Why have cellar shelves turned white? How to combat mold.

Surfaces they can live on mold fungi, are very diverse. The colony will thrive on wood, concrete, brick, and other materials. Gradually, it takes over the walls and floors, moving toward the ceiling and other structures. Over time, the fungus penetrates the thickness of the walls and floors, destroying the material. Therefore, if no steps are taken to eradicate the fungus, the house will soon need to be renovated or even rebuilt.

Under what conditions does fungus appear?

Mold is a colony of fungi. Spores constantly float in the air, and when a favorable environment arises, they attach to a suitable surface and continue to multiply rapidly. To do this, the fungus requires high air temperature and humidity. If mold has formed in your basement, don't ignore it, as the problem won't go away on its own; it will only get worse and more severe.

Reasons for mold in the basement:

• insufficient supply of fresh air, poor ventilation system;
• accumulation of condensation due to high humidity or lack of ventilation;
• poor circulation and stagnant air in the basement;
• finding spoiled food in the warehouse, which is a good nutrient for the colony;
• using wood affected by mold as a finishing material.

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Mold doesn't always appear in a basement. For it to occur, the following conditions must be met simultaneously:

1. The presence of mold spores in the air of a room. They can be brought in on food, on human skin, or on animal fur.
2. The presence of a nutritious organic medium. This could be paper, wood fibers, peat, or fertile soil.
3. A microclimate with high humidity. High temperatures also increase the likelihood of mold growth.
4. Not all forms of fungus require high temperatures of 20 ^OC. There are mushrooms that reproduce successfully at 0.

The quality of the ventilation system should also be noted. Free airflow prevents mold spores from establishing a foothold on surfaces. Therefore, mold thrives in areas where the air becomes stagnant.

In addition to the risk of injury from fungal damage to floors or ceilings, mold causes a variety of illnesses. Contact with mold spores can occur directly through the skin, by inhaling airborne particles, or by consuming contaminated mold-containing foods.

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Once inside the body, the fungus causes various diseases:

• dermatological, which develop as a result of an allergic reaction;
• diseases of the upper respiratory tract, including sinusitis, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, chronic rhinitis;
• headache and dizziness;
• diseases of the digestive system;
• anemia and exhaustion.

High-quality ventilation prevents excess moisture from accumulating in the corners of a room due to significant differences in external and internal temperatures or high humidity. Spores cannot be fixed and germinate, even if they are present on structures but suitable conditions for development are not available.

Methods of struggle

Since most mold preventatives are dangerous if handled carelessly, people should protect themselves with personal protective equipment when treating a basement. To do this, put on rubber gloves, a respirator or mask, and safety glasses before starting work. Exposed parts of the body should be protected with a protective suit.

Preparing the premises

Mold control in a basement involves several stages. Before removing mold from a cellar or basement, remove all items from the room. Remove all food, tools, and accessories. This will free up space and expose potential mold nests. Furniture should also be treated with special products to prevent re-infestation. A thorough cleaning of the basement is performed, clearing the entire space. If structures are heavily infested with mold, parts should be replaced.

The cleaned basement is thoroughly dried. Only then is it treated with special preparations to completely eliminate the fungi.

Destruction of a moldy colony

Simply removing visible mold and fungi from a basement isn't enough to completely eradicate it. Fungal spores have already penetrated building structures and surfaces. Therefore, to combat mold in basements, specialized products with antifungal and disinfectant properties are used. These products are available at hardware stores.

Good results can be achieved using folk remedies against mold. They are effective and pose no harm to human health. Here are a few.

1. Vinegar. This product has excellent cleaning properties and kills mold spores. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a suitable container. Then, dip a brush into the solution and apply it to all surfaces in the basement. There's no need to rinse the solution. After 12 hours, open the basement entrance and ventilation to eliminate the odor.
2. Chlorine. Any product with a high chlorine content is suitable for this method. A cheap chlorine bleach, such as "Belizna," is commonly used. Dilute it in water, adding 10 parts water to 1 part active ingredient. Then, cover all walls, ceilings, and shelves with the liquid. Another method is to dissolve 0.5 kg of bleach and 0.2 kg of formalin in 10 liters of water. Cover all surfaces with this liquid. Then dry the room and the air.
3. Lime. Before using lime to remove mold, treat the basement with Desactin. Dilute with water according to the instructions and apply to walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. One treatment method: dilute 0.5 kg of hydrated lime and 50 g of copper sulfate in 10 liters of water. Use a spray to distribute this solution.
4. Citric acid. Citric acid can be used to effectively combat mold in the basement of a private home. To do this, dissolve 100 g of the crystal in 10 liters of water. Spray the resulting solution into the basement. After this procedure, the room simply dries.
5. Borax. To get rid of mold in the basement, if it has appeared, you can use borax powder. To do this, prepare a solution of 3 liters of water and 200 grams of borax. Cover all surfaces in the basement with this solution. For maximum effectiveness, do not rinse the solution off. Wear rubber gloves when treating the room with the borax solution, as it is irritating to the skin.
6. Grapefruit seed extract. Treatment with this substance is more of a preventative measure and helps prevent mold infestations. To prepare the solution, take 0.5 liters of water and add 20 drops of grapefruit essential oil.

Pour the liquid into a spray gun and spray it onto all surfaces in the treated room. No rinsing is required.

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Prevention

To prevent future mold growth, the room should be dried out annually. This should be done in the summer, when the weather is relatively dry and warm. All items should be removed from the room, and shelves and other structural elements should be cleaned with soap and water.

Then the room should dry again for 3-4 days. If the cellar has earthen floors, they should also be treated, and the food storage areas should be filled with lime sand. After these procedures, all items can be returned to the basement.

Killing a mold colony requires significant effort and time. Ventilation system problems must be addressed before treatment. Temperature and humidity levels must be adjusted. Otherwise, despite all efforts, mold will grow again. Only a comprehensive approach will eradicate this enemy.