How to Kill Bacteria & Mold
Bacteria and mold grows in abundance and fills your home with germs, odors and overall nastiness. The bacteria and mold will spread throughout your home and infect other areas as well as cause possible health complications. You can kill bacteria and mold from a wide array of surfaces using common and inexpensive items. These items will not pollute your home with unnecessary chemicals that can cause more harm than good. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Laundry detergent
- White vinegar
- Trisodium phosphate
- Lint-free cloths
- Oxygen bleach
- Scrub brush
- Towel
- Baking soda
- Toilet scrubber
Instructions
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Launder moldy clothing with 1/4 cup of laundry detergent and 1 cup of white vinegar. Use the hottest water temperature allowed for the specific fabric. Tumble the fabric dry on low heat.
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2
Clean walls with a mixture of 1/2 cup of trisodium phosphate and 4 cups of warm water. Use a lint-free cloth dampened in the mixture to gently wipe the walls clean to kill mold and bacteria. Wipe the walls with a cloth damp with water to remove the cleaning solution.
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3
Wash bathroom mold and bacteria off sinks, tubs and showers with 1 cup of oxygen bleach mixed with 1 gallon of water. Leave the mixture on the surface for 15 minutes to kill the bacteria, mold and its spores. Rinse clean with cool water.
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4
Scrub mold and bacteria off upholstery and carpets with undiluted white vinegar. Let the vinegar sit on the fabric for several minutes before rinsing the fabric clean with cool water and patting dry with a towel.
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Disinfect toilet bowls by adding 1 cup of baking soda into a clean toilet bowl. Scrub the inside of the bowl with a toilet scrubber and let it sit for one hour. Scrub the toilet bowl once again with the toilet scrubber before flushing the toilet clean.
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References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Mold Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Basic Facts
- University of Missouri Extension; How to Prevent and Remove Mildew -- Home Methods; Wanda Eubank, et. al; April 1998
- This Old House; Bathroom Ceiling Mildew; Steve Thomas
- CBS News; Heloise Hears A Hint; Richard Schlesinger; February 2009
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
