How to Kill Basement Mold

Mold is often the result of a leak or flood invading your basement. Basements are naturally damp areas anyway, and it only takes one or two spores for mold to take root. If not taken care of promptly, mold can take over your basement and your home.

1. Open any doors and windows in the basement to provide as much ventilation as possible.


2. Use a dehumidifier to remove as much moisture from the basement as you can.


3. Take everything out of the basement. If cardboard boxes are wet and moldy, you should throw the cardboard away and re-box cleaned items in a new, clean box. Paper items, such as books and old newspapers, may be too damaged to save and may need to be thrown away as well. If blankets or clothing are affected, wash them in hot water with 1 cup of vinegar added to the wash.


4. Mix equal parts bleach and water in a spray bottle. Spray every surface in the basement with the bleach and water mixture. Wipe the bleach and water away with a towel.


5. Spray the basement again with a bleach and water mixture, but let the solution sit for at least 20 minutes. Spray again with the bleach and water and wipe down with a towel.


6. Remove carpeting, if the basement has any, and take it outside to dry. If the carpet cannot be cleaned completely, you will need to discard it.


7. Fill a bucket with three parts bleach and one part water. Use a stiff broom or brush to scrub the mixture over the basement floor. Rinse with fresh water and scrub again with the bleach and water solution.


8. Continue to run a dehumidifier until all the moisture is removed from the basement. Clean all of the items you removed from the basement with bleach and water before putting it back into the basement.