Chemicals To Kill Mold
There are several types of antimicrobials that are designed to kill mold. All you have to do is spray them on, wait several minutes, and the mold colonies will die and can no longer reproduce and multiply.
A popular chemical for killing mold is Concrobium Mold Control, which can be bought at big-box hardware stores. Its used by both pros and homeowners. We have used it and have found it to be effective.
Hydrogen peroxide-based mold killers are also very effective. These types of cleaning agents usually say Mold Stain Remover Does Not Contain Bleach on the label. We like these because they cause the mold to bubble and fizz which is very cool to see . Whats also nice about hydrogen peroxide-based chemicals is that their fumes are simply pure oxygen, which has an interesting and refreshing scent.
Both Concrobium Mold Control and hydrogen peroxide-bases agents remove mold with a high kill rate. That is, they are highly effective at killing active mold growth. Unfortunately, even though these cleaning agents kill mold, they leave dark, ugly mold stains behind. Even the hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning agents, that advertise that they remove stains, still leave plenty of stains behind. Seeing the mold stains left behind after youve treated and scrubbed your mold is not very satisfying and is therefore, the reason why we recommend bleach-based cleaning agents.
Bleach-Based Cleaning Agents: Killing Mold & Effectively Removing Mold Stains
Black Mold Removal Using Essential Oils
Essential oils have mcade aromatherapy a household word, but these natural compounds can do so much more. Tea tree oil is an insect repellant, antiseptic, and deodorizer and its one of the safest methods for getting rid of black mold. Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide that cleans up mold quickly and it helps prevent mold spores from coming back.
Combine one teaspoon of tea tree oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle and shake vigorously to blend the water and oil. Spray the moldy area, leave it to dry for an hour, and then wipe away with a microfiber cloth or dry towel. Make sure to wear protective gloves, because some people find that essential oils can irritate their skin.
When To Call A Professional
If mildew infestation is caught early, you can easily handle it with household cleaners. But for extensive mold problems, consider hiring a professional. The rule of thumb is if the mold covers 10 or more square feet, call in a professional. Removing large mold colonies requires exposure to heavy-duty chemicals and proper disposal of infested building materials. Local public health departments can offer advice on mold testing and refer you to an expert mold remover.
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Scrub Away Remaining Mold
Spray the baking soda solution directly onto the mold and any mold stains and scrub with the scrub brush or scouring pad. Baking soda acts as an abrasive agent, helping to dislodge persistent mold and remove stains. After scrubbing, rinse the area with clean warm water. Make sure you are still wearing your protective gear for this step to prevent unnecessary exposure.
How To Tell: Good Mold Or Bad Mold
Ahh. Mold. That fuzzy blue, green, black-colored stuff that likes to grow in warm, damp places. A lot of times its normal growth, you know like on old bread. But, when its growing in your home, on the ceiling or the walls, thats not good. As mold specialists, we get asked all the time: “Is it good mold or bad mold.” To be honest, this is a tough question to answer. Instead of looking at it as good or bad, we group it into three categories: good, normal, and bad.
The Good Mold
Lets start off by saying that not all mold is bad. Theres the mold that makes your cheese, cheesy. Theres the mold that makes your wine taste delicious, and theres the mold that helps make medicine. And, we typically consider the mold outside of your home a good thing. So, when it comes down to it, most people dont even notice good mold, unless they are reaching into the fridge for that stinky wine cheese they love so much.
Cheese – Good Mold
The Normal Mold
Next, lets discuss normal molds. When talking about normal molds within the home, there are really two types. Airborne mold spores, and surface mold growth. With the airborne type, it is simply a fact of life that there is always some degree of airborne mold spores floating around in your home. They come into the home through any gap, penetration, open door, and even on our clothes. These molds are considered normal, as long as they did not originate within the home.
Drain – Normal Mold
The Bad Mold
Casing – Bad Mold
What To Do?
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Cleaning Mold With Vinegar
White distilled vinegar is effective for killing small amounts of mold. It can kill over 80 percent of mold species commonly found in your home and as a mild acid, it can help prevent mold as well as remove it. Make sure you follow these steps when cleaning mold with vinegar:
- Protect yourself from exposure to the mold by wearing protective gear such as gloves and a mask.
- Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle but do not dilute it. Diluting the vinegar will reduce its effectiveness.
- Spray the moldy areas and let the vinegar sit for an hour so that the mold can absorb it completely.
- If you need to scrub the mold, do so with a baking soda solution. Pour 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a spray bottle and shake well.
- Spray the moldy area with the baking soda mixture and use a scrubbing brush or scouring pad to scrub the mold. Wearing protective gloves will protect you from direct contact.
- Use clean, warm water to rinse the area.
- Spray the vinegar again over the area and let it dry naturally to make sure all the mold has been killed.
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Starchy Vegetables And Whole Fruit
Ive found that most people affected by mold do just fine eating one to two servings of starchy vegetables and whole fruit per day, such as:
- Sweet potato
- Berries
- Apples
These foods contain fiber that binds bile acids and may inhibit the enterohepatic circulation of mycotoxins. Apples and citrus fruits, with their high soluble fiber content, form a viscous matrix that inhibits the reabsorption of bile acids in the small intestine. If you have severe gut dysbiosis, you may need to further limit your carb intake and obtain more of your fiber from non-starchy vegetables.
