Type Of Bleach To Use
It is important that you use the correct type of bleach. It should be chlorine bleach that is used to clean surfaces, not the kind meant for cleaning clothes or the kind for dyeing hair. There are many different kinds of bleach, so make sure to double-check what you already have in your home before using it.
While bleach is toxic, such a diluted amount should not be too dangerous. However, you want to be sure to work in a well-ventilated area and to keep children and pets away from the solution. You should also be cautious with your clothing, as bleach will ruin what you are wearing if it gets on it.
Cleaning Mold With Bleach
Always use protective gear when cleaning mold.
According to conventional wisdom, bleach kills mold growth. However, this is somewhat of a myth as bleach only kills the mold on the surface without affecting the membrane underneath. You need to kill and remove this underlying membrane to effectively remove the mold growth and prevent it from returning. Bleach cleaners cannot kill this membrane because its chemical structure prevents it from penetrating porous surfaces. This causes the mold membranes to move deeper into the affected surface to hide from the bleach. You should only use bleach to remove small amounts of mold that have formed on non-porous surfaces.
Another problem with using bleach is that it can actually multiply the mold growth. When bleach is introduced to mold colonies, the mold recognizes the bleach as a threat and reacts. Mold can actually use bleach as a food source once it has been exposed which will cause the mold to grow back faster and stronger. Even the EPA advises against using bleach for removing mold. Fortunately, there is another household item that can kill mold.
If You Have Mold In Your Home
Mold can look like spots. It can be many different colors, and it can smell musty. If you see or smell mold, you should remove it. You do not need to know the type of mold.
If mold is growing in your home, you need to clean up the mold and fix the moisture problem. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.
Also Check: How To Clean Clothes Exposed To Mold Spores
How To Remove Mold From The Concrete Patio
The paramount solution is to scrub and clean the troubled areas on the patio with a simple solution of household bleach and water. Be sure to wash aggressively to get down into the pores of the concrete. Let the detergent or bleach solution soak in for a while to ensure that the entire mold is killed. For densely stained patios, use a pressure water pipe to clear off the whole mold.
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Can Damage Surfaces And Fabrics
Using bleach for cleaning mold can result in damaged surfaces, curtains or clothing because the bleach cannot distinguish between different types of materials. Bleach will deteriorate many kinds of common household items like counter tops, carpets, drapes etc.
The strong chemical compounds that make up chlorine bleach also cause deterioration over time on various building components including metals, plastics, rubber gaskets and other seals found around doors and windows. These are necessary parts of buildings . This means that, eventually, everything is at risk from exposure to concentrated amounts of chemicals such as bleach even when used sparingly.
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Ways To Kill Mold Naturally
- University of Maryland
Mold and mildew are natural byproducts of a humid environment but that doesnt mean you want to share your house with the spores. Rather than turning to harsh chemicals, such as bleach or borax, to banish mold, there are natural ways to kill mold at home that wont hurt your family, pets or the environment.
Black Mold Inside Of The Drywall
Mold inside of the drywall will require a larger cleanup effort and removal of small parts of the drywall itself. Begin by wearing protective gear like a respirator, goggles and latex gloves and seal off the area using plastic. This will prevent the spores from spreading.
- Step 1: Place an air scrubber near the affected area to filter the air while you work.
- Step 2: Next, use a hepa vacuum on the surface of the drywall to contain spores, mycelium and mycotoxins.
- Step 3: After this, use the glove box removal method, which requires you to cut a box of plastic thats four inches longer and wider than the affected area.
- Step 4: Use spray adhesive to apply the plastic box over the moldy drywall. This keeps the mold from entering the air when you begin to cut the drywall.
- Step 5: After this, use a razor to cut the sealed moldy drywall away from the wall, carefully placing it into a garbage bag thats then sealed.
