How To Kill Mold Using Bleach
Have you decided which method and which type of bleach you want to use? Now, were going to tell you how to kill the mold effectively.
First, here are some precautions you should consider:
- Be safe: make sure to protect your hands by wearing gloves, so the bleach doesnt contact your skin. Put on a mask, eye goggles, and old clothes that you wont mind staining.
- Open windows and doors: Bleach produces harmful fumes, remember.
How To Get Rid Of Bathroom Mildew
Bathroom surfaces, especially tile and grout located in or near your shower or tub, are common breeding grounds for mildew. This is largely because these surfaces are warm, moist and exposed to
light often. While you may want to treat mildew quickly because its unsightly, its important to treat mildew fast because it can spread and cause mold to grow on your bathrooms surfaces.
Like its grown-up counterpart, mold, mildew can cause allergies, respiratory problems and more serious health issues that have the potential to affect your nervous system. If you suspect a mold issue, please contact the leasing office right away.
Is It Possible To Use A Bleach And Vinegar Combination To Kill Mold
To start, lets look at both bleach and vinegar and what they can do to kill mold.
Most people assume that bleach is a cure-all for mold issues. It is true that it a very strong cleaner and it will kill mildew. Bleach can kill off mold, but it is not as effective as vinegar. Thats because vinegar seeps into porous materials that mold grows on, such as wood. Bleach is a great surface cleaner but has difficulty removing spores because it doesnt seep into the material below the surface layer.
So, now we know that these cleaners can kill bleach with slightly different outcomes. The question becomes: are two solutions more effective when combined?
The answer is yes a combination of bleach and vinegar is a powerful chemical that is guaranteed to kill, if not remove, the mold growth in a specified area.
If you have tried other store-bought cleaners and havent had any luck, then this may be the perfect home remedy you have been looking for!
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How To Get Rid Of Mold With Baking Soda
Baking soda is mild, harmless to your family and pets, and is a natural and safe household cleaner. It can also kill mold. Baking soda and vinegar are typically used together when dealing with a mold problem since they kill different species of mold.
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.
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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.
Nontoxic Alternatives For Cleaning Mold
Luckily, there are many nontoxic options for mold cleanup on both porous and nonporous surfaces.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part water in a spray bottle. Apply to mold and allow to sit before removal.
- Vinegar. Place undiluted white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply to the mold and allow to sit for 1 hour. Wipe the surface and allow to air dry.
- Baking soda. Combine 2 tbsp. baking soda with 2 cups water in a spray bottle and shake until its completely dissolved. Spray onto the mold and let it sit before scrubbing. Afterward, rinse the area and apply the solution once more, allowing it to fully air dry.
- Tea tree oil. Mix 2 tsp. tea tree oil with either 2 cups water or 2 cups distilled white vinegar. Spray onto the mold and allow it to sit for at least 1 hour, then scrub.
- Grapefruit seed extract. Mix 10 drops of extract into 1 cup water. Spray onto the mold and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
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How To Remove Mold From Wood
Mold commonly grows on wooden surfaces, as wood is very good at absorbing water. Add to this moisture warm temperatures and mold spores , and its the perfect storm for a mold infestation. Read our guide to learn how to easily remove mold from wood.
The good news is that if the affected area is no larger than ten square feet and you arent dealing with toxic black mold, you can eliminate the mold yourself using everyday household cleaners. But dont delayholding off on this project will give the mold colony a chance to expand, and prolonged exposure can be bad for your health.
What if youre dealing with black mold? It can be difficult to distinguish toxic black mold from other species that are black in color, so its best to call in a professional in this situation. Toxic black mold is particularly harmful when inhaled, so you shouldnt touch it.
Does Borax Kill Mold And Mildew How To Clean With Borax
Borax has many natural household uses such as killing allergens like dust mites to getting rid of mold and mildew. It is a natural cleaning agent thats safe , so you can leave it on surfaces to get rid of mold, mildew, and odors in the house. How do you use borax to remove mold and mildew?
Borax kills mold by increasing the pH to inhibit its growth. Mix 1 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water then sprinkle the solution on the moldy surface. Scrub off the mold using a cleaning pad. Allow the borax solution to sit for 2 hours before rinsing with distilled water to remove all the mold.
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Bleach Can Damage Your Structure
Just as mold can destroy surfaces by eating into them, bleach can also cause damage to your structure. The corrosive feature of bleach means it can eat into your wood and cause it to disintegrate by weakening the wood fibers. When you apply bleach to metal surfaces, it corrodes the metal and damages your structure.
What Not To Use To Remove Mould
Its been proven that harsh chemicals such as bleach and ammonia arent effective in removing mould. The problem with bleach is is does nothing to remove the mould. Instead it bleaches the colour of the mould, giving the illusion of a mould-free surface.
“The fungi contain melanin, and the bleach just takes the colour out, but the fungi are still there, you are just masking it,” Mycologist Heike Neumeister-Kemp told the ABC. “Six weeks later it appears to come back, but it was never gone.
Heike recommends a vinegar solution to break down the fungi.
“The vinegar attacks the fungi mechanically,” she said, “so it actually, via osmosis, penetrates into the structure and explodes it, so you actually kill the fungi.”
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Bleach Does Not Kill Mold On Porous Surfaces And Can Actually Contribute To Mold Growth
If you read the label on your bleach bottle, you will probably see that it is only designated for non-porous surfaces. This means that chlorine bleach can only kill surface mold. Because mold can grow deep roots within porous surfaces, such as wood and drywall, bleach will not assist you in exterminating mold. As the chlorine cannot penetrate to destroy the growth at its roots, therefore, it remains on the surface while the water component of the bleach reaches further, which can actually feed the mold growth. So, if you want to completely eliminate the mold from your home, bleach is definitely not the answer. The worst part is that you may think you have completely eliminated the mold when, in fact, you havent.
