How to Treat Household Mold and Mildew with Green Cleaners

Spray and wipe mildew stains with a mixture of Borax and vinegar.

Harmful bacteria, mold and mildew thrive in areas that contain a lot of warm moisture, such as bathrooms. Tackle mildew with an arsenal of natural concoctions that won’t harm your family or the planet. Turn to your kitchen and laundry room for the ingredients. Start with the mildest solutions and attack stubborn growth or stains with a more potent mix. Once mildew is removed, keep it away naturally. Wipe and dry your bathroom completely after every use, open windows, run fans and use racks to hang towels.

Things You'll Need

• Tea tree oil
• Vinegar
• Borax
• Castile soap
• Peroxide

Instructions

1. Prevent bacteria, mildew and mold buildup in the first place by keeping surfaces dry. Clean up any liquid spills, watch for and fix any pipe leaks, and allow good air circulation in rooms and areas where moisture is occurs in the home, such as the bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and basements. Use ventilation fans and open windows to allow moisture to dissipate more rapidly.

2. Harness the disinfectant power of tea tree oil with a simple spray you mix yourself. Use 1 drop of tea tree oil to one cup of water. Put the mixture in a spray bottle to use for cleaning surfaces, including shower curtains. Shake well before each use.

3. Mix a spray solution to quickly clean mildew on hard surfaces, especially showers. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture suggests a solution of 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup Castile soap, 1 teaspoon Borax and 1 teaspoon tea tree oil. Add a half drop of scented essential oil to leave a fresh scent. Spray on surfaces and wipe dry.

4. Substitute a hydrogen peroxide solution for bleach in your mildew-cleaning toolkit. Milder than bleach, peroxide kills mold and mildew and sanitizes surfaces. Mix one part 3 percent peroxide to two parts water in a spray bottle for an easy shower cleaner.

5. Reach into the kitchen and laundry room for an effective all-purpose cleaner and mildew killer. Let the acid in vinegar eat away at mildew and the abrasive cleaning power of Borax work together for a deep clean. Combine 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup Borax with water in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe bathroom and kitchen surfaces.

References

• University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Clean and Green
• WebMD; The Best Non-Toxic Ways to Clean Your Home; Dr. Matthew Hoffman
• Utah State Cooperative Extension: Homemade Non-Toxic Household Cleaners