How To Clean Cinder Block Basement Walls

By  April Dowling

Things Needed

  • Plastic sheets

  • 5-gallon plastic bucket

  • Long-handled nylon bristle brush

  • Step stool

  • 1/2 cup liquid dish detergent

  • 2 gallons hot water

  • Rubber gloves

  • 1 cup liquid household bleach

  • 2 gallons cool water

  • Clean towel

Tip

If there are no windows, place portable electric fans in the area.

Warning

Do not mix the bleach with any chemicals, cleaners or household products; this can create toxic fumes.

...

Since many basements contain high moisture levels, they are often installed with cement cinder block walls. Mold and mildew spores flourish in basements that are dim, warm, damp and poorly lit. Thin black and white fungi growth spreads over cement basement walls and leaves behind a musty odor. The walls also become accumulated with dirt and grime, which encourages bacteria and other contaminates. Cleaning and disinfecting is necessary to kill mold and bacteria, remove grime and improve a basement's overall appearance and safety.

Step 1

Open the windows in the basement for air circulation. Lay plastic sheets on the floor next to the wall.

Step 2

Fill a 5-gallon plastic bucket halfway with lukewarm water. Scrub the wall with the water, using a long-handled nylon bristle brush, to wet the cement. Stand on a step stool to reach higher areas of the wall.

Step 3

Rinse out the bucket and brush, once you are finished wetting the wall. Fill the bucket with 1/2 cup of liquid dish detergent and 2 gallons of hot water. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the hot water.

Step 4

Scrub the wall with the soapy solution, using the nylon bristle brush. Stand on the step stool to scrub hard-to-reach areas of the wall. Rinse out the soapy water and refill the bucket with fresh solution, once the soapy solution becomes very dirty.

Step 5

Rinse out the bucket and brush, once you are finished scrubbing the wall. Fill the bucket halfway with clean, lukewarm water.

Step 6

Scrub the wall thoroughly with the clean water to rinse away the soapy solution. Since you will be disinfecting next, it is essential to thoroughly rinse the entire wall.

Step 7

Rinse the plastic bucket and nylon brush thoroughly with water. Mix 1 cup of liquid household bleach with 2 gallons of cool water in the bucket.

Step 8

Scrub the wall with the bleach solution, using the nylon brush. Stand on the step stool to disinfect hard-to-reach areas.

Step 9

Rinse out the plastic bucket and nylon brush, once you are finished scrubbing the wall. Fill the bucket halfway with lukewarm water.

Step 10

Scrub the wall thoroughly with the clean water to rinse away the bleach. Wipe the wall completely dry with a clean towel.

References

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