Nobody wants mold to take over their home, but unfortunately, this is a really common occurrence. Mold can develop quite quickly, and once it is there, it can be quite difficult to remove.
More often than not, mold will keep coming back until you put a stop to whatever is causing it and remove the mold in its entirety.
One of the materials that mold grows on quite commonly is drywall, and if this is the case for you, then you might be wondering how quickly the problem can get out of hand. There are ways to get rid of mold on drywall, but the sooner you act, the better the outcome will be.
In this article, we are going to tell you how long it can take for mold to appear on drywall, and how long it will then take to spread and cause some real damage.
Fortunately, there are many ways of removing mold from drywall, and we will tell you all about this at the end of the article.
How Long Does it Take for Mold to Grow on Drywall?
Unfortunately, it only takes around 24 to 48 hours for mold to grow on drywall under the right conditions.
More often than not, the mold spores will start to colonize within 3 to 12 days, and they will start to become visible in 18 to 21 days, by which point, it won’t be long until you have a big problem.
This timeframe can vary depending on the type of mold that occurs and the conditions inside your home. It can also vary depending on the types of surfaces and household materials that are present in the affected area, as well as the level of moisture that is present, and the ambient temperature.
However, the more that time goes on, the more chance there is for mold to develop and begin to take over.
Any amount of moisture that is in your home can easily lead to a mold issue, whether that is steam from the shower, condensation on a windowsill, or a leaky pipe or flood. All of these scenarios can lead to mold growth, so it is best to be vigilant.
Unfortunately, mold spores are everywhere, both indoors and outdoors, and they are just waiting for the right conditions to occur in which they can thrive.
Drywall is a porous material, as well as many other materials in your home, so all it needs is a little moisture for mold to start growing.
How Fast Does Mold Spread On Drywall?
Mold can start to spread in just a few hours, and when a mold spore makes its way to a moist material, it will take root in the porous surface and start to feed off it.
Within just a few hours, mold can start to spread to other moist areas that are nearby, and it can even damage the structure of the surface that it is attached to.
As each hour passes by, the mold will produce more spores and continue to spread throughout your home.
How to Remove Mold On Drywall
Choose a Cleaning Product
The first thing that you will need to do is to find a mold cleaning agent that will work to kill the mold once it has been applied.
There are lots of different products to choose from for this purpose, so it is important to do your research in order to find the best ones.
The next thing that you should do is pour the cleaning solution into a spray bottle, and dilute it if you are supposed to. Ensure that the solution is mixed thoroughly by shaking the bottle before you use it.
Properly Ventilate the Room
You should always make sure that the room that you are cleaning in is properly ventilated, and you can open as many windows and doors as possible to help with this.
Not only will proper ventilation protect you from the fumes of the cleaning chemicals, but it will also allow mold spores to be directed out of your home. Wearing a mask can also help to make sure that you do not inhale any fumes or spores.
Start Cleaning
Now that you have finished your preparation, you can start the cleaning process. Spray your chosen cleaning solution onto the mold, but make sure that you don’t spray too much, as you don’t want to add to the moisture issue at hand.
Cover the entire affected area with the spray, but not so much that it starts to run down the wall.
You can then go in with a soft bristle cleaning brush and begin to scrub at the area. Keep scrubbing until there is no mold left on the wall.
Allow the Drywall to Dry Out
All that is left to do now is allow the wall to dry out using whatever means possible.
