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Mold on Baseboard: Causes, Dangers, Prevention, & Removal

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in moist environments. Depending on the source, you might also see it growing on baseboards near poor plumbing or in rooms with bad ventilation.

Mold needs some moisture to grow, and water can make a space more humid. If you’re living in a humid area, mold can grow because of the damp air. This is especially possible if there was never a leak or issue with sunlight, as mold thrives by getting nutrients from the air. This is why its common to find mold on baseboards near the shower.

Bathrooms are generally humid, this is why mold can rapidly grow if they’re not cleaned regularly. You might even find mold growing in hidden places, such as behind the closet or on baseboards because these areas hardly ever get any light.

Mold comes in different colours, depending on the type found. Let’s find out more about the different types that grow on baseboards, and how to remove them.

Mold on Baseboard: Types, and Best Removal Treatment at Home

TypeRemoval Treatment

Black mold

Spray the mixture of water, vinegar and baking soda on the mold and clean with a sponge soaked in detergent-mixed water.

Brown mold

Create a mixture of detergent, water and bleach and scrub the moss. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.

White mold

Spray a mixture of baking soda and water onto the mold and scrub it.

Green mold

Spray the mixture of water and baking soda or vinegar onto the mold area and scrub it with a sponge soaked in detergent water.

Black Mold on Baseboard

Black mold is a non-specific term used for a number of different molds. You can identify it by the black dots that surround it.

Although some people think Black Mold is always colored black, it can also be green-ish. This is because there are several types of Black Mold and not all are the color black.

Why Does Black Mold Grow on Baseboards?

Black mold grows when there is a water leak or the baseboard is wet because of water from outside. It can also grow if the room is humid without proper ventilation or sunlight. It grows on organic materials such as wood or paper.

How To Remove Black Mold On Baseboards:

  1. Wear a facemask made to clean mold and cover your entire body to keep you safe from mold spores. Use high quality gloves.

  2. Create a mixture of distilled white vinegar, water and baking soda

  3. Spray the mixture liberally on and around the area infected with mold, and let it sit for 5 minutes

  4. Remove the mold that’s visible by using a sponge with soap.

  5. To disinfect the area and adjacent areas, use commercial products for Black mold removal.

  6. Once you’re done cleaning, dispose of everything you used in a garbage bag.

When Should I Call for Professional Help to Remove Black Mold?

The answer to this question depends on the severity of the black mold growth.

According to Environmental Protection Agency, mold growth of up to 10 square feet can be treated without professional help.

black mold

It can feel daunting to remove mold on your own, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are experiencing any level of difficulty or don’t have much time, get in touch with a specialist ASAP.

Preventing Black Mold On Baseboards

To prevent black mold growth on baseboards, you can target the root causes of mold growth:

  1. Keep your home dry: Do not let water spills sit for too long. You may consider investing in a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from air.

    Keep Your Home Clean: Regularly cleaning and disinfecting of bathrooms and baseboards works wonders. Vacuum your baseboards frequently
  2. Address leaks promptly: If you have a leak in the plumbing, call a plumber.
  3. Remove any debris that might be trapping moisture
  4. Consider improving ventilation by adding in more windows to your home.

Brown Mold on Baseboard

Brown mold is a genus of fungi that grow on wood. It often appears to grow on walls or tiles but there are many other different types of ecology this mold can call home. If you find fuzzy or dark patches when exploring your home, you’ve likely found yourself with Brown Mold.

You might find Brown mold on your baseboard if the room is too moist. It can also grow because of a water leak or poor ventilation.

How To Remove Brown Mold on Baseboard

  1. Wear good quality mask and gloves before you clean brown mold.

  2. If there’s anything that can absorb water, like carpets, dispose of them in a garbage bag.

  3. Spray the affected area and its surroundings liberally with a mixture of water, bleach, and detergent. Alternatively, you can also use hydrogen peroxide or vinegar mixed with water

  4. Let it sit for 5 minutes

  5. Scrub the area and dispose the debris in a garbage bag

  6. Repeat the steps till the area is visibly free of mold growth

mold on baseboard

White Mold on Baseboard

If you’ve seen a white powder-like fungus growing on fruits or wood, it’s White mold. White mold also grows because of moisture caused by poor ventilation or water leaks.

How to Remove White Mold from Baseboards?

To remove white mold from baseboards, use a solution of bleach and water. Mix one part bleach to three parts water and apply the mixture to the moldy surfaces. Allow the solution to sit for five minutes and then wipe it away with a cloth or sponge.

If the moldy area is too large to tackle, call in a professional.

How to Prevent White Mold Growth on Baseboard?

White mold growth can be easily prevented if you keep your home dry with proper ventilation. You should also make sure that the baseboards are coated with a protective sealant after construction and before painting.