Can I Use Straight Bleach To Kill Mold
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. Also, is bleach or vinegar better to kill mold?
Bleach and vinegar can both kill mold, but vinegar is much more effective for removing mold from porous materials. This is because bleach only kills mold spores on the surface of affected materials. Vinegar will penetrate porous materials and kill the mold at the roots.
how long does it take for bleach to kill mold? Usually, one application of your bleach and water solution is enough to kill mold. However, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours before the mold disappears.
In this way, can you kill mold with bleach?
Bleach does not kill mold on porous surfaces and can actually contribute to mold growth! This means that chlorine bleach can only kill surface mold. Because mold can grow deep roots within porous surfaces, such as wood and drywall, bleach will not assist you in exterminating mold.
What kind of bleach kills mold?
For killing mold with bleach use a ratio of one cup of bleach per gallon of water . Apply the solution to non-porous surfaces with mold growth either by using a spray bottle or by using a bucket and a sponge or cloth.
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If You Have Questions About Mold Removal In The Philadelphia Pa And Cherry Hill Nj Area Give Us A Call At 877
We build containment to protect your home while we kill the mold
In every job we do, we follow the IICRC recommended protocol for safe mold removal, including building containment to protect the rest of your home or office from mold contamination, while we kill the mold you can see, as well as the mold you cant!
Removing Mold From Tile And Grout
Bathroom humidity and body soil on surfaces create the perfect environment for mold growth. There are plenty of commercial cleaners that you can buy, but chlorine bleach and water are just as effective and much less expensive.
Simply mix one part bleach to 16 parts water and apply to the mold-affected areas. Allow the solution to remain on the moldy area for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing or retreating. Rinse with water and wipe dry, keeping windows open until fully dry.
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How To Kill Mold With Hydrogen Peroxide
How To Kill Mold With Baking Soda
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Get Rid Of Mold Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is another great non-toxic mold remover. It is convenient, works on any surface, inexpensive, and eco-friendly. Baking soda is a household item that everyone has. The solution is harmless to touch and smell. All you need to create it is a one-quarter tablespoon of baking soda mixed into a spray bottle of water. You can also mix baking soda with detergent to create a more potent solution. For this, youd need half a cup of baking soda, one cup of water, and one tablespoon of detergent. While they might not be as effective as bleach or ammonia, all its other benefits outweigh the cons.
Taking mold lightly is an error that will have a long-term effect on our health and the place we leave in. It is best to take care of it as soon as it starts to grow. A little vigilance and effort will save us from a lifetime of regret and pain.
Dangerous Mold Vs Mildew
The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like your bathroom and on fabrics and books stored in damp basements. Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony. It will turn black or brown if not removed promptly and often looks like soil accumulation. To test if the surface is covered with mildew or just dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it’s mildew. If not, it’s probably just dirt.
If you detect a musty smell anywhere in your home, then you have a high concentration of mold. It can be coming from a hamper filled with damp towels, from a damp crawlspace under your home, or carpets that have mold growing in the padding. If you smell that odor, it’s definitely time to take action to get rid of the problem.
All mildew is mold, but not all molds are mildew. Mildew can discolor and slowly harm surfaces but there are much more dangerous molds that can damage the structure of your home. If you see a black or green mold that is fuzzy or slimy and the drywall or wood underneath is soft or crumbly, there is irreversible rot, and the mold and the damaged surfaces must be removed immediately.
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How To Prevent Mold
Prevent the growth of mold through the following methods:
- Stop leaks that cause dampness on surfaces. Stopping leaks requires checking around windows frames, roofs, gutters etc., as well as ensuring pipes are joined properly with glue and other adhesives.
- Keep the building ventilated by keeping the windows open and using fans to circulate the air in the building.
- Keep surfaces dry and clean. For instance, users can place a dehumidifier in the basement or laundry room. Keep surfaces dry means keeping humidity levels below 50%.
- Carpeting should not be placed in locations of your house that may get wet like the kitchen or bathrooms. Always dry rugs as soon as they get wet. If already infested with mold, throw them away.
- It is also important not to use too many chemicals on floors as they might damage walls and paintwork that are damp from water leakage.
- Clear and repair any gutters and downspouts to ensure water from the rain flows away from the walls.
If an area has already been contaminated by mold spores, it will be more difficult to prevent future outbreaks from occurring if there are still moisture problems within the house itself.
Still, the best way to remove mold is to call for a mold remediation expert who will assess the source of the mold, the extent of its growth then kills and prevents its regrowth. Clorox can kill mold but its not as effective as what a mold remediation expert will do.
Special Cases Requiring Mold Removal
There are also mold and mildew removers made for showers, but these often have strong odors, so make sure that the bathroom is well-ventilated before using these products. Some products claim that scrubbing is not required, but stubborn mold may still need to be scrubbed to be loosened. Be sure to wear gloves and a mask when working on cleaning tasks like these. Finally, be sure to keep all products like these out of reach of children and pets.
There are also cement and masonry mold remover products that work on mold, mildew and algae, plus grease and oil stains. If you have a pressure washer, you can buy special products to use in tandem with the machine for a better clean. Never use a pressure washer indoors, of course this is only an acceptable solution for outdoor mold or mildew, such as mildew on patios, foundations, walls, sheds and siding.
Things You Will Need
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Vacuum attachment with HEPA filter
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Mold and mildew remover product
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Scrub brush
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