A mold infestation at home isn’t just unsightly, it can even be a health hazard. Let’s take a look a few different approaches to banish mold from the house that also make sure it doesn’t come back.
1. Removing Mold With Vinegar
Vinegar happens to be one of the most potent remedies against mold and can kill up to 82% of mold species. It is non-toxic and is absolutely safe on the environment and doesn’t emanate any dangerous fumes, unlike other chemical cleaning agents. What we need for this treatment is distilled white vinegar. Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it on the moldy surface and let it sit for an hour. Finally rinse the surface clean with water allowing the surface to dry. The smell from the vinegar will vanish in a few hours. Repeat this treatment every few days to ensure the area remains mold-free.
2. Removing Mold with Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide has strong anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It is a much better alternative to chlorine bleach, as it is safe and doesn’t leave any toxic residue or fumes behind. For this remedy, you will need hydrogen peroxide with 3% concentration that you can easily procure from a drug store. Hydrogen peroxide helps remove mold from many surfaces and materials such as clothes, floors, bathroom fixtures, walls and even kitchen appliances. Since it is a bleaching agent, it easily removes the stains left behind by the mold. But this is another reason you may have to do a spot test on the material that you’re cleaning, to make sure the colors don’t fade.
To use this remedy, pour the hydrogen peroxide solution into a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the moldy surface so as to saturate it with the solution. Let it sit for ten minutes so that it can kill the mold. Scrub the surface clean after this, to remove the mold. Finally, wipe down the surface to remove the mold and spores completely. Store the hydrogen peroxide in a cool and dark place as an exposure to light may render it less effective.
3. Removing Mold with Detergent
If the surface that is moldy is non-porous, a solution of detergent and warm water can help remove the mold from it. The solution doesn’t kill the mold, but helps remove it completely from the surface, which is what a non-porous surface needs, to be mold-free.
4. Removing Mold with Baking Soda
Baking soda is yet another potent house hold cleaner that is natural and safe. Unlike other mold-killers, with a mild pH of 8.1, it is absolutely harmless for your family or pets. It not only helps remove the mold and kill it, but even deodorizes the area and gets rid of the musty smell of mold. It also absorbs moisture to prevent any further mold infestation.
To use this remedy, dissolve 1/4th of a tablespoon of baking soda in a bottle of water and shake well. Use a spray bottle to spray this solution onto the moldy surface and use a sponge or a brush to remove the mold from the surface. Once you’ve scrubbed the mold away, use water to remove any residue. Spray the area again with the baking soda solution and let it dry on the surface to make sure the mold doesn’t return.
5. Removing Mold with Tea Tree Oil
Although expensive, this natural remedy to remove mold is the most effective. Tea-tree oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and can kill all types of molds. When buying tea-tree oil for mold, make sure it is derived from Melaleuca Alternifolia, which is the scientific name of tea-tree.
Fill a spray bottle with water and add tea-tree oil to it in the ratio of 1 teaspoon per cup of water. Spray the solution onto the mold-infested surface and leave it to dry. Remember not to wash the surface with water afterwards. Alternatively, you can use a rag with the tea tree oil solution to clean the mold away. Again, remember not to rinse the surface off after wiping the surface with the rag. The oil will leave its strong smell behind, but will go away after some time. And the solution can be stored and used for a long time, as tea-tree oil doesn’t lose its efficacy quickly.
