Prep first
Before you start
- Fix the water source first and dry the wall completely.
- Wear gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator.
- Brush loose mold off outdoors if you can, so spores don't scatter.
- Stop and call a professional if the patch is over about 10 square feet.
Mold on wallpaper is a living fungus, and its spores take hold wherever the paper stays damp. Old growth that has soaked into the paper or the wall behind it can fill crevices and may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. Expect a gentle job where the mark may fade rather than vanish, and replacement may be needed if it has gone deep.
Test any cleaner on a hidden spot first, and keep the paper barely damp rather than soaked. Painted wallpaper and black mold both call for that same light touch. If the growth won't budge after a few gentle passes, stop and call a professional instead.
Before you start
What wallpaper can take
Use with care4
- Water
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Soaking
7 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- GlovesKeeps spores off your skin. (opens Amazon)
- Goggles without ventsKeeps spores out of your eyes. (opens Amazon)
- N-95 respiratorStops you breathing in spores while you dust and clean. (opens Amazon)
- Vacuum with a dust-brush attachment, or a dry clothLifts the loose growth before any water touches the paper.
- Large non-abrasive spongeCleans without scratching the paper. (opens Amazon)
- Mild dish detergentUsed only if plain warm water isn't enough. (opens Amazon)
- Soft dry cloth and a fanDries the paper fast so moisture can't feed new growth. (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 724 to 48 hours
Fix the water source first
Mold needs moisture to grow, so find the leak, condensation or damp spot and fix it before you clean. Then dry the area completely, because wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold.
Step 2 of 7
Protect yourself before you start
Put on gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator so you don't breathe in or touch spores. If any loose growth can be brushed off outdoors, do that first so the spores don't scatter through the house.
Step 3 of 7
Dust off the loose mold
Dust the paper with the dust-brush attachment of a vacuum or a dry cloth before any water goes near it. Work lightly, then empty the vacuum or throw out the cloth right away.
Step 4 of 7
Test a hidden spot first
Try your cleaner and technique on an inconspicuous spot, such as a low corner behind furniture. You're fine if no water marks remain after the spot dries.
Step 5 of 7
Wipe with plain warm water
Start with plain warm water on a large, non-abrasive sponge, wrung out thoroughly. Wipe in gentle passes, and turn to a clean part of the sponge often.
Tip. Keep the sponge barely damp, because a dripping sponge puts too much water into the paper.
Step 6 of 7
Add mild detergent only if needed
If water alone doesn't lift the mold, add a little mild dish detergent to warm water. Rub gently in a circular motion, work from the bottom of the wall up, and rinse as you go.
Careful. Never use an abrasive cleaner or scouring pad on wallpaper, even washable paper.
Step 7 of 7
Dry the wall completely afterward
Dry the wall well afterward so the paper doesn't stay damp, since damp paper is what lets mold return. Use a soft dry cloth, then a fan or an open window until the paper is fully dry.
Tip. Check the spot again after a day or two. Any new fuzz means moisture is still getting in.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on wallpaper
Use a mild liquid dish detergent with a non-abrasive sponge or soft cloth. Skip scouring pads and any product sold as a combination cleaner.
RMR-86® Instant Mold & Mildew Stain Remover
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on wallpaper, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
The mold is gone when the paper looks clean, has no fuzzy growth left, and feels dry to the touch. A faint shadow can remain because the mark is partly damage to the paper, so judge the job by whether new growth appears.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your wallpaper
Washable wallpaper
Washable paper is the case this method suits best, so the warm water and mild detergent steps apply as written. Keep the sponge well wrung out, and move on to the detergent only if plain water isn't enough.
Don't scrub harder to speed things up, since a light touch is enough on this paper. Give the spot time to dry before you judge the result.
Textured wallpaper
Textured paper is the risky case, because some textured wallpapers cannot be washed at all. Check the paper's care information before you wet it, and assume it can't be washed if you can't find any.
If it can't be washed, dust the growth off, dry the wall well and skip the water steps entirely. Mold that has soaked into the texture may need the section replaced, which may be the only realistic fix.
Grasscloth wallpaper
For grasscloth wallpaper, professional cleaning may be necessary, so don't start with the water steps. Dust the loose growth gently and keep the wall dry around it.
If the spots stay after the wall dries, call a professional rather than trying a stronger cleaner. Replacement may be needed if the mold has soaked into the grass fibers.
Wallpaper near a tub or shower
In a wet room, splashes keep the paper damp, so the water-source step matters more than anything else. Keep the paper barely damp while you clean, and dry it fast after every shower.
If the mold has spread to the grout between the tiles, follow the Grout guide for that part, since grout is a separate surface. Your wallpaper steps still apply to the paper itself.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
Old mold can fill the texture of the paper and the crevices beneath it, so it's harder to lift than a fresh spot. Because the mark is partly damage, aim to lighten it rather than erase it.
A dried stain can look worse than it did when wet, so don't keep rewetting it to check. Repeated water can weaken the paper, so give the spot one proper cleaning and let it dry.
If the mark is still there after the wall is clean and dry, a bleach treatment is the stronger option. Mix 1 part liquid bleach with 3 parts water, leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse well, and use it for mildew-type growth only.
Ventilate the room and exhaust the air outdoors, because bleach isn't recommended as a routine practice.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on wallpaper?
Most household remedies are built for hard surfaces or fabric, so only one belongs near wallpaper. Plain warm water and a little mild dish detergent are enough for wallpaper, and the others are ruled out for safety.
Works1Skip4Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't soak the wallpaper
Heavy wetting can damage the paper, and some textured wallpapers cannot be washed at all. If you can't tell whether the paper is washable, stop after dusting and wiping with a barely damp sponge.
Don't mix cleaning products
Use one cleaner at a time, never a combination of products. Never add detergent or ammonia to a bleach and water solution, because toxic fumes could be produced.
Don't paint or caulk over mold
Clean the spot and dry the surface first. Paint over mold is likely to peel.
When to call a professional
Don't tackle more than about 10 square feet yourself, or mold from sewage or contaminated water; hire an experienced professional for those jobs. If you suspect the heating or cooling system is contaminated, don't run it, because it can spread mold through the building. Grasscloth paper may also need professional cleaning.
Questions
Can I remove mold from wallpaper with just water?
Often, yes, if the paper is washable and the mold is light. Start with plain warm water on a well-wrung sponge, and stop if the paper starts to look soft or loose.
Will the dark mark disappear completely?
Not always. The mark is partly damage to the paper itself, so a faint shadow can stay after the mold is gone. If it's still visible once the wall is clean and dry, the stronger-treatment advice above explains what's realistic.
Why does mold keep coming back on the same wall?
Usually because moisture is still getting into the wall. Mold needs water to grow, so check for leaks, condensation or a damp corner before you clean again.
Is it safe to clean mold off wallpaper myself?
For a small patch, yes, as long as you wear gloves, goggles without vents and an N-95 respirator. Bigger jobs, or mold from sewage or contaminated water, need an experienced professional.
Can I replace just the moldy section?
Often, yes, and sometimes it's the only realistic fix. If the mold has soaked into the material or the paper can't be washed, replacing that section may be needed.
Can I use bleach on wallpaper?
Only as a last resort, with a 1 to 3 mix of liquid bleach and water on growth that hasn't lifted with gentler steps. Ventilate well and rinse everything out before you finish.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on wallpaper
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.