After your roofer has patched up your roof, you’re still left with unsightly mold on your ceiling. Not only is it ugly to look at, but certain molds can also exasperate respiratory issues. So, how do you remove ceiling mold after a roof leak? Luckily, this is a job you can usually do yourself. Here’s how.

What You Need to Remove Mold

The most important mold removal equipment you’ll need is a fungicide (molds are fungi). Simple soap and water won’t always remove the mold and its spores. But a fungicide treatment will do a much better job.

If you don’t want to buy a fungicide, you can make a simple version yourself, although it may not be as effective. Undiluted vinegar is a popular option, and it’s effective for about 80% of mold types. Or, you can use a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Some people suggest you use baking soda, but it won’t stick to the ceiling unless you mix it with water, which makes it less effective.

Other supplies you’ll need to remove the mold include:

  • Sturdy ladder: Make sure the ladder is in good condition and that you’re familiar with ladder safety. Do not use a ladder on the bathroom floor unless it is completely dry.
  • Disposable gloves: You don’t want to spread the mold spores around, and you don’t want to touch the mold either.
  • Eye protection: It might seem like overkill, but mold can infect your eye, and you’ll be looking right up at it.
  • Paint scraper: You’ll need something to scrape off some of the drywall.
  • Rough sponge: You’ll use this to apply the fungicide.

How to Remove the Mold

  • Step One: Spray the fungicide all over the mold. If you’re using a home-made remedy, let is sit for ten minutes. If you’re using a fungicide, you bought at the store, follow it’s directions.
  • Step Two: Scrub the mold and rinse off your homemade fungicide. You can reapply the fungicide if the mold doesn’t all come off.
  • Step Three: You’ll find that some mold stains are still left behind after a second scrub. This may be mold stains, embedded in the drywall. While you may have to replace the drywall, sometimes you can get away with scraping the stain off with the paint scraper. Removing the embedded mold is easier the shallower the stain is.

Get Your Roof Leak Fixed First

You can clean up your mold, but if you didn’t get the roof leak resolved first, mold will only grow back. In fact, to make sure your mold doesn’t come back, you need to keep the ceiling dry for at least 48 hours, which is how long it takes for most mold spores to grow. Consider using a dehumidifier to keep the room dry.

If you’re past the 48-hour mark, odds the mold will return go down, but there’s always a risk of mold where there is moisture.

What if the mold does come back? Then we suggest you reach out to a professional. Likely, they will end up replacing your ceiling drywall altogether.