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Mold Removal That Mold Is Usually Only The Stuff That Is On The Top Surface Of Your Area The Information In This Bulletin Is Intended To Help You Understand How To Use Bleach For Disinfection When Professional Judgment May Indicate Its Use For Example This Solution Can Be An Effective Disinfectant When Used Properly Mold Is A Fungus Mold Control
www.homedepot.com
Recommended to you based on whats popular FeedbackBleach will not kill the mold but a good biocide, By far the most popular DIY mold killer is bleach, Advantage of Using Bleach: Bleach kills moldbut only when the chlorine contained in bleach comes into direct contact with the fungi, Wear rubber gloves, however
Removing Mold From Different Surfaces
Once the root cause of the mold has been dealt with, its time to address the visible mold itself. Often the infestation is worse than can be seen with the naked eye, so its important to do more than wipe mold off surfaces and hope for the best. The mold you see is the spores or fruiting body of the fungus, but often the hidden roots survive a first attempt at removal and the mold comes back. Heres how to remove mold for good, wherever you find it in your property.
Before you start: Make sure to ventilate the work area properly, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment to protect against mold spores that will be disturbed when you begin working. Gloves, safety glasses, and an N95 or better mask are all essential. Wear a long sleeved shirt and pants to avoid getting spores on your skin. Try to close off the area from other rooms to prevent spores from spreading throughout your home, and consider renting a HEPA air filter.
Pro Tip: The EPA recommends only removing mold yourself if it covers an area less than 10 square feet. Any larger than that and you need to call in the pros.
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Also Check: What’s Good For Mold
What Can I Spray To Prevent Mold
The Best Anti-Mold Sprays On The Market
- RMR-86 Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. …
- Mold Armor Instant Mold and Mildew Stain Remover. …
- Clorox Tile Mold and Mildew Remover. …
- Concrobium Mold Control Aerosol. …
- Star Brite Mold and Mildew Remover and Cleaner. …
- Wet and Forget Moss, Mildew, and Algae Remover.
Is There Another Way To Kill Mold
You may want other non-toxic ways to kill mold without endangering your health and the health of your loved ones. Here are some of the natural methods we recommend.
Try Vinegar
As we said, vinegar is one of the most effective, natural, and non-toxic methods to kill mold.
In a clean and dry spray bottle, pour some distilled vinegar. Spray the moldy area and let the vinegar work its magic for one hour. Proceed to clean the area with water and let the area dry.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has properties that kill bacteria, viruses, and fungus.
Pour hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Spray abundantly on the mold area and leave for 10 minutes. Then proceed to clean the area with a scrub brush and then wipe.
Baking Soda
Known also as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda can be used to kill mold. Its a safe, natural option.
Take a spray bottle filled with water and add a quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda. Shake the bottle until the baking soda dissolves completely. Spray the moldy surface.
Proceed to clean the area with a scrub brush and then wipe. Spray the area again and leave it dry to prevent the mold from returning.
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How To Clean Mold From Wood
Mold loves wooden surfaces. Whether its your window sills, flooring, wall framing, or furniture, the high cellulose content of wood provides mold with lots of food. Because wood is also very absorbent, its easy to create a perfect environment for mold with very little moisture. If you do find mold growing on wood in your house, heres how to get rid of it.
Youll need:
100-grit sandpaper
Method:
Step 1: Begin by vacuuming up as much of the mold as possible using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. You can also use a soft-bristled brush to dislodge the mold and make this easier. Remember to wear a dust mask to prevent breathing in mold spores while you do this.
Step 2: Add a teaspoon of soap to two cups of water in a spray bottle. Shake to combine and spray the mold and surrounding surface.
Step 3: Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub away the mold and mildew. Use paper towels to soak up any excess water.
Step 4: To kill the roots, add 1 tablespoon of borax to a cup of water and use a soft-bristled brush to apply the solution to the area. Allow it to absorb into the wood.
Step 5: Run a fan or dehumidifier in the room to quickly dry the wood.
Step 6: If the mold is very stubborn, use 100-grit sandpaper to remove the affected area.
Pro Tip: Is the wood still stained? This is usually a result of mildew the discoloration mold leaves behind. While bleach doesnt kill mildew, it can help remove the stains. Try scrubbing a small area with a dilute bleach solution.
Danergous To Your Health
In addition to it not being effective, it is also dangerous to you and your familys health.
