What Kills Mold? A List of Effective Household Cleaners (2024)

FAQs

What Kills Mold? A List of Effective Household Cleaners? ›

Use undiluted white vinegar on hard surfaces in kitchens and baths. A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water.

Cleaning vinegar, which contains 6% acetic acid, is the best type for killing mold. White vinegar containing 5% acidity will also work just fine. If you don't already have some at home, white vinegar can be inexpensively purchased at most grocery stores.

White vinegar is a mildly acidic product that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects. It can also kill 82% of mold species, including black mold, on porous and non-porous surfaces. You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle.

Use a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup (8 ounces) household laundry bleach per 1 gallon of water to kill mold on surfaces.

For a natural solution for 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.

While it is possible to use bleach to kill mold as well, experts agree that vinegar is a much better option. Unlike bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, which means it's less likely to return. Vinegar is also less toxic than bleach, making it a better choice for household use.

If you're wondering “does Lysol kill mold”, the answer is yes. The key ingredient in Lysol is hydrogen peroxide, which is known for being effective against mold and mildew. Lysol also contains potassium hydroxide, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol. These ingredients, when combined, kill 99.9% of germs in your home.

Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth.

Bleach and vinegar can both kill mold, but vinegar is much more effective for removing mold from porous materials. This is because bleach only kills mold spores on the surface of affected materials. Vinegar will penetrate porous materials and kill the mold at the roots.

Several natural cleaning supplies and ingredients, like vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil, can successfully eliminate mild to moderate cases of mold. 2 Most commercial cleaners will contain harsh ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium chlorate.

Can Comet get rid of mold? ›

Cuts through tough grease and bleaches many troublesome food stains. Helps remove soap scum, hard water stains and body soils in sinks, toilets, and urinals. Attacks and bleaches mold and mildew stains with little to no scrubbing.

Using vinegar is another effective way to clean mold in your home. However, it's important not to mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together. Hydrogen peroxide is known to react with vinegar to create peracetic acid , which is a toxic substance that can irritate your eyes, skin, or lungs.

Product Details. Moldex Mold Killer is an EPA registered 3-in-1 cleaner designed to kill, clean and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew. It destroys and neutralizes mold, mildew and their odors at their source. Bleach-free, phosphate free, non-abrasive disinfectant mold killer is safe to use on most washable surfaces ...

Vinegar truly is better than bleach at killing mold. The EPA does not recommend using bleach to kill or remove mold, except in special circ*mstances. In most cases, “a background level of mold spores will remain” after the application of bleach.

To clean mold, use regular white distilled vinegar, typically sold with 5% acidity. You can also use “cleaning vinegar” with 6% acidity. Both are effective at killing mold.

Vinegar successfully kills mold on drywall and leather.

This means that the mold is likely to grow back. When bleach is used on porous surfaces, the mold will move deeper into the material to avoid it.

Borax solutions are excellent for removing mold on walls, tiles, or around plumbing. Here's what to do: Combine one cup of borax with one gallon of warm water.

Pine-Sol already consists of two agents, propylene glycol and benzoic acid, that are instrumental in eliminating stains and odors while knocking out bacteria and mold. Therefore, if you're looking to do a deep clean, you can use undiluted Pine-Sol to utilize its full strength.

Most cleaning professionals agree that white vinegar takes an hour or two to kill off the black mold.

Mildew refers to certain kinds of mold or fungus. The term mildew is often used generically to refer to mold growth, usually with a flat growth habit. Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments, called hyphae.

How do professionals remove mold? ›

Mold professionals use expensive, professional equipment such as HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, commercial-strength dehumidifiers, etc. Regular handymen won't have that stuff.

Using White Distilled Vinegar to Kill Mold. White vinegar is most commonly found with 5% acidity and works best undiluted, so don't worry about mixing it with water first.

Differences Between Mold and Mildew

Mold tends to have a higher profile and can even become fuzzy, while mildew is usually flat. Mold exhibits darker colors such as deep green and black; mildew may begin as white, then turn brown or gray.

