Home Remedies to Get Rid of Mold

Many people ask us about home remedies to get rid of mold. They want home remedies for mold removal because hiring a professional for the job can be rather costly. Some people are also concerned about the safety of the chemicals in some biocide products designed to kill mold. We understand the financial concerns you may have. We also understand the desire to “go green” and avoid potentially hazardous chemicals. We’ll tell you about some of the commonly used home remedies to get rid of mold and we’ll let you know how likely they are to actually take care of the problem for you.

Home Remedies for Mold Removal

Here are a few of the most common home remedies for removing mold:

Bleach - If you’re looking for home remedies to get rid of mold because you want a green alternative to the chemicals found in many mold removal products, you’re probably not interested in using bleach. It’s certainly not a “green” product! However, it’s something many people keep around the house and it’s affordable and it has a reputation for being able to clean and disinfect just about anything. Both the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend against using bleach to remove mold, however. Bleach may be effective against some forms of mold but it will not kill many strains.
Vinegar is a popular “green” cleaner used by many for cleaning bathrooms and mopping floors. While it does a great job of cleaning your sink or tub, it usually does not adequately kill mold. Use it to clean an area after you’ve used a biocide to kill the mold, but don’t expect it to serve as a substitute for a good biocide.
Tea Tree Oil is a popular home remedy for many things. People use it to disinfect wounds, to clean and disinfect surfaces, to add to bathwater to treat colds and influenza, and for many other purposes. It can kill some strains of mold but not others, and it can be difficult to determine which strain of mold you’re dealing with in your home. In addition, while tea tree oil is less expensive than many essential oils, it would take a considerable amount to kill mold if mold is growing over a moderately large area. In that case, the cost could be significant.

When Should You Try Home Remedies to Get Rid of Mold?

If you have mold that covers only a small area, less than three square feet, and if the mold is growing on a non-porous surface like a tiled wall or concrete floor, you might want to try some home remedies to get rid of mold before calling in a professional. Make sure you wear a facial mask when you tackle your mold problem so that you don’t inhale any mold spores. It is also a good idea to wear gloves and cover exposed skin.

If Home Remedies for Mold Removal Don’t Do the Job

If home remedies for mold removal don’t do the job, you can try a biocide which you can purchase from many hardware and home improvement stores, or you can call in a professional to do the job for you. It’s usually recommended that you call a professional if you have mold covering an area greater than three feet by three feet or if you have mold growing inside your HVAC ducts. If you’re not sure whether or not you can handle the job yourself, many mold removal specialists will come assess the situation for you at no cost and let you know just what you’re up against. You’ll benefit from some free professional safety advice, too, even if you end up deciding to do the work yourself.

For a list of qualified professionals offering free consultations in your area, follow this link.