Anyone who has a basement in their home understands the dangers of mold. Too often they will find it creeping into their home and before they realize what has happened it has also crept into their basement drywall. In order to know how far the mold has spread you have to know where it started.
Look around your basement and try to isolate the strong smell of mildew that is coming from a certain area. In doing this you will know if there is a leak anywhere or if it is simply the condensation of water pipes or other objects.
While you are trying to remove the mold make sure that you wear protective gloves, face mask, overalls, and boots. All of these things will help to protect your skin and keep you from breathing in the spores that will be released once you start to mess with it. When wearing your protective clothes try to determine the extent of the damage and how many of your belongings have been affected by it.
Any drywall that has been infected by the mold no matter how small or large it is needs to be but out using a special utility knife. Unlike most other types of walls, ceilings, or other items – drywall that has mold all over it cannot be cleaned. You only have the option to cut it out and throw it away. Once it is removed you will need to sand down the surface of the wood studs that were attached to the drywall to remove the mold that you can see on it. Keep in mind that sometimes this is not enough to completely remove it.
For extra measures we recommend that you purchase a special mold cleaner and apply it to the surface and the surfaces around it. These will cost around $15 to $20 or you can make your own my mixing bleach and water. Allow the surface to soak in the cleaner for fifteen minutes and to disinfect it.
Once it has been thoroughly cleansed you will need to rinse off the cleaner with warm water. Make sure that the area is completely dry before you install a new drywall to the area. Otherwise the problem of mold will begin all over again. It is best to use fans or dehumidifiers to help speed along the drying process.