How to Remove Mold With Natural Mold Killers
The existence of mold inside a house can be easily recognized because of the smell that mold produces. When there is an earthy and musty scent, if there are visible cotton-like substances on walls around damp places, then mold has already found its way into your home and it is surely starting to thrive into a full blown mold infestation . Normally, mold can be easily distinguished by the naked eye, but there are times that these tiny organisms could not be seen – the awful smell on the other hand is something that could help you distinguish that the formation of mold already took place and it is in fact lurking in your home.
Although not all molds are harmful, the majority of these organisms that came from specific classes of fungus may cause different harmful effects to one’s health. That is why it is especially important to immediately get rid of these organisms as soon as possible . But, most importantly, it is important that people know how to prevent mold from ever occurring or from coming back.
Prevention is better than trying to eliminate mold. Once we learn to understand the simple ways on how to get rid of mold, people would be able to comprehend that mold can be easily removed at home with proper management. Some of the best ways to prevent mold from growing in your home is to simply reduce the amount of moisture and humidity in and around your home. Poor ventilation in bathrooms, kitchens, crawlspaces, basements, and attics are all prime places where mold will grow. Ventilation fans and dehumidifiers are great ways to prevent and reduce your chances of mold growing in these places.
List of Natural Mold Killers:
How to remove mold with vinegar- Vinegar is the other natural product that can kill up to 82% of mold. Vinegar should not be diluted with water. It works only when used directly from the bottle. Once vinegar is poured on the infested area leave it for few hours and then scrub the mold with brush. And then clean the area again with cloth and vinegar. This will remove the musty smell and the stains of the mold.
How to remove mold with Tea Tree Oil-Tea tree oil is an essential oil that can be found in all major stores. Though it is expensive, this oil works great with killing the mold. Mix one a spoon of tea tree oil with one cup of water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the infested area. And let it sit overnight to work. The mold gets killed by the next day. Clean the area with vinegar and cloth. Scrub the area to remove all the stains. Tea tree oil has a very strong smell. The smell will fade from your house in couple of days. Any leftover solution can be stored for any other use because tea tree oil does not lose its potency so easily. Store the tea tree oil away from the children and pets as its smell can be very strong for them to bear
How to remove mold with citric acid-If you do not like strong fragrances, use grapefruit seed extract to kill the mold. It is odor free and kills mold as effectively. Mix 20 drops in 2 cups of water and spray on the mold. Clean after few hours to have the mold removed completely.
How to remove mold with Baking Soda- Baking soda can be used with water or vinegar to kill the mold. A 50/50 ratio of baking soda to water or vinegar should be used to make initial scrubbing paste. A lighter solution should be made to use with a spray bottle; a couple of teaspoons should suffice for a quart of water or vinegar. Use the solution on the mold infested area and scrub it with brush to remove the mold. Once done, clean the area with water or vinegar. Re-apply baking soda solution to area, wipe off, HEPA vac any loose contaminated debris, Leave baking soda and/or vinegar solution lightly sprayed on the area to dry to stop any further growth of mold.
How to remove mold with Distilled Ethanol– Cheap bottom shelf alcohol such as vodka can be used to naturally remove mold. Cheap spirits typically mean that the liquor is less processed, which makes the spirits/liquor much more effective in killing mold. If you can bear the smell, spraying distilled ethanol directly on the mold affected areas is the best way to of using this method as alcohol and water to not mix well. You may rinse off the distilled ethanol after scrubbing and cleaning up of the moldy area and materials. You should although leave a light coat sprayed on to prevent future mold growth.
How to remove mold with Borax / Vinegar and Borax-You can also remove mold by using a strong mix of borax and water. Usually a half of cup of borax to one quart of water should do the trick. You may also try mixing borax, vinegar, and water for stubborn mold infested areas. The ratio for this is typically a half cup of vinegar, one quarter cup borax, mixed with 1 quart of water. Simply apply to the affected area, scrub with a throw away brush, use a HEPA filter vacuum to suck up any loose mold or moldy material, leave the natural mold killer to dry on it’s own(Meaning, DO NOT RINSE or WASH OFF!).
How to remove mold with Hydrogen Peroxide- You may also use hydrogen peroxide as a natural mold removal solution. The ratio for this natural mold killer is 1 part hydrogen peroxide(3+%) to 2 parts clean water. All you need to do is spray the mold cleaner onto the affected areas, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and wipe away any loose mold or moldy material, and let the area air dry the affected area.
How to remove mold with Bleach- Bleach does not kill mold at the root but it can help with cleaning and disinfecting areas where mold is growing. Remember, mold produces toxins that become airborne with the spores that the mold uses to “reproduce”. The ratio for using bleach to clean and inhibit mold growth is 1 cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Simply spray on the solution, wait about 10-15 minutes, scrub any stubborn areas, wipe up or HEPA vac up any loose moldy materials, and let the area that you just cleaned to air dry.
How to remove mold with Ammonia- Using ammonia to kill mold at it’s source is another myth, similar to using bleach to kill mold. Yes, you can use a mixture of ammonia and water to clean up mold, but it will most definitely come back very soon as with simply using a bleach solution to kill mold.
The ratio if you would like to try using ammonia as a mold cleaner, simply mix 1 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of water, spray on the mold affected area, let it sit for 1-15 minutes, scrub any problematic areas, wipe or HEPA vac up the loose mold contaminated materials, and let the area air dry.
Be advised, large areas ranging anywhere from 3-10 sq ft would need to be handled by professionals.
WARNING!!! Do not mix any cleaning chemicals together, especially ammonia and bleach!!!
DIY Mold Removal- Safety
Homeowners should know that that safety while cleaning should always come first. However, people are not aware of the fact that these solutions may contain different substances and chemicals that have toxins along with some molds being toxic themselves. These substances could also be dangerous to children, to pets, and even to all the members inside the building. So after using these products it is advisable that homeowners keep the areas out of reach first up until it dries up and the mold is completely removed. We have to make sure of this to prevent toxins in reaching others. Another thing to remember is that when you start cleaning mold, you must have a respirator, gloves, and the appropriate safety equipment so that you do not inhale any toxic fumes or potential toxic by-products from cleaning the mold itself.
It is still recommended to use EPA certified mold and mildew removal products if your budget permits.
Home owners should be able to understand that it is not a difficult task cleaning up small areas of mold. You will want to find out what caused the mold to grow in the first place, and then begin the sealing off of rooms to prevent spores traveling while you conduct your mold removal processes.Be advised, please make sure that you keep your family safe from possible harmful toxins and chemicals while cleaning the mold.
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