Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling

MrsHutch · 03-21-2023, 03:50 AM

We had a cyclone hit two weekends ago and had significant roof leakage. We have a metal roof and a ceiling with nothing in between. Now our ceiling has mold on it in a lot of places, primarily in the living and dining areas in the front of the house.

It is high humidity this time of year, and we don't have heat or a/c so our windows are open all the time. There's nothing we can do about that. It's the end of rainy season, and everything molds this time of year, but it's usually a white fuzzy mold that washes off easily. The ceiling is covered in black spots.

I'm so exhausted and overwhelmed right now by my entire life. I don't have the bandwidth to also wade through all the conflicting internet advice on how to deal with mold in my house and make a plan for what we should do. I just know mold is bad news and I need to do something. Will someone please hold my hand and tell me exactly what to do?

Relevant info: we live in a developing country so mold remediation services aren't an option. It needs to be a DIY kind of thing. We do have access to pretty much any kind of cleaning stuff we may need.

Also should we all be taking anything to help with detox?

Aerynne · 03-21-2023, 05:40 AM

Is there a way to get between the roof and the ceiling and see what it looks like up there? Or is the ceiling flush with the roof? What is your ceiling made of and what else is on it? Eg drywall that is painted on the bottom only but not the top (and if so is it regular or moisture resistant drywall), unfinished wood paneling, finished wood paneling, etc?

MrsHutch · 03-21-2023, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerynne

Is there a way to get between the roof and the ceiling and see what it looks like up there? Or is the ceiling flush with the roof? What is your ceiling made of and what else is on it? Eg drywall that is painted on the bottom only but not the top (and if so is it regular or moisture resistant drywall), unfinished wood paneling, finished wood paneling, etc?

There is a big attic type (unused and completely unfinished) space between the ceiling and the roof, we can definitely get up there. The ceiling is... ceiling board. I'm not sure what that's made of. it's kind of like drywall I think? It's a greyish-white without paint, but it's painted white on the bottom side that we see.

knitlove · 03-21-2023, 08:44 AM

Is there air circulation in the atrac area?

I grew up in a drained swamp and we would regularly scrub the garage drywall with straight beach to reduce the mold.

There are probably better options, and I hope other can help there.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

MrsHutch · 03-21-2023, 08:58 AM

Thank you. I think there is? I'm not completely sure I've never personally been up there.

graciousmomma · 03-21-2023, 12:59 PM

We have an older house and get it on our bathroom ceiling from time to time. Cleaning it with straight bleach generally takes care of it immediately. About 6 months ago, dh cleaned it up and then painted over the top of it with some of this stuff, which has worked better than anything else we've done to keep it away. https://www.lowes.com/pd/KILZ-Mold-a...mer/5000763015

Aerynne · 03-21-2023, 06:38 PM

I find bleach effective and would spray top and bottom of ceiling plus the roof. but also think you need to put a waterproof barrier on top of the drywall for next time once you are sure it is completely dry. Even a plastic sheeting (even like a plastic bag type material but thicker) Can you fix the roof?

MrsHutch · 03-22-2023, 01:30 AM

Thanks everybody, yes we're also getting a guy up there to hopefully fix all the holes. We had a new one start leaking in our bedroom last night during another hard rain. :facepalm At least it missed our bed by about a foot. That would have been awful.

Maedchen · 03-22-2023, 05:53 AM

Please be very careful with the bleach when using it. Often other countries have stronger bleach than what they sell in the US. While we lived in SPain, we used to have to clean the mold with bleach. It was so strong that it induced asthma in our middle child and a trip to the ER in the middle of the night.

Since having to use it so much on the stucco walls, I have a very hard time even opening a bleach bottle here in the states.

Make sure you open all of the windows if you are using it to do a large area in your home.

MrsHutch · 03-22-2023, 11:29 PM

Thanks for the warning. My youngest has been having asthma problems since yesterday anyway. I read online that hydrogen peroxide is safer and more effective than bleach, so I'll be getting that from the store asap.

