Home Remedies to Clean Mold
- Clean and correct a mold problem immediately.leaky ceiling 1 image by askthegeek from Fotolia.com
Prior to cleaning up a mold problem, have the mold assessed by professionals for a possible health hazard. For a mold job that is safe to clean up by yourself, use home remedies and take precautionary measures against getting sick by ventilating the space and wearing gloves, a face mask, and eye protection. - Mold often grows in closed areas that do not allow moisture to evaporate quickly. These areas become a breeding ground for mold, so a quick home remedy is to allow air in. If mold is present in a room with windows, open the windows. Once mold is already present in a space, you will need to combine other methods to rid the space of mold. However, regular ventilation of the area will help prevent mold from forming there in the future. Prevent moisture from building up in an indoor space by using exhaust fans and window ventilation. In moist areas in an indoor environment, correcting plumbing and structural leaks, and preventing water from collecting and standing in areas that do not have drainage, will help control the occurrence of mold.
- Since mold grows in dark, moist areas, direct sunlight will inhibit mold growth, and the sun's heat will help dry out the area. Open up mold-invested nooks, crevices, and corners to direct sunlight to prevent or reverse a mold problem.
- Diluted bleach--1 part bleach to 16 parts water--is an effective mold clean-up solution, according to the website Health and Energy. It is recommended that you clean the moldy area with soap and water, and allow it time to thoroughly dry before applying the bleach cleaner. Scrubbing the area will work the bleach solution into the mold, and help loosen it from the surface.
- According to the website Care2, three nontoxic cleaners will rid your home of its mold problem. A direct application of vinegar to mold will kill most of it, so scrub the area well with vinegar, and go over it again to get rid of the mold. A spray bottle filled with grapefruit seed extract diluted in water is an effective, odorless way to kill mold. With its broad antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil diluted in water makes another effective spray cleaner for household mold.
- According to the website Good Evening World, other mold-cleaning remedies include scrubbing the mold with a baking soda and vinegar paste, or cleaning it with a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 2 parts warm water. Both methods will break down the mold, and make it a little easier to clean.
