Last month, Mr. Nguyen Van Ha (41 years old, living in Thu Duc District) was shocked to see mushrooms growing from the wall of his apartment building. According to him, the reason was because Ho Chi Minh City was in the rainy season, so a lot of water seeped into the walls, causing mold. The location where the mushrooms grew was hidden by a wooden bed, lacking light, making it an ideal condition for mushrooms to grow.
"This is unsanitary and affects the aesthetics of the wall. I'm struggling to figure out how to handle it," said Mr. Ha.
Dr. Vu Thi Tan, lecturer of inorganic chemistry at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said: "Fungal spores often spread in the air and develop in a humid environment. Mold often causes respiratory diseases and allergies, especially in children because of their poor resistance. Some types of fungi contain mycotoxins that are highly toxic if exposed or inhaled.
Dr. Tan guides people on how to treat moldy walls during the rainy season using readily available materials such as vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and bleach. People in flood-affected areas can also apply these methods.
Mushrooms grow from the damp wall of Mr. Ha's family.
Photo: NVCC
With the above 3 ingredients, there is a common way to handle it, which is to spray the solution directly onto the moldy surface, then use a brush to scrub or use a cloth to wipe clean. Note that you should not scrub too hard to avoid peeling off the wall paint.
For vinegar, you must use pure, undiluted vinegar for best results. Hydrogen peroxide can be purchased at drugstores, the type commonly used in medicine . Hydrogen peroxide also has antibacterial properties, effectively preventing mold from returning. Javel water is commonly sold in grocery stores, supermarkets... When using these two types, you need to wear gloves and a mask.
In Mr. Ha's case, Dr. Tan recommends first spraying alcohol to disinfect the entire house. Then use vinegar to wipe away the mold on the wall and then wipe with more alcohol to remove the vinegar smell. Finally, clean the house and open the doors to ventilate.
Particularly in rural areas, people often use rice husks, straws, etc. to burn fire for cooking, so they have kitchen ash. This is an ingredient that costs nothing to buy but is effective in treating moldy walls. The way to do it is to apply kitchen ash directly to the moldy area and scrub it clean with a brush. "Kitchen ash contains some cleaning agents, since ancient times people have used this ingredient to scrub and wash clothes...", said Dr. Tan.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nam-am-moc-moc-len-tu-tuong-trong-mua-mua-cach-nao-xu-ly-18524100213230403.htm
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