Chlorine bleach produces toxic fumes that become airborne and can negatively affect yours and your childrens health. For example, bleach creates a chemical compound known as dioxin, which has been known to cause cancer.
The Minnesota Department of Health considers dioxins to be a group of related compounds that exhibit a similar spectrum of health effects. Dioxins are extremely persistent and once released remain in the environment a very long time.
The MDH says that animal studies have shown that exposure to dioxins cause a broad range of health effects, with the severity of the effect depending on dose, age, gender, and species.
The observed health effects include changes in the level or activity of enzymes and hormones, organs weight changes, altered reproduction and normal development of offspring, and immune dysfunction. High doses cause a failure of animals to grow, called wasting disease, which is fatal.
Low doses cause small changes in cell function-such as changes in levels of thyroid hormones or enzyme activity. Doses to the fetus or young animal may also delay or harm development of tissues and the nervous system.
These harmful effects include prenatal mortality mineralization defects of teeth cleft palate changes in genitalia, sex organs, and glands delayed sexual maturation growth retardation and functional changes in learning and sexual behavior .
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Why Killing Mold With Bleach Is Probably A Bad Idea
Regardless of the climate you live in, mold will always develop if the conditions are right . Before you start dousing your home surfaces with bleach though, you need to understandwhy killing mold with bleachis probably a bad idea.
On average, a bottle of bleach is 97% water and only 3% sodium hypochlorite . You shouldnt use bleach to kill mold because bleach itself evaporates very quickly. This leaves the area very damp, providing leftover mold roots with water to grow back even worse than before.
In this blog post, were going to show you when you should and shouldnt use bleach to kill mold, as well as better alternatives that are safer to use.
This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and other stores. This means Yard Blogger may earn a commission should you make a purchase using any of our links. Please refer to our full affiliate disclosure policy for full details.
Heres a Quick Pro Tip!
A much better, safer, and more efficient product to use that gets rid of mold easily is the RMR-86 Pro Instant Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover. Its industrial strength and gets the job done right.
Benefits Of Hiring Professional Mold Remediators
- They discover all of the mold in your place visible and hidden mold
- They have the proper equipment to remove all of the mold and mold spores in a speedy and efficient manner.
- They can find and eliminate the source of mold even in porous materials.
- They can make sure the future growth of mold is prevented.
- They repair any damage and thoroughly clean the contaminated space.
- They are quick and efficient they can also save you time and money but making sure all of the mold is removed the first time
If you have mold in your home and dont want to take the time to try and do it yourself or simply want to make sure it is done correctly the first time, give Home Healthy Homes a call for your mold remediation needs.
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Why You Shouldnt Use Bleach To Remove Mold
Using bleach in an attempt to remove mold on a porous surface like wood or drywall can have very negative effects.
Because of its chemical composition, bleach is unable to penetrate beyond the surface and get to the root of the mold. So while it may seem youre cleaning up the mold, youre actually just removing the visible part you can see the root of the mold is still there.
I like to use the analogy of pulling weeds. If you just pull the top of a weed off and dont dig out its root, we both know that weed is just going to grow back in a couple of days.
Its the same concept with mold. Bleach cannot get to the root of the mold on a porous surface. So while the surface may appear free of mold after using bleach on it, the root of the mold will still be present and growing.
And guess what? After a couple of days youll start to see that mold appear once again.
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.
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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:
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
How To Eliminate Black Mold With Ammonia
Wear a respirator and gloves when working with ammonia-based mold cleaning products. Never mix ammonia with chlorinated bleach
Open nearby windows or doors to get a cross-flow of air to dissipate any fumes generated by your cleaning
- Combine ammonia and water in 50/50 proportions.
- Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray contaminated areas evenly.
- Allow the mold killing solution to sit for 5 or 10 minutes.
- Scour mold tarnished area with a small brush or equivalent and wipe clean.
- Repeat if necessary.
Often enough, many mold killing products will have ammonia already in them. Be extra cautious to follow the directions on the label to the letter and ensure that the cleanser is never mixed with bleach !
Otherwise, ammonia is similar to using bleach in that it should only be used on non-porous areas Always wear gloves when working with any chemical and wash hands immediately, thereafter!
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