Can I Use Bleach To Clean Mold

How Do You Get Rid Of Mold

There are plenty of commercial products that are effective for black mold removal, but many of them contain harsh chemicals that may be as harmful as the mold itself. There are several ways to get rid of mold without resorting to toxic chemicals.

Here are 5 ways to treat black mold using green household cleaners:

Removing Pink Stain From Boat Upholstery

Pinking on marine vinyl upholstery is often caused by the bacterium Streptoverticillium reticulum. Removing it is possible with a new product called PinkAway

Even after publishing a short item on the cause of pink stains on white vinyl boat seats and cushions, the frequency of this phenomenon escaped me. Turns out, says Gestalt Scientifics David Kraft, its an epidemic along the East Coast and possibly elsewhere. The cause, as we reported in this column in PBB No. 170 , is a bacterium called Streptoverticillium reticulum, which is often found in soil and rotting vegetables. Seems it also likes the insides of boat cushions, and maybe a lot of other places on board where its presence is not visible. Anyway, you cant clean the pink stain, so we quoted a consultant to APV Engineered Coatings that the best way to deal with S. reticulum is prevention, such as applying one of APVs Vynguard Weldable PVDF topcoats.

Of course, this doesnt help with already pinked seats. According to Kraft, its costing boat manufacturers and dealers thousands and thousands of dollars in warranty claims. Gestalt Scientific was formed to find a way to remove the pink stain, and a group of PhDs in biochemistry, physics, and engineering was gathered to solve the problem. The result is PinkAway, available as a Home Solution and a somewhat different product for commercial use.

Will Bleach Kill Mold

Asked by: Miss Alaina Bode

Can you use bleach to kill mold? Mold and its spores can be found almost anywhere, but active mold growth requires moisture. … However, bleach can’t kill mold on porous surfaces, such as those made of wood. That’s because mold spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces.

Vinegar truly is better than bleach at killing moldsolution of diluted bleach

Bleach will only remove the green stain from mold26 related questions found

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Does Not Work On Porous Materials

Bleach doesnt work well on porous materials such as drywall, carpeting and wood paneling among others. Bleachs chemical setup prevents it from soaking up into the material and killing mold from within or removing stains. Bleach can work well for non-porous surfaces because when applied, it wont seep into anything else but its intended area.

With bleach being made up of 90% water and 10% chlorine, the chlorine will evaporate leaving the water behind. This further encourages the remaining mold to regrow.

As stated by the Environmental Protection Agency , always call for a professional mold cleaner if the mold covers more 10 square feet or more. Mold remediation should help do away with the mold and mildew permanently.

Try Steam Cleaning For Killing Black Mold

Another excellent way to kill black mold in carpets or floor tiles is to use a steam cleaner. The high temperatures used to produce steam in the cleaners kills the majority of bacteria and molds that are harmful to homeowners. These molds include black mold, which dissolves in double time by using a strong carpet shampoo when cleaning.

DIY Homemade Carpet Shampoo to Kill Mold

• 2 tbsp of liquid laundry detergent
• ¼ cup of all-purpose liquid cleaner
• ¼ cup of oxygen bleach
• 1 tsp of fabric softener
• 1 gallon of hot water

Depending on the type of machine you have, you can either place the cleaner directly onto the carpet or add it to the steam cleaners reservoir. This reservoir is designed to hold cleaning solutions and distribute them evenly across the carpet.

If you are applying the detergent by hand, use a soft cloth or even a bristle brush to scrub the surface of the floor. This cleaning solution also works on tile floors, using a scrub brush to work in between the tiles and clean the grout.

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Bleach Can Contribute To Further Mold Growth

Bleach is made up of about 90 percent water. Moreover, since molds thrive with moisture, spraying bleach on mold can contribute to further mold growth, especially on porous surfaces.

Once you apply bleach to mold on a porous surface, the chlorine content of the beach dries up almost immediately, leaving behind the water content to be absorbed into the wood or any other absorbent material. The water travels down to the root of the mold and helps it thrive. This is why mold problems often become worse a few days after bleach is applied.

Applying bleach on mold may even cause mold to grow in surrounding areas that were previously unaffected.

Dont Create Additional Work For Yourself

Many people start out by cleaning their boat seats with a low-grade, low-intensity cleaner such as dish detergent solution to see if that does the job. Unless your problem is very minor, you may as well skip this step. If your mildew or mold problem is serious enough to cause odor, theres a good chance its already deep-set in your boat seats. Youre going to need a cleaner with a little more heft to make quick work of it.

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Should You Use Bleach To Clean Mold At All

Experts advise that you should never use bleach to clean mold, whether on a porous or non-porous surface. There are many reasons for this and mainly because, using bleach to treat or clean mold can jeopardize your health.

Common household bleach is not necessarily toxic, but prolonged exposure to bleach can be very harmful to humans. When in the gaseous state, chlorine bleach produces a byproduct called dioxin, recognized as a cancer-causing compound. Hence, inhaling bleach is dangerous.

