‘A clean home is a happy home’. But what if you see black patches on your shower curtain or there is a mildew smell in the kitchen. This is nothing but the living organism mold, from the kingdom of fungi which can make your home look dirty. Molds are multicellular threadlike structures called hyphae. It often appears in the form of stains with a variety of colors. Sometimes these are not visible, but the best way to identify mold is the smell. They can also cause certain health hazards. You can use chemicals to clean molds, but it will fill your home with toxins. In this article, you will find some natural ways to get rid of mold.
Causes of Mold:
The biggest reason for this microbial growth is moisture. If the home is too congested or the room is too small and there is no proper ventilation mold can easily develop. There can be external reasons also causing mold like a leaky roof and a broken pipe. Molds are most commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms. There are many appliances in the kitchen like stoves and dishwashers without a proper exhaust that can cause mold. In the bathroom, we keep all kinds of stuff so there should be a proper exhaust to prevent moisture building up on the surfaces. Another reason of mold can be dust. It is important to keep your home vacuum cleaned and free of dust.
Impact of Molds on Health:
People suffering from asthma and allergies have a more serious health impact. It was estimated in a report that people who live in moldy conditions have the symptoms of hay fever. It can also trigger sinus. In worse cases it can invade the lungs, creating big problems.
Natural Ways to Get Rid of Mold:
Contents
1.) Baking Soda to Get Rid of Mold:
Baking soda offers a number of uses and benefits ranging from health to cleanliness. It is a natural remedy to get rid of mold. Baking soda easily absorbs the moisture and help to prevent mold. It acts as a natural deodorant that diminishes the lingering odor and mildew smell. Try this safe method as it does not contain any harsh chemicals. It is very mild with a pH of 8.1.
How to Use:
- Take a bowl of water.
- Add one-quarter of baking soda in it.
- Mix it until the soda dissolves in it.
- Soak a scrub in the solution and apply on the mold.
- Rub it against the mold to clean it.
- Once the mold is removed then again coat the area with a layer of the solution to prevent further mold.
2.) Hydrogen Peroxide to Remove Mold:
It is a nontoxic weapon to kill the mold. It has certain disinfectant properties and is a strong bleach. The antibacterial properties of hydrogen peroxide kill the germs and remove dirt and stains.
How to Use:
- Take a spray bottle.
- Add 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
- Spray the solution on the mold.
- Leave it for 10 to 15 minutes, so that hydrogen peroxide can kill the mold.
- Take a scrub and rub it against the affected wall to remove the mold and its stains.
Precaution: Don’t keep the spray bottle in light as it decreases the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide.
3.) Borax to Kill the Mold:
The chemical properties present in borax contribute to its cleansing power. It is nontoxic in nature and hence is 100% safe and is environment-friendly. It has a pH level of about 9. Borax also acts as a deodorizer and removes all the bad odor. It is a natural method to get rid of mold.
How to Use:
- Vacuum up the loose mold to lessen the spores stirred up into the air during the cleaning process.
- Take a bowl of water.
- Add one cup of borax to it.
- Take a scrub a coat a layer of borax on the mold.
- Take a brush or scrub to remove the mold and the stains.
- After cleaning it don’t wash it with water as the solution of borax will help to prevent further molds.
4.) Ammonia to Get Rid of Mold:
Ammonia helps to kill mold and removes the dirt and stains. It is not able to kill mold in porous areas such as wood.
How to Use:
- Take a spray bottle containing 50% of water.
- Add 50% of ammonia to it.
- Spray the solution on the mold.
- Leave it for 10 to 20 minutes and let it dry.
- Use a scrub and some water to remove the mold and its stains.
Precaution: You should never mix ammonia with bleach because when they are combined the gas formed is toxic in nature.
5.) Tea Tree Oil to Remove Mold:
The antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial properties of tea tree oil help to kill the mold and other bacteria. It is one of the most effective methods to get rid of mold.
How to Use:
- Take a spray bottle and add water and note how many cups were used to fill the bottle.
- Add tea tree oil.
- For one cup of water add one teaspoon of tea tree oil.
- Now spray the solution on the moldy area.
- Leave it and let it dry.
- Don’t rinse off with water as the layer of tea tree oil will prevent future molds.
Alternative method:
- Take a bowl of water.
- Add tea tree oil to it.
- Soak a scrub in it and rub it on the moldy area.
- This will kill the mold.
6.) Grapefruit Seed Extract to Get Rid of Mold:
The antibacterial properties of grapefruit seed extract make it a good choice to get rid of mold. It is great microbial and disinfectant. The citric acid present in grapefruit seed attacks the mold. One more advantage of this is that it has no odor.
How to Use:
- Take a spray bottle and add water.
- Add 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per cup of water that is filled in the spray bottle.
- Shake the spray to mix the solution and then spray it on the moldy area.
- Don’t use water to rinse the solution as the layer of this solution will prevent returning of mold.
7.) Vinegar to Remove Mold:
The miracle cleaner vinegar helps to get rid of mold in a natural way. It is a mild acid and non-toxic substance which can kill approximately 82% of the mold species. It is environment-friendly.
How to Use:
- Take a spray bottle.
- Fill it with the vinegar solution. Do not add water.
- Spray the solution on the mold.
- Leave it for about an hour.
- Use a cloth to remove the mold and the stains caused by it.
8.) Bleach to kill Mold:
Bleach is one of the inexpensive ways to get rid of mold. The mold killing agent chlorine is present in the bleach. It is a disinfectant that will kill the mold.
How to Use:
- Take a bowl and add 10 parts of water and one part of bleach.
- Apply the solution on the moldy area.
- Use a scrub to remove the stains.
Precaution: Make sure that the room is well ventilated as bleach produces strong fumes. Wear gloves and eyewear before removing the mold.
Tips to Prevent Mold:
- Keep your home dust free.
- Add mold inhibitors to your paint before painting.
- Increase ventilation in your house.
- Repair the pipe leakage immediately as mold develops in moisture.
- Dry certain items like clothes or camping gears before keeping it inside.
- Prevent condensation.
- There should a proper exhaust for kitchen appliances like stove and dryers as they produce a lot of moisture.
- Don’t mix ammonia with bleach as the gas produced will be toxic.
- Roof and roof gutters should be cleaned frequently.
- Wear gloves and eyewear while removing mold.
- If you see mold, then remove it immediately.
