How To Kill Mold

How to Effective Remove Mold in Your Home or Business

There are several products that can be utilized to kill and remove mold. Some effective products that kill mold are:

• Bleach
• Borax
• Vinegar
• Ammonia
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Detergent
• Baking soda
• Tea tree oil
• Grapefruit seed extract

While these types of products can be effective in killing mold, they are only efficient when you recognize the first signs of mold growth and manage to prevent its development. In addition to eliminating the mold you see, you must also eliminate the source of the moisture that allowed its appearance in the first place. For many people, while doing it yourself may be an option to remove the mold it is often done incompletely providing only a temporary solution to your mold problem.

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It is always best to hire a professional mold remediation company when you see mold; but, if the mold in your home is not toxic and the area of mold growth is small (less than 10 square feet or the equivalent of roughly a 3 by 3 foot patch) then you can try to perform the mold remediation on your own.

Mold Removal Using Bleach

Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth. However, bleach is only effective if the mold is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathrubs, glass and countertops.

Bleach is unable to penetrate into porous materials such as wood and drywall which means it cannot get rid of mold growing beneath the surface of these materials. If you use bleach to kill mold on these surfaces it will only kill the mold above the surface. It will be unable to reach the mold within the material and the mold will soon return.

Bleach is a harsh, corrosive chemical which means it can damage the materials it is used on. It also gives off harsh fumes and produces toxic gases when mixed with ammonia. There are safer alternatives such as borax or vinegar which don’t produce the dangerous fumes or leave behind toxic residue.

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How to Kill Mold Using Bleach

1. Use a ratio of 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water (ie about 1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
2. Apply the solution to non-porous materials surfaces with mold growth with a spray bottle or by using a bucket and a sponge

How to Use Borax to Kill Mold

Borax is a natural cleaning product with many advantages. While it is toxic if you swallow it, it does not emit chemicals or dangerous fumes like other mold killers. To remove mold, borax needs to be combined with with water. Borax is also a natural mold inhibitor.

How to Kill Mold Using Borax

1. Create a borax-water solution using a ratio of 1 cup of borax per gallon of water.
2. Vacuum loose mold with HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner to lessen the number of mold spores stirred up into the air during the cleaning process.
3. Use a scrub brush and the borax-water solution to scrub the mold off the surface.
4. Wipe up any extra moisture and excses mold particles to prevent them spreading into the air.
5. Do not rinse off the borax solution when finished.
6. Leave the surface to dry.

How to Remove Mold with Vinegar

Vinegar is natural and safe mild acid that can kill 82% of mold species. Plus it doesn’t give off dangerous fumes like bleach. If you want to use vinegar to prevent mold growth on surfaces, spray vinegar on the surface and leave it. Repeat every few days to keep the surface mold-free.

How to Use Vinegar

1. Pour vinegar into a spray bottle without watering it down.
2. Spray the vinegar onto the moldy surface.
3. Let it sit for an hour.
4. Wipe the area clean and allow the surface to dry.

Removing Mold with Ammonia

Similar to bleach, ammonia will kill mold on hard non-porous surfaces which include countertops, glass or tiles but it is not effective at killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood or drywall. Additionally, ammonia is a harsh, toxic chemical. While ammonia can kill surface mold, dead mold and dead mold spores are still allergenic so you would need to make sure to remove them as well.

1. Create a solution of 50% clear ammonia and 50% water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the solution on the moldy areas.
3. Make sure the ammonia you use says “clear ammonia” on the label.
4. Leave the area for a few hours before wiping or rinsing.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide to Kill Mold

Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative to using bleach to kill mold because it is safe and doesn’t damage the environment plus it doesn’t leave behinid toxic residue or produce toxic fumes like bleach does. Hydrogen peroxide kills mold effectively on materials such as clothing, floors, bathroom fixtures, walls and items such as kitchen appliances.

1. Pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the moldy surface completely to saturate the area with hydrogen peroxide.
3. Leave the surface to sit for 10 minutes.
4. Scrub the area to make sure to remove all the mold and mold stains.
5. Wipe down the surface to remove residual mold and spores.

Killing Mold with Detergent and Water

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Detergent and warm water can scrub surface mold off non-porous surfaces. As long as the mold is on non-porous surfaces then you can clean away the mold using a mixture of detergent and water.

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.

1. Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda into a spray bottle of water.
2. Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water.
3. Spray the moldy area.
4. Use a sponge or scrubbing brush to remove all the mold from the surface.
5. Once the mold has been scrubbed away, rinse the surface with water to remove any residual mold.
6. Spray the area again and let the area air dry.

Using Tea Tree Oil to Kill Mold

Tea tree oil is the most effective natural solution to killing mold. While it is a more expensive option, a small amount of tea tree oil goes a long way in removing mold. It is an antifungal that is capable of killing all types of mold. Make sure the tea tree oil you purchase to remove mold is derived from the Melaleuca Alternifolia.

1. Add tea tree oil and water to a spray bottle at a ratio of 1 teaspoon of water for each cup of water.
2. Spray the solution onto the moldy surface.
3. Do not rinse off the solution.

Getting Rid of Mold with Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is an effective natural mold killer. It has almost no odor and you can buy it from most health food stores. The citric acid from the grapefruit attacks the mold. It also disinfects the area and deodorizes the area.

1. Create a solution of grapefruit seed extract in a spray bottle with water at a ratio of 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per cup of water.
2. Shake the spray bottle to mix thoroughly mix the solution then spray it onto the surface where mold is growing.
3. Rinse off the solution afterward. The longer the grapefruit seed extract is in contact with the mold the more it will cut through the mold and prevent it from returning.
4. Repeat if needed.

When to Call a Professional Mold Remediation Company to Get Rid of Mold

When it comes to non-toxic mold in small areas on non-porous materials there is a fair chance you can remove the mold on your own using one of the products listed above. However, professional mold remediators are recommended when:

• Mold is in your HVAC systems or inside materials and places that are difficult to repair or replace
• The mold infected area is large
• You don’t have the appropriate ools or sufficient knowledge to remove the mold on your own
• You are already experiencing mold exposure symptoms
• You prefer not to waste time or nerves on mold removal

Mold remediation specialists have a lot of experience and professional equipment that will completely remove mold. These professionals know what mistakes to avoid, what not to overlook, and how to permanently solve your mold problems.

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 don’t 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.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
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