Keep humidity levels in your home as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. You can buy a meter to check your home's humidity at a home improvement store.
Moisture Control is the Key to Mold Control
If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
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.
Mix one part bleach to four parts water. Wipe and gently scrub the mould until it is gone. Finish by wiping away the bleach mixture and dry the area well with a soft cloth.
Mold hates light. Other than moisture there's nothing mold loves more than dark places. An easy prevention against mold growth is opening your blinds and shades. If it's warm enough out, open the windows.
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.
The short wavelengths of ultraviolet light are germicidal, meaning it can destroy and eliminate both mould and other germs. The sun's heat is ideal for drying out mould and moisture on clothes, furnishings and more. Sunlight kills bacteria that produce nasty mould and mildew smells.
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.
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.
Yes, if you have damp and mould in your home you're more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
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.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.” Even if you clean the mold, it will come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or if there is ...
Ward off mold with tea tree oil, cinnamon, clove oil, or thyme oil. Each option will kill mold and prevent spores from coming back. Combine a teaspoon of the oil of your preference with a cup of water in a spray bottle. After spraying, allow one hour for the solution to dry, then wipe away with a clean towel.
It is also very important that there is adequate ventilation in the room. Open a window or door so the mold spores can escape, instead of staying locked in your home.
Mold requires moisture to grow but can remain inactive for a while until it is exposed to moisture or high levels of humidity. Without constant moisture, mold will become inactive but they never die unless you get rid of them completely.
Modern ventilation is the most effective way to keep mould at bay. Ensuring that air continuously circulates through the home will reduce condensation so the mould cannot grow.
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.
Mold and mildew reproduce in a humid environment, the best way to stop mold from growing in your home is to maintain healthy humidity levels. Dehumidifiers lower the relative humidity (RH), prohibiting mold and mildews from breeding and spreading indoors, by pulling and condensing moisture from the air.
Vinegar is a bold mold killer. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks.
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.
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 Mold Remediation Don'ts:
Inhaling mold spores can be detrimental to your health. Poke it. Mold that has been agitated will cause a spread of its particles on both the surface and in the air. Clean it with harsh chemicals.
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.
Mould will easily grow and spread if the right conditions are present. So, dehumidifiers don't kill mould, but they can help to prevent it from growing inside your home by reducing humidity. However, the best way to deal with it is to get rid of its source.