Mold on Drywall: When to Clean It and When to Replace It

Mold on a hard, non-porous surface like tile, glass or glossy paint can usually be cleaned off. Mold that has grown into drywall can't be cleaned out, because drywall is porous, so that section is cut out and replaced. Either way, fix the moisture problem first, or the mold comes back.

Step 1: Find and fix the moisture

Mold grows wherever moisture stays: a roof or plumbing leak, an AC line, a window that leaks in heavy rain, or a bathroom without enough ventilation. Fix the source and dry the area before any cleaning or repair. See repairing water-damaged drywall.

Step 2: Decide whether it can be cleaned

• Surface mildew on tile, grout, glass, and painted trim or bathroom walls can be scrubbed off with detergent and water, then dried.
• Mold in drywall, ceiling tiles or insulation has grown into the material. Those materials are removed and replaced.
• Large areas. The EPA recommends considering a professional mold remediation company when mold covers more than about 10 square feet, or if it's in the AC system.

When cleaning small areas yourself, wear gloves, eye protection and an N95 mask, and keep the area ventilated. Don't paint over mold. It keeps growing under the paint.

Step 3: Replace the drywall

Once the mold and the damaged material are removed and the framing is dry, new drywall is installed, taped, finished, textured to match and painted. In bathrooms and laundry rooms, moisture-resistant drywall and a mildew-resistant paint help keep it from coming back. See types of drywall and where they're used.

Keeping mold from coming back

Run bathroom fans during showers and for a while after, fix leaks right away, and keep indoor humidity below about 60 percent. In Central Florida, that means keeping the AC running even in mild weather.

Drywall replacement in Orlando

After the moisture is fixed and the mold is removed, New Ceilings installs and finishes new drywall across Orlando and Central Florida, then matches the texture and paint. Every job starts with a free written quote. See water damage repair.