How to Use Bleach as a Mold Remover Solution?

Most people know that bleach can be used to get rid of mold, but few know how to use it correctly. Using too much bleach can damage the surface you're trying to save, while not leaving the solution on long enough ensures that the mold can make an easy comeback. Others forget that you have to actually remove the mold, not just kill it, and wind up with a surface that has been sterilized, but still looks horrible. Here's how to use bleach to safely and effectively get rid of mold.

Things You'll Need

• Hot water
• Soap
• Towels
• Chlorine or color-safe bleach
• Rubber bleach

Instructions

1. Prepare the surface to be cleaned by removing as much of the mold as possible, then washing it with hot soapy water. Bleach will kill the mold, but it is important to remove the excess spores beforehand.

2. Rinse the surface with clear water until all traces of soap are gone. Dry it with a clean towel.

3. Mix up a solution of nine parts water and one part bleach. Using a higher concentration of bleach is unnecessary and raises the odds that you will damage the surface you are cleaning. Use color-safe bleach if you are cleaning vinyl, polyester, or other materials that are prone to yellowing or discoloration.

4. Put on rubber gloves and apply the solution to the moldy surface. Allow the bleach to air-dry, leaving it on the surface for at least twelve hours. This gives the bleach time to kill the mold.

5. Rinse the bleach solution off and wipe the surface dry.