Tea tree oil or clove oil and water Spray onto mouldy areas and leave for two hours, spray a bit more, wipe away. This combination is said to kill around 82 percent of mould colonies.
Vinegar typically performs best on mold when it is used undiluted in full strength. Simply transfer the white vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar directly onto the mold. Do not rinse or scrub.
Hydrogen peroxide is more effective for mold removal.
Using white vinegar to kill mould
If cleaning with detergent doesn't work, it's possible to remove mould using diluted vinegar and a microfibre cloth. If mould cannot be removed using the vinegar method, cleaning with diluted bleach or a commercial product may be required.
Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.
Using Vinegar for Mold Removal
You will spray the moldy areas with the vinegar, let it sit, and then scrub it with a brush after 30 minutes at least. However, after scrubbing, you will spray another layer of vinegar onto the affected sections and have it sit for 30 more minutes.
Tea tree oil or clove oil and water
This combination is usually the most effective method of naturally removing mould. Add 15 drops of your chosen oil into a spray bottle – prefer oil of cloves to all the others.
For a natural solution to getting rid of black mold, combine one part baking soda with five parts distilled white vinegar and five parts water in a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can use a chemical-based mold and mildew remover, all-purpose cleaners, bleach or dish soap.
Yes, you can leave vinegar on mould overnight, though this isn't necessary as it usually takes effect after an hour. However, you can't use any type of vinegar, for mould removal you must use distilled white vinegar.
Equipment Used in Mold Remediation
Air scrubbers play a crucial role and filter out mold spores from the air, ensuring a cleaner environment. HEPA vacuums are also vital, adeptly removing mold particles from surfaces. To detect hidden mold, we use moisture meters, pinpointing damp areas prone to mold growth.
White vinegar
White vinegar is an effective natural mould killer as it lowers the PH of the surface making it less favourable for mould growth. It's also a natural disinfectant. To use white vinegar to kill mould, either use neat or mix it with equal parts water in a spray bottle and spray it on the affected area.
Baking soda is mild, harmless to your family and pets, and is a natural and safe household cleaner. It can also kill mold. Baking soda and vinegar are typically used together when dealing with a mold problem since they kill different species of mold.
If you don't have hydrogen peroxide, use distilled white or cleaning vinegar. Distilled white vinegar's acidity slowly breaks down and kills mold but does so much slower than cleaning vinegar.
Vinegar is an affordable, natural solution to getting rid of mold. Its acidic antibacterial characteristics are what you need to get the job done. Although it can be diluted with water to lower the harsh scent, vinegar works best as a mold-killer when sprayed straight from a bottle to the affected area.
If you don't have a specific mould spray, bleach can be used instead. Mix a solution of one part bleach and four parts water. Take a cloth and wipe this solution across the wall, scrubbing gently until all the mould has been removed. You can then wipe the bleach away and dry the area using a separate cloth.
If you're not wearing any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you're inviting all of those mold spores to settle on your clothing, the area you're cleaning, your shoes (allowing mold to travel to other areas in your home), in your eyes, and up your nose into your upper respiratory system.
Vinegar is better at killing mold because it can work on both porous and nonporous surfaces. It also terminates molds at their roots so the mold won't return and is also safer than bleach. You can even combine it with baking soda to make it more effective.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes an immediate chemical reaction. This reaction forms water, sodium acetate (a salt) and carbon dioxide – the fizzy part. The amount of carbon dioxide gas that is produced from baking soda is remarkable – one tablespoon (around 18 grams) can release over five litres of gas!
The truth is, vinegar does not kill 100% of mold in most cases. It only works on a very small number of surfaces, and only if the moldy area is very small. Even then, mold often comes back after vinegar.
For large amounts of mold, the only method that kills mold 100%, every time, is removing all of the mold-infested materials entirely, and replacing them with new materials.
Mildew has a gray, white or light brown color and generally rests flat on the surface of a moist area. It has a powdery appearance that may have a distinct, foul odor. Mold has a fuzzy, raised appearance and in unaired areas has a strong, musty smell. It often appears in darker shades of black, green and red.