How Do You Remove Black Stains Or “fogging” From The Walls?

The phenomenon of fogging has been known since the 1990s. It can be translated as fogging and is caused by the presence in the air of the house of plasticizers that create a dark film, similar to soot on walls and ceilings of houses and floors.

These are the possible causes of fogging

The causes of this phenomenon can be several. That is why we have gathered the most common ones so that you can identify the origin of the problem that affects you:

• The main cause is COSVs (semi-volatile organic compounds). These substances are present, for example, in plasticizers substances that are part of the paint on the walls or vinyl wallpapers that are put in the rooms of the house. Over time COSVs “escape” from them, combine with airborne dust, and settle on ceilings and walls.
• Certain room conditions, such as radiators and insulating surfaces, promote fixation of the fogging. These surfaces include, for example, laminate floors, vinyl wallpapers, latex wall and ceiling coverings, PVC windows, or furniture made of various plastics.
• Fogging often occurs after a renovation has taken place, because COSVs are freed from new materials that have entered the home.
• This phenomenon can also occur due to additional sources of soot and dust, such as candles, incense sticks, cigarettes, wood stoves, some gas stoves, or fiber-shedding carpets.
• Insufficient ventilation is often responsible. That is why fogging can be discovered when returning home from a vacation.

How Fogging Is Distinguished From Black Mold

Fogging is not aesthetic, but it has no health consequences. Unfortunately, black powder and black mold look very similar, but with a few tips you will be able to distinguish the two, especially in the initial phase:

• If the mold is fresh, it can usually be easily cleaned up. Make sure you have the proper protective equipment, gloves and a mask at a minimum.
• Jogging is much more difficult to clean, but you don’t need protection.
• If the black spots appear in a large area at night, there is a high probability that it is due to fogging. Mold takes longer to spread.
• However, if you are unsure about black stains on your walls or ceilings, you should quickly seek professional advice.

Black mold is a direct and immediate threat to health. Fogging is not to the same extent, but the plasticizers that cause it should not be in the air in our homes, as they can transport compounds with effects on our endocrine system.

How can stains be removed?

Since running over it or gently cleaning it often doesn’t help against fogging , you need to help yourself in a different way:

• Use a soft cloth to avoid unnecessary damage to the walls or wallpaper.
• Dampen the cloth in water with dish soap. The best idea is to try to prepare the dishwasher yourself and in this way save on plastic containers.

How to prevent a new appearance of fogging

• Ventilate rooms often. Especially through cross ventilation, the wind blows a lot of dust out of living spaces.
• Vacuum and dust surfaces regularly. By reducing dust, it cannot combine with COSVs and become fogging.

If you intend to do a home renovation, you can pay attention to a few things and also avoid fogging:

• If you already have vinyl wallpaper or latex paint in your rooms, consider that there are more sustainable alternatives, for example, solvent-free and plasticizer-free paints.
• If you need new furniture, look for furniture that is guaranteed not to have been treated with chemicals. They may cost you more money, but they will also last longer so you will finally pay for them more than enough.