How to Kill Mold

More people today than ever before are suffering ill effects from inhaling mold in their home, office, or school.  Allergy symptoms can be mild or severe, depending on the length of time someone has been exposed to mold.  Mold is everywhere and occurs naturally in the outdoors.  However, since mold spores are airborne constantly, inevitably, mold finds its way into our homes.  If you are wondering how to kill mold, read further.

Mold loves moisture and dark places.  The number one way to get rid of mold is to control the humidity and moisture levels inside your home.  If you do that, then everything you do in addition will be more effective.  If you don’t control the moisture in your home, mold will return, despite your best cleaning efforts.

How to Control Moisture in the Home

Invest in a quality dehumidifier with a HEPA filter and place it in your basement, sunroom, or any other room that seems to gather the most moisture.  Air purifiers seem to help with mold issues too, but a dehumidifier will take the excess water in the air and deposit it into a collection bucket, which is then discarded.

Air flow is also a key component when it comes to controlling the moisture level in your home.  Bathrooms should always be outfitted with a fan, whether they are in the main house or in the basement.  Make sure basements and attics have good ventilation as well.

Leaky pipes can continue to provide moisture for mold growth, even with a dehumidifier in place.  Inspect your home for leaky faucets or pipes and fix any that have problems.  A professional plumber can check behind walls to make sure no water is escaping in those areas.

How To Kill Mold

Once you’ve effectively controlled the moisture in your home, it’s time to kill any residual mold that may have been left behind.  In any areas where mold is visible, spray it with water to keep the mold from going airborne.  A bleach water solution can be used to clean and disinfect surfaces.  However, if you are sensitive to bleach, there are all natural options available that are just as effective.

Your local health food store is a great resource for natural ingredients to kill mold.  Tea tree essential oil works as a fungicide and has shown to be effective for killing mold across the board.  It is on the costly side and does have a strong smell, but that seems to disappear within a short period of time after cleaning.  Simply mix a few teaspoons of tea tree oil with 2 cups of clean water in a spray bottle and apply to any areas affected with mold.

If you prefer a fragrance free natural ingredient for killing mold, grapefruit seed extract is a great choice.  Add roughly 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 2 cups of water and treat the moldy areas.

Plain white vinegar can be found in your local grocery store and is the least expensive of the three options, and it can be used without adding water.  Pour white vinegar directly into a spray bottle and then apply to the areas affected with mold.  This will leave a scent, but it will disappear within a few hours after application.

Now you know how to kill mold effectively in your home.  Get rid of the sources of moisture, or control the moisture levels in your home.  Then, clean everything from the ceilings to the floors and everything in between.