How to Kill Mold?

Mold is a major-league nuisance. It blackens the grout lines in your shower, shows up as black spots on siding, discolors drywall, darkens decks, and grows on damp wood. They are even bad for your health. Mold releases microscopic spores that cause allergic reactions, sneezing and runny noses, as well as irritating, even injurious, odors. Mold can be tricky to track because sometimes you see them, sometimes you don’t. They are white or black in color. Many products available in the market to combat mold, or you can use common household products that are already available in your home that will do just as good of a job. Here are some methods to kill mold.

Ways to Kill Mold:

1.) Evade Moisture to Kill Mold

You have to know that mold is essentially caused by moisture. If you clean up your mold but don’t solve your moisture problem that means you’re just inviting mold to come back later. Clean and dry water-damaged areas within 24 hours to prevent mold from growing.

  • Mold often presents itself in kitchens because of sinks and in a bathroom because of showers.
  • Be sure to wipe away the water stay in open windows in a bathroom after showering and excess water on your sink

2.) Bleach to Kill Mold

Mix one cup of bleach for every gallon of warm water. Take a brush and dip it in the solution of bleach. Then brush it on the affected area. Be sure to dry the surface off as much as possible because moist surface promotes mold and mildew growth.

  • Put the bleach solution in small spray bottle first. Then spray it on the surface where you can’t reach. Or you can apply the bleach solution directly to the mold by spraying. Then attack with the brush as normal.
  • This solution is very effective to kill mold present in kitchens, bathrooms, and other household rooms with tiles or non-porous surfaces.
  • The active ingredient bleach (sodium hypochlorite), which is also the main ingredient in many mold-removal products.

3.) Baking Soda to Eliminate Mold

Baking soda is both mild which means it is safe for your entire family and pets. It is popular to work as a gentle household cleaner. It can be used in two ways such as:

  • Take two tablespoons of baking soda to eight ounces of water and mix it well. Pour this solution into a spray bottle and spray it on the moldy surface, such as bathroom tiles and other areas. Fill another bottle with vinegar and spray over the same surface. This action will create a chemical reaction with carbon dioxide. Vinegar is often used with baking soda because it kills a different species of mold.
  • Or you can apply baking soda directly to moldy surfaces. This works well especially on porous surfaces such as drywall or wooden furniture. Let the baking soda to penetrate the damp surface and then wipe it away.

4.) Ammonia to Get Rid of Mole

Mix equal part of clear ammonia with an equal part of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray this ammonia solution on the affected surface and then wipe away excess ammonia with a clean towel afterward

  • Keep in mind to never mix ammonia and bleach. The mixture of ammonia and bleach create a toxic chemical called chlorine gas. It is very harmful to your body if ingested even by fume.
  • For extra-tough mold or mildew stains, spray the solution of ammonia on the surface and let it sit for several hours. Then scrub and wipe them away.

5.) Borax to Get Rid of Mold Naturally

Use a borax solution to kill mold. Mix one cup of borax for every gallon water. Dip a brush into the borax solution and brush it on the mold affected surface. Wipe away excess borax with a clean rag.

  • You should use borax only on non-porous surfaces like kitchens and bathrooms tiles because they take borax better than porous surfaces such as wood.
  • It is a natural cleaning product that doesn’t give off fumes and doesn’t contain additional chemicals. It is effective at both killing existing mold and preventing future growth of mold. But borax is toxic if ingested in your body.

6.) Hydrogen Peroxide to Treat Mold

To kill mold take a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and pour it undiluted to a spray bottle. Spray this solution on the moldy surface, leave it for 10 to 15 minutes to sit, and scrub off. Then Wipe away excess moisture to prevent mold from reoccurring in future.

  • Hydrogen peroxide is very effective to kill mold and it is a great alternative to bleach and other cleaning solutions that give off heavy fumes and toxic smell. It is also effective at removing stains caused by mold infestations.
  • Hydrogen peroxide can be safely used on clothes, fixtures, floors, walls, and even in You can use it in a variety of surfaces. But make sure to spot-test any areas before using.

7.) Vinegar to Eliminate Mold

Pour white or apple cider vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray this solution on the moldy surface.  Then wash the affected area thoroughly with a brush. Make sure to dry the area completely.

  • Use the vinegar only on non-porous surfaces such as tiles. This method is not applicable on wood or another porous surface.
  • Vinegar is non-toxic and does not give off unpleasant fumes like bleach. This vinegar solution is about 80% effective at destroying, mildew and their respective particles.

8.) Tea Tree Oil to Kill Mold

Mix 2 tablespoon of tea tree oil with 2 cups of water. Pour this solution in a spray bottle and shake well to properly mix the solution. Spray the solution on affected areas.

  • Tea tree oil can be little expensive for you but it works effectively. It has a potent odor, but the smell will dissipate within a couple of days.
  • You can store the extra solution and use it if necessary.
  • Do not rinse off the solution. Soak into the mold then reapply it if necessary.

9.) Grapefruit to Eliminate Mold

Mix 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract with 2 cups of water. Pour this solution into a spray bottle. Shake this solution to mix it well and spray it on the contaminated area to kill mold.

  • Do not rinse off the solution from the surface. You can dab it on the area with a dry paper towel
  • Grapefruit seed extract can be little expensive for your but lasts indefinitely. It is odorless.

10.) Varnish to Get Rid of Mold

You can try to scrape out the mold and then treat the area with varnish to get rid of mold. It will not only kill mold but will also prevent it from reoccurrence. When you apply varnish to a wooden surface which is affected by mold, it remains new for a longer time span.

11.) Alcohol Spray to Kill Mold

Vodka gives great relief not only from stress but also from the mold. Pour some vodka in the spray bottle and spray it directly on the affected area. You will see the mold getting frizzy in few seconds. Then wipe away the dead mold using a sponge.

12.) Tile and Grout Sealing

Buy some tile sealants to seal the extra space between the tiles to avoid build up mold due to the presence of excessive moisture in between the extra space. There are grout sealants and organic tile available in the market. Bring them and do it by yourself at home to get rid of mold permanently.

DO’S

  • The best way to get rid of mold is to clean and dry the surface properly.
  • Place wooden objects in the sunlight. In case of black or green mold removal on wooden surfaces.
  • check humidity levels because it may lead to the development of mold.
  • Few cleaning agents used for mold removal can affect your wall and wooden surfaces. Use wood polish after applying cleaning agent.
  • leaky rooves and area can also cause mold development, so fix all the leaking point in the roof and another area to get rid of mold.

DON’TS

  • Mold causes a pungent smell, which results in allergies and breathing issues, so try to avoid using stronger chemicals for mold removal.
  • Many people think of using mild acids,but they are not effective to kill mold.
  • Don’t paint over or caulk a moldy surface because this work like a band-aid treatment, and it is not effective. Surfaces such as walls or tiles that have already been painted or caulked before won’t take paint or caulk very well. Caulk or paint will simply peel off because it doesn’t have a clean surface to stick.
  • Make sure to disinfectant or clean a moldy area completely before caulking or painting. Then wipe away excess moisture and wait for a day before painting or caulking.