How to Kill Mold With Vodka

Put vodka in a spray bottle and spray it on mold to kill the fungus.

Most people have to deal with killing mold in the home at some point, but treating it can be tricky, particularly if you want to avoid using harsh chemical cleansers. Rest assured, however, that our forefathers had mold issues, too, and they came up with an excellent method for killing and removing it. You can kill mold using something you may already have in your home freezer--vodka.

Things You'll Need

• Bottle of vodka
• Spray bottle
• Cloth
• Toothbrush

Instructions

1. Pour the vodka into the spray bottle. Leave enough room in the bottle so that inserting the sprayer's nozzle will not cause the bottle to overflow.

2. Spray the vodka directly onto the area affected with mold. Doing so will kill the mold and halt further growth.

3. Wait for several minutes, then wipe the mold from the affected area using a soft cleaning cloth or a soft toothbrush. If you wish to remove the mold, not just kill it, multiple applications of vodka and extra wiping may be necessary.

4. Rinse the cleaned area with water. Vodka does not leave a scent, but rinsing is suggested if you are concerned about pets or children coming into contact with alcohol.

Tips & Warnings

• Black mold on old caulking poses a significant challenge for cleaning with vodka, and multiple treatments may be needed to kill all the mold. Use a toothbrush or other soft-bristled cleaning brush to scrub the mold out in this instance.

• Always do a patch test before spraying a moldy area with vodka.

• If re-purposing a spray bottle you already have in your home, clean it carefully before putting vodka into it to avoid potential chemical reactions.

References

• Fun Facts: The Many Uses of Vodka
• The Daily Green: Top 10 Weird Uses for Vodka