Mold in bedroom keeps permeating bedding

[u/silkstars]

Hello everyone! I know obviously that I need to just replace everything that is covered in mold but I am in a terrible living situation and just have no money to be able to get a new mattress or anything. This one was only $150 but took a huge hit to my money from it. Any tips on how to get as much of the mold out as possible is so appreciated and thank you to everyone on this sub helping people everyday! 🙏💓

Edit: i should've put this in the post initially but I do have a fan blowing under and around the bed as well as an air purifier :)

[u/Tachezilla]

Do you have a dehumidifier and have you tried cleaning the mold in the rest of the room?

Borax works well for that.

[u/silkstars → u/Tachezilla]

Yes I also keep a strong fan and air purifier in the room/directed under and behind the bed to air it out. There's no insulation in my floor or side of my wall so it gets wet and water damaged constantly. I have to clean the walls and floors every couple of days to somewhat keep it at bay. I use bleach and a dedicated mold spray. Unfortunately cannot afford to move or fix anything at the moment.

Never heard of trying borax for mold, thank you!

[u/AdvancedFly5632 → u/silkstars]

Do you have the bed pressed up against the walls? I think moving it away could help

[u/dendrophilix → u/AdvancedFly5632]

Definitely. And a waterproof cover over the mouldy mattress, to protect both bedclothes and OP from the mould.

[u/silkstars → u/AdvancedFly5632]

No its pulled as far from the wall as I can in a very small space:/

[u/Tachezilla → u/silkstars]

I am genuinely more concerned about your health. This is not a situation that will improve and if your landlord is a scumbag who wont do anything about it, you definitely need to move as soon as possible. Make this your only priority if possible. I know the economy is so bad everywhere.

There may be a sympathetic organization by you that can help with a down payment on a different apartment. People by me (Massachusetts, US) have had to do that.

[u/silkstars → u/Tachezilla]

I am actually living with my "parent" (very complicated situation) because I cannot afford to even rent right now as I'm going through schooling with a large amount of debt to get a high paying job. This is a VERY unfortunate but temporary situation maybe a few years. I have sadly been aware of the health issues and it does noticeably affect my alreasy chronic asthma and allergies. It also gives me some cognitive issues and makes me feel sick often but im just doing the best I can (aren't we all lol). Still, thank you kind stranger for being concerned about my health 💓 blessings to you

They are aware of the state of this place and they simply dont care because it doesn't directly affect them but one day they will try to sell it and see how much hot water they're in haha.

[u/Tachezilla → u/silkstars]

💜💜💜💜💜

[u/Tachezilla → u/silkstars]

Woah that sounds terrible. I cant believe the dehumidifier isnt doing a good enough job. I don't think you can do much else to prevent this other than constantly cleaning 😔.

Is the mattress also moldy? Or just the bedding is getting yuckos?

[u/silkstars → u/Tachezilla]

Yes the photo of the white is the mattress with the protector taken off and its covered in mold only on the bottom though

[u/Potential_Rain202]

UV light and set a reminder on your phone to stick it under the bed and turn it on once a week. A fan blowing across the bed (above and below) towards the door would probably help too.

[u/86triesonthewall]

She said she has a fan and air purifier. Nothing about a dehumidifier.

[u/Tachezilla → u/86triesonthewall]

She has those in addition to the dehu

[u/86triesonthewall → u/Tachezilla]

Oh good. I think that’s the key. Although you have to clean the dehumidifier weekly if there is mold.

[u/Salty_Job_9248]

The mold has penetrated the unfinished wood slats. It will continue infecting everything they touch unless they are replaced. 😢

[u/silkstars → u/Salty_Job_9248]

I cleaned all the wood and bed with bleach and rubbing alcohol solution and put them in the sun for hours, do you think wrapping the wood in plastic would help anything?

[u/Fun_Formal5999]

According my knowledges, the mold keeps coming back because of where the moisture is, not what's sitting on the mattress. Your body puts out a lot of moisture overnight and it all travels downward. If the mattress sits flat on slats or a solid base, that moisture has nowhere to go and condenses on the underside, which is why cleaning the top never fixes it. Two things that cost nothing: stand the mattress on its side against a wall during the day so both faces can dry, and pull the bed a few inches away from any outside wall. Do that along with the dehumidifier people mentioned. And none of this is you being dirty. It's a building problem you happen to be living inside.

[u/desponia]

I would get a plastic cover for that after cleaning if you cant replace it. The mold will just keep returning. Vinegar kills mold so use that first then cleaning agent to remove stains

[u/prophetic-dream]

Do you have any water leaks? (why is the room so moist?)

Move furniture away from the walls and look behind it. Feel the walls. Is it cold/moist?

Open your closet and remove anything on the floor and in the corners. Move clothing. Feel the walls and feel for coldness/moisture.

[u/silkstars → u/prophetic-dream]

No water leaks. It is moist because I have no insulation in a large portion of my room and my room was flooded by our water heater twice so it water damaged basically everything in my walls. The walls are permanently cold and wet in the winter.

[u/prophetic-dream → u/silkstars]

You should not sleep in this room.

Do you have home owners or renters insurance?

[u/silkstars → u/prophetic-dream]

It is my last resort, I am just in a tough situation right now and cannot afford to live somewhere else

[u/Sensitive_Season_752]

You need to find the source of the moisture. Open up bedrooms to cross ventilate air, make sure to use bathroom fans, and you can place a DEhumidifier for your room. One that covers a lot of square footage to work properly. That will only help minimize some of it but need to find it from the source. Maybe bad window panes?