Black mold
can grow on sheetrock if it becomes wet.
Stachybotrys Chartarum, or black mold, is toxic and can cause catastrophic internal hemorrhaging, neurological damage, lowered white blood cell counts and a suppressed immune system, reports the website Toxic Mold Advisor. Black mold often forms in sheetrock where there has been flooding, roof or plumbing leaks or overflowing tubs, toilets or sinks. It can also form in warm, damp, dark or poorly ventilated spaces. While black mold on sheetrock can be killed, the cleaning process is lengthy, and improperly cleaned sheetrock may lead to another black mold infestation.
Instructions
1. Turn off your central heating and air conditioning systems. Expose the least amount of your skin by wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Put on protective glasses, gloves and an N-95 respirator before cleaning up any black mold.
2. Measure the doorways and windows in the room that contains the affected sheetrock. Cut pieces of plastic sheeting to cover all doorways and all windows except one, then tape the plastic over the openings with duct tape. Leave one window open and place a fan in it with the blades facing outdoors. Turn on the fan to create negative air pressure to move air outdoors.
3. Mist the affected sheetrock with water in a spray bottle, if the black mold is dry, to prevent the mold from getting into the air. Scrub black mold off the sheetrock with household soap and a moist scrub brush. Apply a black mold disinfectant (see Resources for a list and solution strengths) over the entire area and let it dry completely. Keep the plastic in place and the fan on while the sheetrock dries.
4. Remove any outer clothing that may have been exposed to the black mold while you are still in the room. Put these clothes into a plastic bag for disposal or to be washed separately. Bag any scrub brushes, sponges, spray bottles and anything else that may have come into contact with the mold and dispose of them outside in the trash.
5. Ensure that the sheetrock is completely dry and no evidence of black mold spotting remains. Turn off the fan. Remove the duct tape and plastic from the doors and windows, bag them and dispose of them outside in the trash. Wipe down the fan and blades with a sponge and disinfectant.
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