In addition to this, mixing chlorine bleach with ammonia, drain cleaners, cleansers, or any other similar chemical produces chlorine gas, which can be very harmful to health. Exposure to chlorine gas can cause a burning sensation on the skin, eyes, and nostrils. It can also negatively affect the lungs or cause breathing anomalies, mostly when used around individuals with a lung condition such as asthma.

To stress the potential harm of using bleach to kill mold, the the CDC advises against handling bleach without wearing complete personal protective gear. This includes an N95 respirator to prevent you from inhaling harmful gas, goggles, and protective gloves.

In essence, using bleach to kill mold can cause you even more harm than the mold you are trying to kill.

How Helpful Is Bleach In Killing Black Mold

When it comes to sanitizing or disinfecting surfaces, bleach undoubtedly is an effective product to use. The substance being a powerful oxidizer, works well in getting rid of certain types of bacteria. However, if we are speaking of getting rid of black mold, then what most experts have commented may raise your eyebrows in disbelief. According to them, bleach is only helpful in killing mold that is growing on materials such as bathroom tiles, bathtubs, glass, and counter-tops.

This is because these are all non-porous surfaces. Bleach does not come in handy for surfaces that are porous.

So what stops bleach from removing mold from porous surfaces like drywall or wood? When black mold infests such areas, it not only grows on but beneath the surface too, with its roots intact. And this is what limits the efficacy of bleach, as it cannot penetrate the surface. This causes the chlorine to stay on the surface, and it is the water that gets absorbed thus, feeding the black mold spores to become worse. Some of the mold may be removed from the surface, but since its roots still remain embedded, it returns within a few days. Bleach also gets rid of the moldy color from the infested surface, and this puts most people under the impression that the mold is gone for good. But unfortunately, the toxic microflora still thrives.

Also Check: How To Remove Mold Under Carpet

Use An Enzymatic Cleaner On Pet Stains To Prevent Mold

Another excellent way to prevent mold from forming on your carpets in the first place is clean pet stains immediately and with the appropriate cleaning solutions. Not all urine stains are visible at once, but using an enzymatic cleaner will breakdown the components of bacteria in urine no matter when you clean it.

Generally, you will notice a musty odor at first. This foul smell should keep the urine stain from progressing into mold without you noticing. Once you have located the stain, soak up the excess pee with a paper towel, and spray the area with the enzyme cleaner. This will completely obliterate the bacteria, which prevents the stain from transforming into a breeding ground for mold.

Replace Vinegar With Hydrogen Peroxide For A Potent Mold Killer

If you dont have any vinegar handy, hydrogen peroxide is the next best thing. Similar to vinegar in its attack on mold, hydrogen peroxide is an effective anti-bacterial disinfectant. This cleaner should only be administered to light-colored carpets, however, as the peroxide will bleach darker carpets.

Homemade Hydrogen Peroxide Black Mold Killer

• ¾ cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 ½ cups of water
• 5 drops of lemon essential oil

Before starting, test a small area of the carpet first. Once you are satisfied with your test, spray the combined ingredients over the carpet using a medium-sized spray bottle.

Blot the affected area using a dry cloth, removing as much of the cleaner with the fabric as you can. After the carpet has had plenty of time to dry, double-check the area for other mold spots. Repeat the process as necessary.

This recipe will also work to clean black mold off vinyl siding if you have that problem outside in a shady corner of the house. Mold likes the dark and tends to accumulate in these types of areas. Spray the solution on the mold, let it sit, and rinse clean with the garden hose. For stubborn mold, you may need to do a little scrubbing.

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Locate The Area With The Black Mold

When you first embark on your mold-cleaning journey, you want to know precisely what beast you are dealing with and how to clean it. This process involves doing a quick assessment of the mold and the level of cleaning required. If you have recently suffered from attacks of itchy eyes, spontaneous coughing, and other lung-related fits, this may be an indication of mold in the household.

You want to know precisely where this mold is coming from, but the location is not always apparent. In cases where you suspect there is mold in the home, but you havent yet located it, start with the main areas mold grows. Any area where moisture collects is a place you want to examine first.

Your first place should be the bathroom, under kitchen sinks, and even the roof. Porous materials like carpet are another major area where mold accumulates.

The high instance of mold growth on carpets results in pet accidents and spills that were not cleaned up right away. This issue is more likely to happen if the corner of carpeting is in a hidden area of the home, such as under the bed or behind furniture.

Can You Use Bleach To Kill Mold

Mold and its spores can be found almost anywhere, but active mold growth requires moisture. You may initially notice the presence of mold due to its musty scent, or by spotting patches of black, brown, yellow, pink, green, fuzzy growths.

You can use bleach to remove traces of mold on tub and tile surfaces, which are hard and impermeable. However, bleach cant kill mold on porous surfaces, such as those made of wood.

