Can Vinegar Can Rid of Mould?
Every household has vinegar lying around in their cupboard. Not only is it cheap to acquire but it is also a natural acidic product that is not harmful to both the environment and people.
Due to this, you dilute it easily and mix with other products for an effective natural cleaning solution, such as baking soda.
The simple answer: Yes, vinegar is an effective way to eliminate mould (also spelled “mold” rel=”nofollow”) and it is known to kill effectively at least 82% of mould species.
Unlike bleach which is a toxic and harmful product for the environment and does not penetrate porous surfaces (which means it can only kill surface mold), vinegar works both on porous and non-porous materials such as glass or ceramic.
For items such as clothing, it is best you leave them soaking in vinegar for at least an hour, then clean and rub it. This is the only main disadvantage of using vinegar as you require more vigorous scrubbing and cleaning than most other products.
A classic recipe for cleaning mould is combining baking soda with white undistilled vinegar.
How to Kill Mould with Vinegar – Steps to take
- Wear protective gear to prevent exposure to mould, especially in areas heavily affected. For smaller areas, wear protective gloves to prevent irritation on your skin due to long exposure to vinegar
- Fill an empty spray bottle with plain white vinegar. It is advised not to dilute the vinegar as it would reduce its effectiveness.
- Spray the vinegar on the mould affected area and cover the area entirely. Make sure there is enough vinegar to break up the mould.
- Let the vinegar sit for an hour to take effect and start breaking up the mould
- Scrub the mould away with a brush using warm water
- Rinse the area with warm water and wipe the surface clean. Vinegar will likely leave an odour that will fade away in a few hours
- For persistent mould, it is possible to mix vinegar with baking soda, borax, or hydrogen peroxide. Never mix anything with bleach as it can create toxic fumes
If the mould is dangerously high in quantity and too widespread in your house, it is best to leave it to professionals. Using appropriate gear and following the right processes is essential for this type of case to prevent contamination due to exposure to mould during the cleaning process.The friendly Mould Remediation Team can help you remediate the problem and help find the source of the issue to prevent mould from appearing again in your house.
You can get a quote easily through our online form, free of charge.