What are the most effective ways to remove mold from your home?

It can cause you to become ill, it can be ugly, it can smell, and it can make your skin swell. Mold is not something you want in your home. It can usually be removed by yourself if caught quickly. It doesn't matter where mold is found in your house, there are safe and effective methods to eliminate it from various household materials, and prevent it from returning.

To restore your house to its original mold-free condition, you will need some household supplies.

What is Mold?

First, let's clarify what mold is. Mold is a microscopic, living organism that thrives when it's damp like in your basement or bathroom. Mold and its spores are all around. There are over 100,000 kinds of mold and most homeowners will find at the very least one.

Although many molds are benign, others can be dangerous. It doesn't matter what, it is not something you want in your home. Mold is a harmful agent that can lead to allergies, cause asthma, and even make you sick. It looks similar to soil build-up.

Mold is a living organism. Therefore, killing and removing mold is the best way to get rid. This can be done as long as household mold is not spread to large areas.

Bleach vs Vinegar: Which Kills Mold?

Uh oh, you found the mold. What can you do? Most homeowners will simply spray the mold with bleach or another chemical. While these cleaners are toxic for your family and you, they do not kill mold. Vinegar is the true mold killer.

How can vinegar kill mold when harsh chemicals won't? While bleach can remove surface mold, it has a chemical structure that prevents it from leaking into porous materials. This is because the mold spores are able to dig deep and create a protective barrier. It won't be able to get to the root cause.

Vinegar on the other side can penetrate porous material and attack the mold membrane. This acidity kills all remaining spores and prevents them from reproducing. Although bleach can temporarily remove moldy surfaces, vinegar can permanently eliminate them.

Vinegar and Other Natural Solutions to Remove Mold

You know bleach won't work. Now you want to know how vinegar can be used to kill mold.

Good questions! Vinegar is a simple and effective way to kill mold. There are also other, non-toxic ways you can get rid of mold. Here are some natural methods to remove mold from your house.

Vinegar Just put some vinegar in the spray bottle and liberally spray the affected area. Let the vinegar sit for about an hour to work its magic. Then, use water, a cloth, or paper towels to wipe the area clean and dry it. That's it!

Hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen Peroxide is an antifungal that works the same way as vinegar on hard surfaces. Put 3% of hydrogen peroxide in the spray bottle. Spray the affected area and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Clean the mold by scraping it off and wiping everything clean to get rid of any remaining residue.

Baking Soda: This mild, non-toxic ingredient can effectively kill mold. Use a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to mix in a sprayer of water. Spray the area. Clean the area thoroughly and rinse it with water. Next, spray the area with water and allow it to dry. You can wipe any residual residue off the area with a damp cloth.

Tea Tree oil: While you might not have this oil in your pantry, it can be found at many health food stores and online. It is an effective fungicide that can kill mold. Two teaspoons of tea-tree oil mixed with two cups of water will be enough to make a spray. Spray mold and let sit for 24hrs. Remove the mold.