What Are some of the Best Solutions to Remove Mold From Your Home?

Mold can be unsightly and can cause you to become ill. You don't want mold in your home. It can be easily removed if it is caught early. There are safe and effective ways to get rid of mold from your home.

You will only need basic household supplies, an understanding of mold, and how to kill it to restore your home to its original mold-free state.

Bleach versus Vinegar: What Kills Mold?

Uh oh, you found mold. What should you do? The most common response from homeowners is to spray it with bleach or other cleaning chemicals. These cleaners can be toxic for you and your family, but they won't do much damage to mold. Vinegar is the real killer of mold.

What makes vinegar so effective in killing mold? Although bleach can kill surface mold, its chemical structure keeps it from getting into porous materials. This is because mold spores have drilled deep to create a protective layer. It can't reach the root cause of the problem.

Vinegar can, however, penetrate porous materials and attack mold membranes with its acidity. It effectively kills the entire mold colony so that no spores survive and reproduce. While bleach may temporarily clean a moldy surface, vinegar can completely wipe it off.

Vinegar and other all-natural solutions to get rid of mold

Now that you know that bleach is not effective, you might be wondering how to remove mold using vinegar.

Good question! Vinegar can be used to kill mold easily. However, there are many other non-toxic options that you could also try. These are the top natural ways to eliminate mold from your home.

Vinegar: Spray some vinegar onto the surface. Allow the vinegar to sit for at most an hour before you apply it. Let the vinegar dry completely with a towel or a cloth. Finally, let it air dry. That's it!

Hydrogen peroxide: This antifungal works in a similar way to vinegar when applied to hard surfaces. Spray 3% hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Let it sit for 10 mins. To remove any residue, scrub the mold and wipe it down.

Baking soda: This mild, non-toxic ingredient is safe for pets and people. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with a few drops of water in a spray bottle and spray the affected area. Rinse the area with water. Spray the area with water again, and dry it. Use a damp cloth to wipe off any remaining residue.

Tea tree oil: Although you may not have it in your pantry, you can still find it online or in health food stores. This is an effective fungicide that can kill mold. Using a spray bottle, mix two teaspoons of tea tree oil and two cups of water. Spray the mold with tea tree oil and allow it to sit for 24 hours. The dead mold should be removed.