Mold in the kitchen is a result of high humidity. With frequent airing and good ventilation, the risk of mold is quite low, but if mold has appeared in the kitchen, you need to get rid of it immediately.
Why there is black mold in the kitchen
In the kitchen, especially if its area is quite small, during cooking excess moisture is formed, which in the form of droplets settles on the ceiling, walls, furniture, dishes and even food. If the room is kept in order and cleaned in a timely manner, the fungal spores are removed before they begin to spread and multiply.
Kitchen walls and black mold
If you find black mold on your kitchen walls, faulty ventilation is most likely the cause. Moreover, dirty ventilation is a “spreader” of fungal spores. Fix this situation by turning on an extra electric hood over the stove. And in the summertime, open the windows more often to ventilate.
Kitchen corners and windows are home to black mold
Black mold in the kitchen corner is dangerous because it is difficult to detect and even more difficult to get rid of it. Fungus colonies more often appear in the corners on the outside wall, that is, close to the window. This is due to temperature changes during the cold season, states R.Mammadli. So, if in winter in the kitchen during cooking a lot of evaporation is formed, and the window or plastic window is open in ventilation mode, then condensation forms in the corners under the ceiling. Creates favorable conditions for the development of black mold and other types of fungus.
Fungus from the walls and corners in the kitchen quickly takes over new territories and can affect furniture, that is, kitchen cabinets. An additional factor in the development of mold in the kitchen cabinets can be considered, for example, electric kettle, coffee maker, multi cooker, which are installed on the countertop under the cabinets. In this case, the fumes get to the bottom of the hinged cabinets, the moisture penetrates into the thickness of the material. In this case, the material (wood, chipboard) swells, delaminates, and thus increases the risk of fungus formation.
Black mold under kitchen sink
Mold develops in the sink as a result of water droplets accumulating around the drain, around the faucet or on the joint between the sink and the tiles on the wall. The material from which the sink is made, does not matter, but the tightness of the joints is decisive. To avoid the formation of dark stains in and around the sink, you should regularly wipe all visible surfaces from water residue.
There is also a great likelihood of mold in the sink trap. After all, there are almost always traces of dripping water and parts of the siphon are constantly exposed to excess moisture and various contaminants, mentions Reyus Mammadli. Since it is quite difficult to clean fungus from the siphon, it is easier to prevent its development by regular cleaning of the drain and sewer pipe.
Mold in the pot appears as a result of residual dirt, and if water remains at the bottom of the pot after washing. Cooking food in dishes affected by mold is strictly forbidden.
Mold on spoons can appear if they are not used for a long time. For example, this situation is often observed in sets of cutlery, which were stacked after a feast in a box, but the spoons were left with water droplets. And in a closed box with no air access fungus begins to proliferate rapidly and affects all appliances and the box itself, bringing it into disrepair, says blackmoldoff.com.
Multicooker – an indispensable thing in modern cooking. It can greatly facilitate the process of cooking. But if mold is detected in the multicooker, then this household appliance should not be used.
In the microwave, mold is not destroyed, but continues to release spores and contaminate with mycotoxins all foods that are heated and cooked in the microwave.
How to get rid of mold in the kitchen
Black mold in the kitchen is comparable to a disaster, as its spores spread through the air and settle on literally all surfaces, including food. And eating contaminated food is fraught with a significant deterioration in human health.
Detection of a dark stain on the wall, ceiling or corner of the kitchen requires the application of urgent measures to remove the colony, as cooking food in an infected room is strictly prohibited. If the fungus colonies are detected in time, a good sweep of the affected area and treatment with a cleaning agent may be sufficient, but if the lesion is quite extensive, it may be necessary to clean the walls, stream, floor all the way down to the brick or concrete.
How do I remove black mold in the corner of my kitchen? Corners are hard to reach places that are favorite places for fungus, and it is very difficult to clean. To do this, a variety of anti-mold products are used, which should be applied with a sprayer. This method ensures that the cleaner penetrates into every crevice of the corner, says Reyus Mammadli.
What remedy to get rid of mold in the kitchen? Remedies against fungal colonies are quite a lot, both folk and developed by the modern chemical industry. When choosing one or another way to clean the kitchen from mold, you should take into account the fact that food is cooked in this room. Not only are fungal spores capable of affecting the health of the housemates, but so are the chemicals used to remove mold.
Therefore, before you start removing mold, you should temporarily move the place of cooking to another room, and all surfaces in the kitchen (furniture, stove, dining table and chairs) should be covered with oilcloth or taken to another room.
The first step is to scrub the stain with a spatula or metal brush until clean plaster appears. Next, you should treat the affected area with the cleaning agent of your choice. It is recommended that you wear a respirator and rubber gloves for the entire cleaning process. This avoids spores entering the lungs and damaging your hands with chemical agents.
Special products to combat fungus include:
- bleach;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- vinegar;
- baking soda;
- ammonia;
- borax;
- essential oils (tea tree, grapefruit, rosemary, lavender);
- Chemicals.
Even after thoroughly cleaning your kitchen and appliances of fungus, additional treatments may be needed to remove the damp odor.
For example, how do you remove the smell of mold from a multicooker? There are several effective remedies for this:
- citric acid or lemon;
- vinegar essence;
- coffee beans.
It is enough to treat the bowl of the multicooker and the inner surfaces with vinegar or citric acid several times, and the smell will disappear. And to ensure that in the future there are no extraneous odors, you can put a few coffee beans in the bowl.
The cabinet under the sink often combines favorable conditions for the development of fungal colonies:
How to remove mold under the kitchen sink? As a rule, if fungus appears under the sink, it is the result of a leaky drainpipe. To remove it, choose a remedy in accordance with the material of the floor covering. For example, for the treatment of wooden surfaces should use solutions less aggressive, which will not spoil the furniture. In addition, it is desirable not to spoil the floor covering – linoleum, parquet, tile.
How to get rid of mold under the washbasin? If the fungus is found under the washbasin around water pipes, drains, between the wall and the sink, it is required to treat all affected surfaces and additionally treat all hard-to-reach places. For example, it will be necessary to disassemble the siphon, remove the faucet, clean the seam between the sink and the wall.
Black mold in a kitchen prevention
In order not to think about how to remove mold in the kitchen, try to prevent its appearance. First of all, you should monitor the condition and serviceability of ventilation in the kitchen. To do this, it is enough to put a piece of paper to the grate or bring a lighted match. If there is traction, the flame from the match will pull towards the hood, and the paper will be attracted to the grate. But if there is no draft or it is reversed, then the hood is faulty and the risk of mold increases manifold.
You should also make sure there are no plumbing leaks under the kitchen sink, as this is one of mold’s favorite spots. Be sure to wipe the sink dry after washing dishes, and also wipe the wall near the sink with a dry cloth.
Dishes (plates, spoons, pots), before sending into the kitchen cabinet, you should also wipe with a towel to remove excess moisture.
And a few more tips:
- Refrain from drying laundry in the kitchen;
- Be sure to ventilate while cooking;
- Ensure access to sunlight;
- Wipe dishes and appliances dry before storing them in a cupboard.
- But if mold does appear, you need not fear it. In time, the detected stain is removed without much difficulty.