What Conditions Are Best For Mold Growth
Keeping mold from growing in your home is an important consideration for a healthy, safe environment to live. The first task in keeping mold at bay is discovering what areas and conditions might encourage mold growth. Molds are pervasive everywhere, and thrive in wet conditions. How does mold grow? Mold grows best when moisture and humidity are present. When mold spores encounter a damp surface most advantageous for fungal growth, they can begin to grow and thrive.
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What About Porous Items
Leather tends to mold quickly in warm, damp environments such as basements.
Porous items such as upholstered furniture, clothing, carpet and ceiling tiles are more difficult to clean. If the mold is extensive, then these items will likely have to be discarded.
Light mold growth can be removed using a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner, by professional laundering or by specialized furniture or carpet cleaning companies. Even after cleaning, remaining mold stains may be difficult or impossible to remove. Also remember that when using a HEPA filtered vacuum you still have to empty the vacuum, which is now full of mold spores.
Is Mold In Your Bathroom Making You Sick
For the most part, mold is harmless to a healthy person but some mold can make you sick and cause health issues, especially in individuals with weakened immune systems or allergies to mold.
80 of the 1.5 million known species of mold are classified as allergenic, but if you are prone to allergies the chance of mold making you sick increases significantly. Allergic reactions to mold may include flu-like symptoms, coughing, mood changes, skin rashes, sinusitis, respiratory issues, dizziness, or fungal infections of the lungs.
Chances are, the mold in your bathroom is not negatively impacting your health but that doesnt mean you should simply let it be.
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How To Remove Mold From Fabric
If your home has been flooded and mold and bacteria have been left to grow for many days, it may be impossible to salvage fabric items and clothing. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most machine-washable fabrics.
It is very difficult to remove mold from upholstered items because the spores may have deeply penetrated the item and the piece of furniture is likely not colorfast for use with a bleach disinfectant. If the spot is small, try a mold removal product that is formulated for fabric and follow the label’s instructions carefully. You can also try these types of products to spot clean fabric lamp shades or window treatments affected by mold, but they are not machine-washable. Read the label to make sure the product will work on your type of fabric and do not use a vacuum to clean any moldy item.
Mold Cleaning Trick #: Vinegar
Vinegar has been found to kill 82% of mold species! Plus, it is great at preventing mold in the first place. Vinegar contains no toxic fumes like many other agents used to kill mold, such as bleach.
- Pour mild white vinegar into a spray bottle, do not dilute with water. Vinegars acidic qualities make it quite deadly to mold, thats why you dont want to water it down.
- Spray affected surface areas with straight vinegar solution and then wait one hour. If your bathroom has windows, open them up and let it air out during this time.
- After an hour passes, use hot water and a clean towel to wipe the area. Make sure surfaces are dry to prevent mold from coming right back.
Vinegar isnt always strong enough to get rid of mold on its own, but it is great at preventing mold from growing in the first place. Keep that spray bottle of vinegar in your bathroom at all times and use it to spray surfaces prone to mold whenever they get wet. This makes it difficult for mold to grow, which means you wont have to waste time removing it in the first place.
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Types Of Mold By Color
Different types of molds come in varying colors and often spark distinct allergic reactions.
Which Is Better To Kill Mold
Both vinegar and bleach are practical and powerful to kill mold growth around the house. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Vinegar is a safer choice than bleach.
Vinegar: It is a natural and non-toxic remedy that will penetrate deep inside the mold areas and prevent their growth. It contains about 5-20% of acetic acid. However, vinegar can cause discoloration if used on tiles. We may use vinegar
- If mold is growing on porous surfaces: Vinegar can penetrate deep into the pores of the surface, killing around 82% of it. Molds that are growing on surfaces such as carpets and upholstery may be treated with vinegar for better results.
- If the mold area is dense: Vinegar is a natural and non-toxic remedy to kill mold and bacteria. The United States Environmental Protection Agency approves it, so we may use it everywhere and anywhere even if the mold area is dense.
- To kill the mold at its roots: The penetration power of vinegar can help in killing the mold completely and prevent its recurrence.
Tips to use vinegar for mold:
Bleach: It can be toxic to our health. Therefore, it may be recommended to use these methods only if there is a small amount of mold in your house.
Tips to use bleach for mold:
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How To Use Vinegar To Remove Mold Or Mildew In Your Home
Before you clean the mold, its important to address the moisture problem that led to the mold growth in the first place. If you get rid of the mold without targeting the moisture, it will almost certainly grow back.
Once youve fixed the moisture problem, heres how you can use vinegar to remove the mold.
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The Path Of Resistance
Initially, Mikes landlord tried to fix the problem himself, bleaching the moldy walls. We call that spray n’ pray, said Scott Armour of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a global industry body for remediators. They, along with the EPA, advise against bleach for a variety of reasons, namely that fumes can be dangerous and its usually ineffective.
Bleach only works for non-porous surfaces. It cant touch the mold that has burrowed into surfaces like wood or drywall . But the most important reason bleach fails is that people dont stop the molds water supply.
First thing I do is check for leaks, in the bathroom or roof or a crack in the foundation, said Greg Bukowski, who runs the Chicago-based remediation company Moldman USA. Theres always a leak. If you dont fix that, dont bother with bleach or vinegar. Then kill and remove the mold with detergent and water, then prevent its return with mold-resistant paint like Kilz .
When bleach didnt work, Mike paid for an indoor airborne mold test, which raised more questions than it answered. We had no idea how to interpret the results. I just couldnt find any information out there that isnt written by remediation guys, he said. They told him he had the dreaded black mold, and needed professional remediation.
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