Also, check any leaks and fix them to end moisture. If there’s no moisture, the mold won’t grow again.

Green Mold on Baseboard

Green mold refers to various types of green-colored fungi that are fuzzy and fuzzy. They look like green powder. It’s common to see Green mold on fruits, food, walls, and other wet or humid areas. Like other molds, Green mold grows because of water or moisture.

green mold

How to Remove Green Mold on Baseboard?

  1. Create a mixture of vinegar or baking soda. One or the other, not both.

  2. Put the mixture in a spray bottle and spray it over the mold area liberally

  3. Create a mixture of detergent and water.

  4. Soak a sponge in the mixture and clean the mold area with it.

  5. Rinse the area after cleaning it and let it dry.

How to Prevent Mold Growth on Baseboard?

They say prevention is better than cure, so read this if you want to prevent mold from growing.

Regardless of color, mold can grow for a variety of reasons. You can prevent mold growth by taking a few precautions:

  1. Mold on your baseboard signifies that you aren’t taking care of it, so you must maintain it. Vacuum your baseboards, and disinfect them frequently, especially if they are near bathrooms.

  2. Keep the humidity low. Check for any leaks in or behind the baseboards and fix them as soon as possible.

  3. Invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a humid area, or if the mold growth keeps coming back

  4. Invest in creating a well ventilated environment in your home. You can do this by installing new windows in existing walls, or by replacing windows that do not let outside humidity get in. Exhaust fans and air purifiers help too

Can Mold Grow on A Baseboard Heater?

Mold doesn’t usually grow on baseboard heaters, but there are a number of ways it can start to grow in the nearby areas.

For example, mold will form if the heater leaks and you don’t take action such as removing any excess water or replacing the leaky baseboard heater.

If any carpets or utensils could soak water near the baseboard, dispose of them. Don’t forget to rinse the area and dry it after cleaning it.

Is It Normal to Find Mold Behind a Baseboard?

Mold usually grows behind a baseboard. That area gets a lot of moisture and provides the perfect environment for mold growth.

Wooden baseboards and the lack of sunlight are other two factors why mold growth is normal on a baseboard.

Mold Growing in Toilets

A toilet is wet and humid most of the time, so it’s the perfect environment for mold to grow. Moreover, the stagnant water in the commode adds to the possibility of mold growth.

If there’s mold growing in your commode, it might also be a sign of diabetes. The urine or excreta of diabetes patients contains more sugar. Thus, scientists believe that the sugar in manure is a good food source for mold.

Apart from the toilet, you might also find mold on the baseboard near the shower.

Will Mold Rot Wood?

Mold growing on wood can lead to discoloration and deterioration. Nevertheless, it does not damage the wood or alter its shape. Regardless of the quality of the wood, the structure remains unchanged.

Keep the wood dry at all times to prevent mold from growing.

Mildew on Wooden Baseboards

Mildew is a fungus and has some similarities to mold. Mildew, however, needs specific temperatures and moisture to grow. Wet organic materials such as wood are ideal for Mildew growth.

Baseboards are prone to leaks caused by pipes and heaters, which can cause them to be moist. They’re also dark because they don’t get any sunlight on the back of the board. So don’t be surprised if you find mildew on the wooden baseboard.

Can a Heater Kill Mold?

mold can only grow and survive between twenty-eight and forty degrees Celcius. Increasing the temperature to more than sixty degrees could kill the mold.

Convection heaters are a good way to kill molds. You can put a heater close to the area where you see the mold and use radiant heating close-by. This way, all of the heat from the heater will go onto these areas, so it smothers it faster without having to leave anything running for long periods of time

Using a heater to kill mold is practical and convenient since it doesn’t need chemicals. Although you’ll have to clean and rinse the area later, it still saves a lot of work.

Preventing Mold on MDF Boards

A Medium Density Fibre or MDF is susceptible to the growth of mold. It grows on MDF when kept in a damp environment with no sunlight.

If the mold grows too much, you might have to dispose of a MDF board. Or if it’s just a small, localized issue, you can use an Ozone generator or Iodophor to remove the mold from the affected area

It’s best to prevent mold from growing on MDF boards, which you can do by sealing them. You’ll need Carpenter’s glue for this job.

You can also use Primer since it’s used as a coat or layer on the material before it’s painted. Using Primer on the MDF board can help preserve it and keep the mold away.

Is Mold Dangerous?

Mold can be harmful and cause severe health problems for some people. Although it is usually not the only factor in an illness, it is not healthy to promote mold growth in your home or workplace.

The chemicals produced by mold are toxic and can be hazardous. The effects of mold also depend on the age of a person. You should take this more seriously if you have elders or toddlers at home.