Thats because mold spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces. Even after applying bleach and wiping away mold from these surfaces, the mold will continue to grow beneath the surface and will return to the area you cleaned in a short amount of time.

While it may be impossible to fully remove mold from porous surfaces with bleach, you can still use it to eliminate mold from nonporous surfaces. Here are some steps you can take:

Most of the health concerns surrounding bleach are because its largely reactive.

When inhaled in large amounts, chlorine gas can cause:

• chest pain
• pneumonia
• vomiting

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How To Kill Mold With Bleach: Steps & Alternatives

Mold and mildew are not just an eyesore, they can be hazardous to your health. Bleach is a common household item that will help remove mold on surfaces in the home. Bleach has many benefits for killing mold, but it also carries risks if not used properly or with caution.

Kill mold with bleach by mixing 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water and spraying the mixture to the surface with mold. After an hour, scrub and rinse the surface before drying it up. Ensure the room has enough ventilation and you have put on protective gear such as a mask, goggles and gloves.

The bleach to water ratio for mold is 1:9 from the procedure above. Basically, the bleach concentration to kill mold is 10%. This concentration wont kill mold right away and is limited to nonporous surfaces like tiles.

Formula Using Borax To Remove Mildew From Canvas

To remove mildew using the Borax formula, mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of water. I prefer to use warm water, but use what you have. Use a soft scrub brush that will not damage the fabric.

Gently scrub the borax formula into the canvas and loosen up the mildew. Allow the formula to soak into the canvas so it can get deep into the fibers.

Then after the solution soaks on the canvas for at least15 minutes or longer, rinse the canvas thoroughly to remove all of the borax solution. If the mildew is still present is may require a second treatment to fully remove the mildew.

Recommended Reading: Nebraska Boat Regulations

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If Necessary Sand The Wood

These cleaning solutions should take care of your mold problem, but if youve got some stubborn traces left under the surface, you have one last resort: sanding.

• Use 100-grit sandpaper to rub out the affected portion, taking care not to sand away too much of the surrounding areas.
• Repeat Step 2 to remove the dust and any loosened mold spores.

Formula Using White Vinegar To Remove Mildew From Canvas

For generations, people have been using white vinegar as a cleaner around the house. If you are a boat owner, vinegar can be a helpful product to use to clean your boat too.

Vinegar has many uses. One of the most helpful is using vinegar to remove mildew from your boat. If you do not want to use bleach to clean your boat canvas, white vinegar is a good alternative to try.

Mix up a solution that is 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water. The brand of vinegar does not matter, I buy the cheapest gallon of vinegar I can find.

You can also use 100% white vinegar and forgo the water. I have been known to put the vinegar in a pump sprayer and soak down the canvas. I let is sit for up to an hour and I try to keep it wet the whole time.

If it starts to dry, I will mist it with a garden hose to help keep the vinegar wet and on the mildew stains. After it sits for that long, I use a soft scrub brush the agitate the canvas until the mildew comes off. Then I blast it with a ton of freshwater.

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Use The Proper Equipment When Cleaning Black Mold

When cleaning black mold, ensure you have the proper supplies to prevent further allergic reactions. These supplies should protect your eyes, face, and hands when cleaning. Wearing long sleeves and pants will also limit the amount of mold-to-skin contact.

• Respirator

Not all of the equipment listed is necessary when cleaning. However, as you possibly dont know the extent of your mold issue until you begin cleaning, it is helpful to have as many cleaning supplies and pieces of equipment on hand before you get started. A respirator, for example, is useful in areas with poor ventilation.

This will prevent the mold spores from circulating back into the air and into your lungs. If one recipe or method doesnt work, you can always work your way up to the next until you find a solution that eradicates the problem.

The Best Way To Kill Mold In The Attic

Mold in the attic can be a health and safety hazardwhen you spot it, you have to act fast. While this pressure can feel overwhelming, there are several ways for you to tackle your mold problem the DIY way, before you have to call in a professional.

On that note though, if you do discover advanced mold in your attic, professional help may be your only option. Similarly, if you have preexisting health conditions like asthma or other lung or allergy-related ailments it’s best to leave the mold killing to someone else. Mold, when disturbed, can release spores into the air, and even if you’re wearing a protective mask, preexisting health conditions can put you at serious risk.

Causes of Mold

While damp and warm climates are a prime breeding ground for our fuzzy friend, other conditions that bring mold include lack of ventilation and proper sheathing. High humidity in a space like an attic can lead to mold and a spill in a carpeted area of your home that isn’t quickly taken care of can also lead to mold under the carpet. And just because you can’t see that mold doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.

Knowing what climate and structural elements contribute to mold problems can help you know what trouble spots to check.

Hydrogen Peroxide Method

You may need to spray more than once or twice to get this method to bring the desired results.

Vinegar Method

Baking Soda Method

Bleach Method

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