Cleaning vinegar contains about 6% acetic acid. While vinegar will kill the mold, it is slow acting, and the discoloration and stains from the mold may remain and require additional scrubbing with another household cleaner.

Anecdotally, many recommend diluting vinegar with a 1:1 ratio of water.

You can also use Lysol® Disinfectant Spray to control and prevent the spread of mold and mildew, as well as its nasty odor. Simply pre-clean the surface, hold can 6” to 8” inches from surface and spray for 3 to 4 seconds until covered with mist. Let it stand for 3 minutes before allowing to air dry.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

Baking soda mixed in water will remove mold.

Baking soda is also a deodorizer, meaning it can help clear the smell of mold as well as the mold itself. Baking soda is commonly used alongside vinegar to clean up mold as they both can kill different types of mold.

Biocides are substances that can destroy living organisms. The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup.

The best air purifiers for mold are those that utilize True HEPA filters. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and these filters are highly effective at capturing microscopic particles such as mold spores found in the air.

What is the best non toxic mold spray? ›

Baking soda meets all the criteria for an excellent non-toxic mold cleaner. It is safe for humans and pets, inexpensive, and easily available. It is environmentally-friendly and, unlike some other options, it is odor free. I fact, since it absorbs odors it can leave an area fresh smelling.

A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.

Mix 2 teaspoons of borax with 1/2 cup white vinegar in a spray bottle. Apply the mixture on mildew and let sit for about 30 minutes. The borax will scour the surface while the white vinegar combats the mildew and mold. Rinse with clean water and allow the area to dry thoroughly.

Why vinegar and baking soda: Vinegar is a super powerful tool! It kills around 82% of mold species because it has acetic acid. On the other hand, baking soda is great because it absorbs moisture.

The Mold Bomb Fine-Particulate Fogger is a non-pesticide cleaner. This product is strictly intended for the removal of non-living fine and ultra-fine particulates from the air.

Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth.

While a significant mold infestation is best handled by a professional restoration company, you have a powerful weapon against occasional mold growth in your kitchen cupboard: white vinegar. This humble household staple can kill more than 80% of mold species, including hazardous black mold.

Bleach is effective and will kill almost any species of indoor mold and spores. It leaves the surface clean, sanitized, and resistant to future growth. However, it will only do so on nonporous materials such as tiles, countertops, glass, and bathtubs.

In such cases, a solution of diluted bleach provides the fastest way to kill mold on walls or flooring. Prepare the solution by adding one cup of bleach into a bucket that contains about a gallon of warm water. Then proceed to scrub the mold vigorously with a stiff-bristled brush you've dipped in the bleach solution.

Is vinegar or peroxide better for killing mold? ›

Vinegar is a strong substitute for bleach and other harsh chemicals when it comes to killing mold. The acidity of the vinegar can penetrate porous materials and eliminate the membrane of mold below most surfaces. Use regular, distilled white vinegar to kill mold, as it's the most acidic.

Also, you risk causing damage to the area beneath the mold when you leave the vinegar to sit on it for too long. So when it comes to removing mold with vinegar, it's best to avoid leaving it overnight and stick with the 30 minutes to 1 hour sitting time.

How Long Does It Take for Vinegar to Kill Mold? Depending on the amount of mold, let the vinegar sit on the mold at least 60 minutes before wiping or scrubbing.

Anecdotally, many recommend diluting vinegar with a 1:1 ratio of water.

Kill mold and mildew on household surfaces

Windex original glass cleaner contains ammonia, an effective agent for killing the fungi that cause mold and mildew growth in moist areas around the home.

Pine-Sol already consists of two agents, propylene glycol and benzoic acid, that are instrumental in eliminating stains and odors while knocking out bacteria and mold. Therefore, if you're looking to do a deep clean, you can use undiluted Pine-Sol to utilize its full strength.

OxiClean™ Bleach Mold & Mildew Bathroom Stain Remover makes it easier to clean mold stains because it has bleach, which helps to remove mold and mildew stains on non-porous bathroom surfaces such as tiles, sinks and tubs.