Mould cleaning

[BenderLives]

I am still not sure if this is mould or if it is just heavy dust buildup...but i had this problem several times in my PI apartment. I have cleaned it a few times in the past 3 years using diluted bleach and a sponge.

However all of a sudden, recently I noticed that the walls and ceilings are covered in this. Worse then i have ever have seen it. And if i look closely at other areas of the cleaner looking walls, i see its building up there too.

ive tried using dusters and such, but they do not help. I also tried vacuum cleaners. None of it is working. I am at a complete loss of what to do.

It has been super troublesome for me to clean with diluted bleach every time, because its nearly every wall and ceiling and takes way too long. In addition, it seems i have to do it so often in order to prevent it from building up (like every other month).

On top of that, when i use the diluted bleach, it makes a horrendous smell that forces us to leave the room for several days. Im not sure if its the wet plaster walls, or the reaction of the bleach on the walls, or something else...i dont know...but its bad.

so...my question is:
Does anyone know of a professional cleaning service for cleaning walls and ceilings in this type of situation? I am in desperate need.

I am actually considering just moving out at this point and cutting my losses. Starting to hate the island more and more.

[jimbo]

What colour is it? Greeny brown? if so then its Mould and you really should use dehumidifiers to keep the place dryer.

You're going to need the strip all the paint off and hope it hasn't got into the plaster otherwise its a lot of cash to get fixed.

[BenderLives]

its brownish....not so green though. it really looks like dust...but doesnt brush away like dust. i just don't know how to clean such a large task by myself....as it is quite extensive

[PDLM]

Could it be that you have an insect infestation? I forget what they are called, but I had them in one of my apartments - they look like mould spots but they are actually very small insects. If that's what you have then you need fumigation.

[BenderLives]

no...its not insects. im sure of that. i found a few cleaning services online at yellowpages...but i am worried how good they are or not. also their websites mention nothing like this type of cleaning.

anyone here ever use a service like this before that can recommend a company?

if it is really bad (in my plaster)...how much do you think it will run me for a 700sq ft 2 bedroom?

[gilleshk]

Most likely due to humidity, there may be water seeping in that particular wall. The first thing I would try is to put a dehumidifier in that room. If water is seeping in, then you have a much bigger problem.

[BenderLives]

we had a dehumidifier...and then it broke down. But even with it running 24/7 we were still getting this build up. Thats why im leaning towards dust, not mould. When i go to wipe it away, it is just smearing on the white walls which makes it difficult to clean. But regardless, i cant find anyone able to come and clean it for us.

arghhh

[BenderLives]

So I called a bunch of cleaning companies, and no one will do it. They said I just need to use bleach and a dehumidifier. I am going to go buy a new dehumidifier tonight, if anyone has any recommendations for a really good model that will keep the whole apartment dry (800 sq ft).

Also, the last time I used bleach and water, it smelled like crap for several days.... Any other cleaning solution recommendations?

Lastly, I read some things online that say not to wipe the walls clean. Instead just spray the cleaning sloution on wall it ventilate for a day. Anyone try that?
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[Claire ex-ax]

If it is mould, you should scrub the walls. Yes, scrub because mould has roots.

You can use a borax/water paste - rinse off with clean water, changing/cleaning the cloth frequently.

Or a hydrogen peroxide solution of 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts water. Mix in spray bottle and spray affected area. Wait one hour before rinsing.

BTW, wear a mask (N95) to avoid breathing in the spores. Make sure the door to the room is closed when cleaning to avoid the spores spreading.

Finally repaint with mould-resistant paint.

[BenderBends]

so noone has any companies to suggest calling for them to come and professionally clean the walls and ceiling? if pros do it...it would be done in a day. if i do it myself...its going to take several days or more. and the smell is horrendous after cleaning that we need to stay in hotel for a week after cleaning.