How to Disinfect Mold
Mold can ruin both your home and your health. You can stop this dangerous fungus in its tracks, though, by disinfecting it with products commonly found inside the home. When applying liquid solutions to moldy surfaces, remember that you must still remove the mold to ensure that the problem does not persist. Disinfecting mold does not destroy the fungus, but simply renders it inactive. If exposed to moisture, inactive mold can become active once again, so make sure to dry and wipe away all disinfected surfaces. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- Laundry detergent
- Washing machine
- Chlorine bleach
- Distilled water
- Scrub brush
- Toothbrush
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Rubbing alcohol
- Spray bottle
- Sponge
- White vinegar
- Soft cloth
- Vacuum cleaner
- Baking soda
Instructions
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1
Pour a dab of lemon juice over stains appearing on moldy fabrics such as sheets, blankets and clothing, and sprinkle salt over the lemon juice. Citric acid and sodium chloride contain powerful mold-resistant properties. After allowing the compounds to soak for a few minutes, wash the articles in a washing machine using your preferred detergent.
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2
Mix 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of distilled water. Dip a scrub brush into the solution and scrub any mold appearing on walls, woodworking or tiles. To clean mold on grout, dip a toothbrush into the same solution and scrub. If you prefer a natural alternative to bleach, use hydrogen peroxide instead.
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3
Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and distilled water and use a sponge to disinfect moldy bedding and other upholstery. Take special care not to soak your sponge, but merely dampen it with the solution. You can achieve ideal results by pouring the solution into a clean spray bottle and misting the liquid over your sponge. If you oversaturate your upholstery, the mold problem may become worse.
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4
Add 2 Tbsp. of household vinegar to 1 cup of distilled water. Place the solution inside a spray bottle and keep it around for small mold emergencies. For example, if mold should ever begin to emerge on a windowsill or piece of furniture, spray the solution over moldy areas and wipe with a sponge or cloth.
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Sprinkle baking soda over your carpet to attack carpet mold. Wait 15 to 30 minutes and vacuum. If your carpet mold carries a thick musty odor, you may substitute a carpet deodorizer containing baking soda.
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Tips & Warnings
Always dry the area after disinfecting. The elimination of moisture will destroy the mold in your home more effectively than the mere application of chemicals and cleaning supplies.