03-21-2023, 03:50 AM	#1
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,300	Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling We had a cyclone hit two weekends ago and had significant roof leakage. We have a metal roof and a ceiling with nothing in between. Now our ceiling has mold on it in a lot of places, primarily in the living and dining areas in the front of the house. It is high humidity this time of year, and we don't have heat or a/c so our windows are open all the time. There's nothing we can do about that. It's the end of rainy season, and everything molds this time of year, but it's usually a white fuzzy mold that washes off easily. The ceiling is covered in black spots. I'm so exhausted and overwhelmed right now by my entire life. I don't have the bandwidth to also wade through all the conflicting internet advice on how to deal with mold in my house and make a plan for what we should do. I just know mold is bad news and I need to do something. Will someone please hold my hand and tell me exactly what to do? Relevant info: we live in a developing country so mold remediation services aren't an option. It needs to be a DIY kind of thing. We do have access to pretty much any kind of cleaning stuff we may need. Also should we all be taking anything to help with detox? __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

03-21-2023, 05:40 AM	#2
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,390	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Is there a way to get between the roof and the ceiling and see what it looks like up there? Or is the ceiling flush with the roof? What is your ceiling made of and what else is on it? Eg drywall that is painted on the bottom only but not the top (and if so is it regular or moisture resistant drywall), unfinished wood paneling, finished wood paneling, etc? __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

03-21-2023, 08:44 AM	#4
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,260	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Is there air circulation in the atrac area? I grew up in a drained swamp and we would regularly scrub the garage drywall with straight beach to reduce the mold. There are probably better options, and I hope other can help there. Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

03-21-2023, 08:58 AM	#5
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,300	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Thank you. I think there is? I'm not completely sure I've never personally been up there. __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

03-21-2023, 12:59 PM	#6
graciousmomma Moderator It'd be nice if you could pull me into town. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11,128	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling We have an older house and get it on our bathroom ceiling from time to time. Cleaning it with straight bleach generally takes care of it immediately. About 6 months ago, dh cleaned it up and then painted over the top of it with some of this stuff, which has worked better than anything else we've done to keep it away. https://www.lowes.com/pd/KILZ-Mold-a...mer/5000763015 __________________ INFJ, Ninja Extraordinaire

03-21-2023, 06:38 PM	#7
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,390	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling I find bleach effective and would spray top and bottom of ceiling plus the roof. but also think you need to put a waterproof barrier on top of the drywall for next time once you are sure it is completely dry. Even a plastic sheeting (even like a plastic bag type material but thicker) Can you fix the roof? __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

03-22-2023, 01:30 AM	#8
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,300	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Thanks everybody, yes we're also getting a guy up there to hopefully fix all the holes. We had a new one start leaking in our bedroom last night during another hard rain. :facepalm At least it missed our bed by about a foot. That would have been awful. __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

03-22-2023, 05:53 AM	#9
Maedchen Rose Trellis Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2,499	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Please be very careful with the bleach when using it. Often other countries have stronger bleach than what they sell in the US. While we lived in SPain, we used to have to clean the mold with bleach. It was so strong that it induced asthma in our middle child and a trip to the ER in the middle of the night. Since having to use it so much on the stucco walls, I have a very hard time even opening a bleach bottle here in the states. Make sure you open all of the windows if you are using it to do a large area in your home.

03-22-2023, 11:29 PM	#10
MrsHutch Rose Garden An Enneagram 7 type 1/2 ENTP Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Malawi! Posts: 6,300	Re: Please help: what to do for mold on ceiling Thanks for the warning. My youngest has been having asthma problems since yesterday anyway. I read online that hydrogen peroxide is safer and more effective than bleach, so I'll be getting that from the store asap. __________________ Stacy here! Enjoying my Complementarian marriage to Mr. Hutch since May 20, 2006 Blessed Mama of Miss H (16), Mr Big J (15), Miss T (14), Mr Little J (11), & Mr A (7) Missing three I will meet in Heaven (Feb 2012), (Apr 2016) & (Jun 2020) "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." -Legally Blonde

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