can start to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.
If you have insulation in any area of your home, you may be wondering how mold looks like on insulation. Mold has a cottony or woolly appearance on insulation and shades of black, green, or brown.
Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions.
It's not mold. This is the result of years and years of air leaking through the insulation; the insulation acts like a filter, and traps all the dust in the air, turning it black. Even though these tiny holes don't seem like a big deal, having them all over your attic can have a huge effect.
Quality manufactured and installed insulation can last as long as 20 years but sometimes has to be upgraded or replaced. One reason for this is mold on insulation, and if it is the toxic black kind, you need to take action as soon as possible.
As a product, spray foam insulation does not attract mold. And unlike wood or metal, spray foam does not rot, rust, or deteriorate. This means that an area properly sprayed with foam insulation will never become a food source or a hospitable environment for a mold colony.
The combination of moisture and warm air can lead to the growth of mold and mildew. In some cases, wet cellulose insulation may also start to rot, which can cause structural damage to your home. If you notice that your cellulose insulation is starting to get wet, it's important to take action immediately.
Fiberglass, a non-biodegradable substance is resistant to mold. With its sharp, ground glass, mold spores puncture before they can attach to it. Mold can grow on the fiberglass insulation backing, which is made of paper and is a mold food source.
Distilled white vinegar is non-toxic but acts much more slowly than chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. While it will kill the mold, the discoloration and stains may remain and require additional scrubbing with a household cleaner. Distilled white vinegar can be used safely on most porous and non-porous surfaces.
While a significant mold infestation is best handled by a professional restoration company, you have a powerful weapon against occasional mold growth in your kitchen cupboard: white vinegar. This humble household staple can kill more than 80% of mold species, including hazardous black mold.