The best way to remove mold from a home depends on the type of mold, but removal should be thorough in any case. Surface mold can grow in nearly any damp, dark, or cool location and is very common in bathtubs and shower walls, bathroom tiles, and the laundry areas of basements. Hidden mold may be of more consequence than surface mold and is definitely more difficult to remove.

To remove mold from the surface of tile, grout, or concrete, simply clean the area with a mixture of one part bleach to eight parts water. You can add a small amount of dishwashing detergent to make the mixture more fragrant, but it isn't necessary, because bleach is what kills the mold. To remove mold beneath or behind structural components of your house, including drywall and carpeting, you will need to take some precautions. Mold releases spores into the air, which can be harmful to breathe. If you have allergies, asthma, or a suppressed immune system and need to remove mold covering an area of more than one or two square feet, you should contact a professional.

Whenever you remove mold that has gone untreated for a length of time, you run the risk of contaminating other areas of the home when the mold becomes exposed to the air. Always wear gloves, a respirator, and protective eye wear. Also, be sure either to wear clothes you can toss when you're done working or to wash the clothes thoroughly in hot water and bleach by themselves.

To remove mold infestation behind a wall, cut away the affected drywall, which will have black spotty stains and will likely be soft to the touch, and dispose of it. Be sure to use precautions around electrical wiring when removing the moldy drywall. If you have reached this point in your mold removal, you are likely to find that some of the wall studs behind the drywall are also mold infested. Scrub the wood with a bleach and water solution to kill the mold and allow the wood to dry thoroughly before repairing the drywall. It is also a good idea to create a ventilation system while the room is drying out. When you have sufficiently removed and killed the mold, you can repair the drywall.

If you need to remove mold from underneath carpeting, you will have to rip out and dispose of the carpet and padding. Wrap it in plastic before removing it through other parts of the house for disposal. Once the carpet and padding are removed, clean the subfloor thoroughly with bleach and water. Allow it to dry and repair any damage to the subfloor before recarpeting.

The best way to deal with mold is to prevent it. It is pointless to remove mold from an area that will continue to be affected by dampness. If you have discovered mold by the tell-tale musty smell or dark spotty surfaces, you need to investigate for water leaks. Repairing any leaks is the only way to keep the mold from returning.

In severe cases, a complete mold abatement may be necessary. If you are concerned that large areas of your home are infested with mold, call an environmental professional or your local health department for referrals to a professional abatement service.