Wet conditions and heavy rains are the enemies of the surface, especially outside. Due to the formation of mold, as well as the formation of algae and moss, it is inevitable that sooner or later green spots or blackening will appear on the walls most exposed to rain and humidity. Mold is made up of microorganisms such as bacteria and spores that are dispersed in the air we breathe, exposing us to possible health damage. In addition, they are not aesthetically pleasing either. Remove mold from the wall It can be quite complicated if you don't know how to do it.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you how to remove mold from the terrace wall to make it as simple as possible.
Remove mold from the wall
One of the elements that would be recommended is pressurized water, because any technique that we use will give us more satisfactory results if we manage to rinse with plenty of water and the pressure of a pressure washer, Except for the convenience of rinsing, it will save us a lot of manual brushing action that is always essential.
Whether we have to clean mold from floors or walls, the cleaning efficiency of a pressure washer is guaranteed by the pressure and flow of the water. An ordinary garden hose can spray 10 atmospheres of water at a flow rate of a few milliliters per second., and the trick of "smothering" the hose with your thumb won't do much good. However, with a pressure washer we can reach pressures of hundreds of bars and flow rates much higher than those that conventional taps can provide.
These are "weapons" that allow you to fight scale, mold and moss. I recommend asking a friend or neighbor about one of these machines, or if you prefer, you can look for one of the best pressure washers and buy your own.
Clean mold with natural products
Mold can be effectively removed with some natural products. The most useful and easiest to find is baking soda, a natural bleach and fungicide that can be mixed with lemon juice (or other citrus extracts), hydrogen peroxide, and essential oils to create a very powerful natural mold inhibitor.
Let’s see 2 basic recipes that we can prepare at home:
Recipe 1
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 700 ml water
- 2 tablespoons fine salt
- 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide (30 or 40 rolls)
To use, dissolve the baking soda and salt in water and pour into a spray bottle. Now add the hydrogen peroxide and gently shake the vaporizer.
Recipe 2
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 5 drops of lemon essential oil
The mixture should be prepared by first dissolving the baking soda in the water, then adding the vinegar, and finally adding the essential oil. Mix well and place in a container provided with a sprayer and ready to use. In both cases, simply apply it to the mold-affected surface and let it sit for a few hours.
This compound imparts a pleasant aroma thanks to the action of the essential oil, which it also has antibacterial properties and counteracts the formation of mold, while bicarbonate has an important whitening effect. This solution softens the layers of the mold and facilitates their separation. It is very important to shake the mixture gently before use.
In some cases the mold is more localized and we can use a cleaning paste. In this case, we can mix equal parts baking soda, salt and hydrogen peroxide, apply in a fan, let stand for a few hours and rinse with plenty of water, preferably with a pressure washer.
Cleaning to remove mold from the wall
Whether your exterior is brick, wood, vinyl siding, concrete, etc. Mold growth may occur. Even if you treat the exterior walls with a fungicide, as you often do with wood paint to prevent rot, mold can easily appear in joints and corners.
Relatively easy to remove, a hose with enough pressure will kill the mold in no time, make sure you run the residue down the drain or after sweeping, or you'll promote its growth in other areas. It is recommended to regularly clean the exterior walls with a hose to prevent the accumulation of organic matter on the exterior walls.
How often you should clean exterior walls depends on several factors. If parts of the façade are in dark or very dark areas, you should hose down once a month. However, if they are areas exposed to the sun, mold is less likely to develop, so cleaning twice a year is sufficient.
Keep in mind that mildew tends to appear in seams and corners, since this is where organic matter is most likely to be deposited, so you should pay attention to the lower areas of the facades, the areas behind the gutters and awnings, etc. If you let the mold problem slide, you will end up with a big black stain on your exterior wall that is difficult to remove, so the key is to not let the problem slide and find a solution when it is easy to fix.
How to prevent mold
As with everything, prevention is always better than cure. To prevent the formation of mold, it is ideal to apply a mixture of water and vinegar to the walls every four months, which will naturally disinfect the walls and eliminate most of the bacteria that can cause mold. Besides hosing down, there are other ways to help prevent mold from forming on your facade.
- Keep trees, plants and shrubs close to the facade well trimmed and try not to let the branches get too close or touch it. This helps keep the facade more ventilated and prevents organic matter from accumulating on it, thus making it difficult for mold to appear.
- Avoid directing sprinkler systems toward your home, as moisture can increase the chance of mold and mildew growth.
- When installing the siding, ask your installation company what they would recommend to prevent mold growth.
- Prevention is better than cure. Seeing mold anywhere in your home, inside or outside, is a detrimental situation as it can cause additional problems. With proper prevention and treatment, you can keep your exterior clean and provide a safer environment for your family.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how to remove mold from the wall of the terrace.