Killing Mold - Does Not Have To Be Difficult
How can I kill mold? I am asked this question time and time again.
It is not an especially hard task because mold is not the most hardy living organism on the planet and there are various ways in which you can achieve your goal of killing mold.
Whilst killing existing mold is fairly simple the biggest problem most households encounter is recurring mold growth. The reason for this is mold produces spores, which become air borne and provided the conditions within a part of your home are right these will readily germinate and new mold growth will appear.
There are a huge number of products you can use to kill mold. Large numbers of commercial products are widely available which will without doubt do the job of killing the mold. However, a number of these can be dangerously toxic, bleach will also kill mold successfully but this is extremely harsh and may end up damaging surfaces or floor coverings.
Quite a few safer, household items - which no doubt cost less than commercial products - will do a great job of killing mold. Here are a few you can try.
* Soap and Water - what could be simpler?
* Vinegar - use diluted with water in a spray bottle, spray mold area and wipe clean. This is exceptionally effective and cheap! One disadvantage it is pretty smelly!
* Lemon Juice - Use in the same way as vinegar, incredibly effective at killing mold. Thankfully lemon juice has a "fresh" "clean" odour which is just what you need for eliminating the horrid "musty" odour of mold.
* Tea Tree Oil - You can purchase from any health food store or on-line. Add a few drops into a spray bottle of water, spray the affected area and leave to dry. This also has a strong smell and can be expensive but it does keep in the spray bottle indefinitely and you along need very small quantities to cover a fairly big area.
* Grapefruit Seed Oil - used in the same way as tea tree oil and once again is expensive but extremely effective at killing mold. Grapefruit Seed Oil has one massive advantage - it is odourless!
Once you have successfully killed the mold it is time to take steps to stop mold from returning. To do this you must ensure that any mold spores do not find conditions which will let them to bloom once again.
To to ensure this you must strive to keep humidity levels in your property down. This can be done by simply opening a window to increase ventilation, switching on an extractor fan - particularly in areas where a lot of steam and condensation is generated like bathrooms and kitchens. Maybe the use of a dehumidifier would beneficial in damp areas.
The other cause of mold growth is dampness/wetness due to water getting into the property. This may be attributed to cracks in outer walls, leaking gutters or roofs or possibly leaking pipes which have gone un-noticed. Wet or damp conditions of any sort will encourage mold growth. So, regular maintenance checks can prove to be invaluable in ensuring mold is removed from your home for good.
If you can achieve the atmosphere in your property warm and not too humid you should stay mold free!
It is not an especially hard task because mold is not the most hardy living organism on the planet and there are various ways in which you can achieve your goal of killing mold.
Whilst killing existing mold is fairly simple the biggest problem most households encounter is recurring mold growth. The reason for this is mold produces spores, which become air borne and provided the conditions within a part of your home are right these will readily germinate and new mold growth will appear.
There are a huge number of products you can use to kill mold. Large numbers of commercial products are widely available which will without doubt do the job of killing the mold. However, a number of these can be dangerously toxic, bleach will also kill mold successfully but this is extremely harsh and may end up damaging surfaces or floor coverings.
Quite a few safer, household items - which no doubt cost less than commercial products - will do a great job of killing mold. Here are a few you can try.
* Soap and Water - what could be simpler?
* Vinegar - use diluted with water in a spray bottle, spray mold area and wipe clean. This is exceptionally effective and cheap! One disadvantage it is pretty smelly!
* Lemon Juice - Use in the same way as vinegar, incredibly effective at killing mold. Thankfully lemon juice has a "fresh" "clean" odour which is just what you need for eliminating the horrid "musty" odour of mold.
* Tea Tree Oil - You can purchase from any health food store or on-line. Add a few drops into a spray bottle of water, spray the affected area and leave to dry. This also has a strong smell and can be expensive but it does keep in the spray bottle indefinitely and you along need very small quantities to cover a fairly big area.
* Grapefruit Seed Oil - used in the same way as tea tree oil and once again is expensive but extremely effective at killing mold. Grapefruit Seed Oil has one massive advantage - it is odourless!
Once you have successfully killed the mold it is time to take steps to stop mold from returning. To do this you must ensure that any mold spores do not find conditions which will let them to bloom once again.
To to ensure this you must strive to keep humidity levels in your property down. This can be done by simply opening a window to increase ventilation, switching on an extractor fan - particularly in areas where a lot of steam and condensation is generated like bathrooms and kitchens. Maybe the use of a dehumidifier would beneficial in damp areas.
The other cause of mold growth is dampness/wetness due to water getting into the property. This may be attributed to cracks in outer walls, leaking gutters or roofs or possibly leaking pipes which have gone un-noticed. Wet or damp conditions of any sort will encourage mold growth. So, regular maintenance checks can prove to be invaluable in ensuring mold is removed from your home for good.
If you can achieve the atmosphere in your property warm and not too humid you should stay mold free!
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