How to Remove Mold from Concrete Floors

It is important to know how to remove mold from all sorts of surfaces including concrete floors. If mold appears on a concrete floor, it is vital to get rid of it quickly. You will also need to explore the reason behind mold appearing in the first place. Unless the mold has been sitting on the concrete floor for quite a while, it’s not an especially difficult job to remove it.

 

Step 1 - Broom

Put on rubber gloves and a dust mask before you begin to remove mold as harmful bacteria can be detrimental to your health. Start by mixing up water and detergent (use a detergent that doesn’t contain ammonia) at a ratio of 4 parts water to 1 part detergent. Pour about half of the solution on the concrete floor and work it over the mold with a broom. This will help loosen the mold and make it easier to remove. Cover as large an area as you can.

Step 2 - Mopping

Empty the bucket and refill with clean water. Mop the area and allow it to dry so you can see how much mold is left. You will have removed quite a lot of the mold by adding the solution to the floor but it is inlikely you will have cleared all of it. If mold remains, you will need to take further action.

Step 3 - Bleach

To remove the rest of the mold, you will need to use bleach. In the bucket, mix up a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Make sure the area is well ventilated. Pour some water on the mold and begin to loosen it with a scrubbing brush. Use the wet/dry vac to remove most of the water as you work; you don’t want the area to be too wet.

After you’ve scrubbed, mop the area dry and allow it to dry. If there is still mold on the concrete floor, you’ll need to stronger solution of bleach to remove the mold. Mix a solution that’s 1 part bleach to 4 parts water. Scrub the area, using a wet/dry vac to keep most of the water away from the floor; this will make it easier to remove mold. Mop with clean water and allow to dry. This will help to remove further infestations of mold but there may still be some remaining.

Step 4 - Trisodium Phosphate

The final stage as you work to remove mold from a concrete floor is to mix a solution of bleach and water. This time, however, you will need to add trisdoium phosphate at a ration of about ¼ to every 2 gallons of water and bleach solution.

Once again, scrub thoroughly but use very little of the liquid mixture on the bleach. Vacuum away as much water as possible. When you’ve finished, mop the area with clean water and allow it to dry. This should remove mold from the area and will ensure that it doesn’t return.

Step 5 - Cause Of Mold

After you’ve removed the mold, you will have to find the cause of it. Check for leaks in the ceiling or walls or for cracks in the concrete itself. These will have to be fixed to prevent further problems.