Removing Mold From Your Home While there are varying levels of mold growth and it all depends on the severity of the water damage within the home, there are still instances where it might not be necessary to hire a mold removal team. Some of the most common mold removal products are common household cleaning items that you may already have hidden around your home. There are several household cleaning solutions that are more common to find around the house, such as bleach, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide. Now, let’s go through the steps required to use each of these products as a mold removal agent.
Bleach It Bleach is known as a very potent household cleaning product – automatically disinfecting anything it comes in contact with. When using bleach to remove the mold around your house, you want to make sure to water it down so it’s only one (1) part bleach and 10 parts water. You can apply the bleach with a spray bottle or a sponge – on contact, the bleach will not only kill the existing mold, but also the spores that have formed. Remember to wash your hands after use, as bleach can cause severe skin irritation. Also, if you are using the bleach on a cooking surface or popular countertop, you will want to make sure to wash it thoroughly after about an hour.
Vinegar Many people use vinegar to clean their microwaves, but it also kills about 82 percent of mold species as it has an acidic base. Plus, vinegar is non-toxic and does not irritate the skin or give off fumes like other cleaning solutions do. When using vinegar, you do not need to water it down before putting it into the spray bottle. After spraying the vinegar on the affected area, let it sit for about an hour then wipe it down with water and allow the area to completely dry. Although the smell of vinegar may seem like it’s hanging around, it should dissipate within a few hours after the application.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Using a mask is recommended for safety due to mold spores being toxic. Mostly used in first-aid, hydrogen peroxide acts as a great mold removal product as it is an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal applicant. Aside from it also being a rather cheap product to buy at any local drug store, it kills mold best on fabric, bathroom fixtures, walls, and tile flooring. However, if this is your product of choice, test it first on an area that is not visible to visitors at your home to see if it will potentially stain the surface. Once applied, the hydrogen peroxide should completely cover all of the mold – nearly drowning it – after 10 minutes, make sure to scrub the area, removing all the mold stains. After scrubbing it down, wipe the area dry to remove the excess dead mold. Sometimes, people will mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide as a super mold killer. Now, if you choose to remove the mold from your own home, it is good to try at least once. However, if the mold does not seem to be going away, it would be a good idea to call a mold removal company that specializes in getting rid of it for good. Also, if the affected area has a severe amount of mold growth, do NOT attempt to remove it on your own because it could cause serious health issues without the proper equipment.