What’s The Best Mold Killer?

Action required to resolve household mold infestations can range from a spray and a wipe to gutting a home down to the studs. In all cases, once the immediate problem has been handled steps must be taken to eliminate the conditions that allowed the mold to take hold in the first place. Prevention is the best mold killer.

For minor outbreaks, people often use a bleach solution. Bleach is not a mold killer. Have you ever tried to kill mold with bleach only to be left with a dark stain the bleach can?t remove? The reason for this is that the mold?s root-like structures, called hyphae, have penetrated the surface, whether drywall, wood or even caulking. Bleach can?t get at the hyphae because the molecular structure of chlorine keeps it from being absorbed by porous materials. The bleach remains on the surface. But the enzyme-active root structures of the mold are still down inside the porous drywall or other material.

Spraying bleach on mold will never remove it permanently. Yes, bleach kills the surface growth. But the chlorine rather quickly evaporates, leaving only the water portion of the bleach solution on the wall. The water gets absorbed by the porous drywall or wood or caulking and ends up promoting continued mold growth. For this reason, spray preparations specifically formulated for mold removal should be used, not bleach.

As an additional caution, it should remembered that continued use of chlorine bleach on wood and wood products like chipboard and particle board will breakdown the material over time.

Larger mold remediation situations present two main issues: Material Removal and Moisture Correction.

Material Removal. If you have mold in a visible area, the chances are you have mold growing where you can?t see it. Mold infestations outside normally damp areas (bathroom, laundry room) must be taken particularly seriously.

This is especially true in basements. Large, deep infestations of mold require the removal of infected material. In a basement that has been discovered to have mold growing behind the drywall, for example, it is usually necessary to tear out the walls and rip up the sub floor.

Moisture Correction. Once the basement has been gutted, one must inspect the foundation, find where the moisture is getting in and get that repaired. For full remediation, the entire foundation must be dried out, which requires dehumidifiers, fans, and wide-open ventilation. This may take several days. The only permanent mold killer is dryness.

Finally, once mold remediation, including moisture correction, has been completed, all ventilation ducts should be cleaned to remove mold spores and inhibit future outbreaks.

Killing Mold

Killing mold on household or other surfaces can be a difficult task. It’s made much easier when the proper tools, chemicals and processes are used, though. It’s also helpful to remember that mold needs water and oxygen to grow. Prevent if from getting either, and you’ll have an advantage on it.

How Mold Appears

Mold spores get into homes and other buildings through the air or on people and other objects. Its tiny spores are the byproducts of the mold itself, and serve to carry it to other sites. Stopping the mold in its tracks, and preventing the spread of spores, is our ultimate aim when it comes to killing mold.

Preparing to Kill Mold

Make sure you’ve prepared the area to be cleaned. It’s recommended you also use basic protective equipment such as gloves and goggles, and maybe an N-95 type respirator if you’re worried about any fumes. These are available at any home improvement store.

Pretreating the Mold: Check to make sure the area isn’t too large (no greater than 10 square feet). If it isn’t, then wash the area down with a solution made up of chlorine bleach and water (8 ounces of bleach to 64 ounces of water) or with plain soapy water. Allow the area to completely dry before moving on. Make sure you’ve assembled enough solution to thoroughly cover the affected area at least twice over.

Eliminating the Mold

There are many good products for killing mold out on store shelves. They can all do a very good job of ridding surfaces of the mold. Look for one that kills what’s called the “mold root.” This means it’ll go after not only the mold, but any spores the mold may have created. Once the surface area is prepped with that soapy water or chlorine/water solution, make sure to dry it well. After that, use the spray product as directed. Dry it down again. Retreat as often as necessary to get rid of all mold.

Ensuring Mold Stays Gone: After cleaning, check all areas to make sure no more mold is visible. Check the area for any remaining dust or dirt, and clean it up thoroughly. This will help to ensure any spores in the dust are disposed of. Check periodically to make sure it hasn’t returned.

Prevent Moisture in the First Place: All molds need water moisture to grow. Work to eliminate the chance of moisture buildup or excess humidity in a home or building. This will deprive mold of the foothold it needs to grow.