Molds are a real problem when they appear in your home. Sometimes you can see them, in other cases you can't; sometimes they are black, other times they are white. While you can buy specific products to fight mold, there are substances that we all have at home that can be effective in doing a good job, if not even better.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Tackling the Causes of Mold
Step 1. Mold is essentially caused by moisture
If you clean the mold but don't solve the humidity problem, you invite it to come back later. Clean and dry wet areas and repair damage to pipes and drains within 24 hours of cleaning the mold to prevent it from growing back.
Mold often crops up in the bathroom (due to the shower) and in the kitchen (due to the sink). Make sure you always dry the bucket well and open the window in the bathroom after showers
Step 2. Call a professional if the mold extends beyond 300 square meters
If you are dealing with a serious problem, it is best to hire a specialized company for removal and cleaning. Professionals will use very powerful products and will be able to protect themselves from inhaling spores.
Step 3. Consider throwing away absorbent and porous materials
Drywall or ceiling tiles should be discarded if the mold problem is very extensive. Since mold fills every pore and crevice of these materials, it can be very difficult to get rid of them completely. Cleaning can temporarily limit growth, but if you don't get rid of these surfaces, the mold will return sooner or later.
Step 4. Do not whitewash or grout a moldy surface
This is a remedy that only temporarily hides the problem, but does not solve it. Moldy surfaces do not hold paint and grout well, which tend to peel over time because they do not have a clean surface to adhere to.
Make sure you have cleaned and disinfected the areas affected by mold before painting or grouting. Wipe off any residual water and moisture, and wait a day or two to be safe
Step 5. Always wear suitable clothing for this operation
Molds contain spores which are volatile particles, it is very important to protect yourself. Most molds are not dangerous, but some can cause damage to health, especially if they are present in large quantities. Make sure you wear:
- A highly efficient N-95 respirator. It is available in DIY stores at an affordable cost.
- Goggles.
- Gloves.
Method 2 of 3: Use Different Cleaning Solutions
Step 1. Try a mixture of hot water and bleach
Add 220 ml of bleach to 4 liters of water. Dip a medium-bristled brush into the solution and scrub the mold stains. Make sure you dry the surface as much as possible as humidity favors the reappearance of mold.
- For hard-to-reach spots, put the solution in a spray bottle and apply directly to the mold. Then brush as usual.
- This mixture is mainly used in bathrooms, kitchens and rooms with tiles without porous surfaces.
- Bleach is a very effective killer against mold. The active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is also used in many specific anti-mold products.
Step 2. Use the vinegar
Put pure vinegar (including apple cider) in a spray bottle. Spray the surface affected by mold and clean with a brush. Dry the area completely.
- Use vinegar only on non-porous surfaces, such as tiles, and not on wood.
- Unlike bleach, vinegar is not toxic and does not produce dangerous vapors. Since it is a medium strength acid, it is 80% effective on molds and their residues.
Step 3. Try a borax solution to kill or prevent mold growth
For every 4 liters of hot water add 200 g of borax. Dip a brush into the mixture and vigorously clean the affected surface. Rinse with a clean cloth and water.
- Use borax only on non-porous surfaces. The bathroom and kitchen coverings are fine, but not the wooden ones.
- Borax is toxic if ingested, but it is a natural product that does not release vapors and does not contain other chemical additives. It is effective in both the removal and prevention of molds.
Step 4. Make good use of ammonia
First of all make sure that the product is "pure ammonia". Then add one part of ammonia to one part of water and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray mold-affected surfaces and scrub vigorously. Finally, wipe off any residue with a clean cloth.
- Make sure you never mix ammonia with bleach. This mixture creates a toxic chlorine gas. Chlorine is toxic by ingestion and inhalation.
- In the case of particularly stubborn molds, spray the surface with ammonia and let it act for several hours before rubbing and cleaning.
Step 5. Use baking soda, both pure and paste
It is a delicate substance, safe for the whole family and pets, but at the same time effective. It is recognized as a cleaner for the whole house and as a deodorant. It can be used in two ways:
- Mix it with water and vinegar. Put two tablespoons of baking soda in 220ml of water and mix well. Pour it into a spray bottle and sprinkle non-porous surfaces, such as bathroom tiles. Take another bottle with vinegar and spray the same surface (a chemical reaction will be created that releases carbon dioxide). The combination of vinegar and baking soda is widely used, as it kills many species of mold.
- Put the baking soda directly on the mold. Used in this way it is indicated on porous surfaces, such as wooden furniture and plasterboard. Let the baking soda penetrate the surface and then wipe it off with a cloth.
Step 6. Try hydrogen peroxide
Buy the 3% one and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray it directly on the mold and let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub vigorously. When you are finished, use a cloth to dry and prevent moisture from favoring the return of molds.
- Hydrogen peroxide is a valid alternative to bleach and more aggressive detergents that release fumes and can be toxic. In addition, it also eliminates the stains that mold infestations can leave behind.
- You can use hydrogen peroxide on many surfaces. It is also safe on clothes, floors, walls, fixtures and even appliances. Just make sure you do a little test in an inconspicuous area of the surface, as hydrogen peroxide could whiten it.
Method 3 of 3: Clean Less Common Materials and Surfaces
Step 1. Clean your clothes
Use a brush and try to get as much mold out of your clothes as possible. Do this outdoors to avoid spreading mold spores elsewhere in the house. Then wash the item of clothing (if you wish, soak it in bleach or stain remover first.) Let it dry in the sun.
If you have items of clothing that cannot be washed with water, take them to a dry cleaner and point out your problem
Step 2. Eliminate mold from the leather
Use a brush to remove as much mold as possible. It is preferable to carry out this operation outdoors. Wet a clean cloth with a mixture of water and denatured alcohol, carefully clean the area affected by mold and allow to dry completely.
Alternatively, use a specific soap to clean the leathers
Step 3. Remove it from the books and paper
Make sure the book or paper you want to clean up is completely dry. If not, place them in a ventilated and dry place. Move outside and with a rag remove as much mold as possible from the paper. Wet a rag with a soap solution (regular soap is fine). Squeeze it as much as possible and wipe it over the paper to remove the rest of the stains. Rinse the soap off with water.
- If that doesn't work, try using a mixture of water and bleach or water and vinegar.
- If you are treating a book, and if the pages you have cleaned are more than one, try to dry them well separated, to prevent them from sticking to each other. In this case, a fan may be useful to speed up the drying process. To make sure the pages don't stick together, you can sprinkle them with some cornmeal while they are drying; brush it off once the drying process is finished.
Advice
- Use vinegar instead of bleach, it is just as effective and does less harm to you and the surfaces it comes into contact with. You can use vinegar with a higher dosage than that of bleach, because it is non-toxic and does not create any health problems for you, or for children, or for your pets. Just be careful not to use bleach and vinegar at the same time (see the Warnings section).
- To limit the smell of mold in the bathroom, you can close the drains with the appropriate plugs.
- You can also use ready-made products equipped with a sprayer. Spray the surface to be treated, let it dry and then remove any residue with a clean rag.
- In the Hawaiian Islands, where there is a serious mold problem, most people use a specific bleach-based product to clean the house, driveways, etc …
- If the mold is difficult to get rid of, strengthen your mixture by adding more bleach or vinegar.
Warnings
- Make sure you move, or cover, any objects you don't want to come into contact with the bleach.
- NEVER mix bleach and vinegar together! The chemical reaction generated releases toxic gases. Use a vinegar or bleach solution.
