What do I do if mold is under
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Per4796714
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How do I take care of mold and leaking commode? We have a commode leaking from under the bowl on right side and did not realize it because it was under the linoleum and the floor is buckled up. If we have mold under it what should we do? The downstairs has a small space on the ceiling with a black spot looks like mayb mold. The bathroom is above the spot. I am a nurse and I know mold can be dangerous to your health. Thank you for whatever help you can give me.
S Perkins
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Hopefully you have more than one toilet in the house? You will need to remove the toilet. Take up the flooring and assess the damage. Depending on how bad it is, any infected areas will need to be treated or removed and replaced. I would hire a plumber and a contractor. In the interim, use vinegar to treat the mold. Vinegar kills mold spores, bleach does not.
https://restorationmasterfinder.com/restoration/what-kills-mold-bleach-vs-vinegar/
Here is info on hiring a contractor.
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor
Do you know where to shut the water off to the toilet and drain it before removal?
Well you need to fix the problem with the leak first..... remove the toliet... see if the bowl is cracked and the whole thing needs to be replaced, or if you just need a new wax seal. But before you replace it, your going to need to remove the wet subfloor, inspect the plumbing for any leaks,, spray the joists and surrounding area with vinegar or buy some Concrobium mold spray. Dry out the area with some fans first before closing the whole thing up.
Then I would also either cut out the damaged drywall beneath the bathroom that got wet, spray it with Concrobium and replace with some new drywall and patch it.
You could do most of this work yourself, unless you need a plumber to repair leaking pipes. You Tube has lots of videos on how to make these repairs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWMW6YPtok
Take the bowl off completely by unscrewing the two bolts on the base then lift toilet make shure to shut water empty bowl use a towel to dry completely get a new wax ring at Home Depot and instal it under bowl then replace toilet then bolts it will stop leaking .
Remove the toilet. Replace any damaged wood. Clean the area with 50/50 nix of water and vinegar. Vinegar by itself will not work. Vinegar kills mold spores. Spay the area with Molod Control to prevent any further mold. Install a new wax ring and toilet.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Concrobium-32-oz-Mold-Control-025326/100654126