Homemade Cleaning Product Recipes for Mold
Household mold is not only unsightly but can also be physically harmful. Banish mold from your home using a few household ingredients and a little elbow grease. Inspect high-moisture areas such as the kitchen and bathroom on a regular basis to get to the mold before it gets to you. When making your mold-cleaning potion, never combine chlorine bleach, oven cleaners, dishwasher detergent, or toilet-bowl cleaners with ammonia, lye, rust remover, or vinegar because you could create a poisonous gas.
-
Nontoxic Recipes
-
Keeping a nontoxic mold-killing mixture on hand is important if you live in a house with pets or children. Use one of these nontoxic combinations to eliminate mold, mildew and reduce moisture. Organic Cleaning Recipes says that you can kill mold directly by spraying it with full-strength vinegar. Let the vinegar stand for a few minutes then scrub the area clean. Maintain a mold-free existence by diluting the vinegar with 1 cup of water. Spray in the usual areas every week to keep mold under control.
If moisture is what's causing the problem, Organic Cleaning Recipes says to keep bowls of cat litter in the problem areas. The litter should absorb moisture, and you only need to replace the bowls once a week.
Mold can also generate musty smells. Organic Cleaning Recipes says to eliminate musty odors by combining 1 tsp. tree tea oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray the areas where mildew smells are present and allow the oil and water mixture to permeate the area. Don't wipe it away, and repeat as needed. Planet Green says that you can use the same combination to remove mold.
Planet Green adds that grapefruit extract makes for a powerful mold buster. Combine 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on mold and allow it to dry. No rinsing or scrubbing is necessary. Ecology Center suggests combining vinegar and salt into a paste for a nontoxic method of removing mold.
Powerful Mold Busters
-
If the kinder, gentler mold removal methods aren't working, bring out the big guns. Recipe Gold Mine suggests a combination of 1 part bleach with 1 part water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on mold, allow it to sit for a few minutes, then wipe with a clean, damp sponge. You should be able to see whether you need to hit it again or not.
Ecology Center has a mold- and mildew-killing recipe that mixes 1/2 cup Borax with 1 gal. of water. Apply to affected area and scrub with a nylon scouring pad. Don't rinse for the best result.
-
