A Close Up Shot Of Household Ingredients And Fruits And Cleaning Equipment For Mould Removal

Do It Yourself (DIY) Mould Removal for your Home and Common Myths about it

One can find many different DIY methods of mould removal online to save cost. However, not all methods are effective all the time. It also depends if it was done properly with the right steps.

5 Common Mould Removal Methods You Can Use at Home

Below you will find the most common ingredients readily available that can be use to eliminate mould:

1) Bleach

Commonly found in most families and regarded as a universal mould removal.

Bleach is very effective on areas that are non-porous surfaces and it kills the mould by oxidizing and destroying the proteins within the mould cell. However, due to the content of bleach which contains water, it will not be effective for porous materials such as drywall which can encourage more mould to grow.

How to use:

a) Dilute bleach with water in a spray bottle in 1:8 ratio
b) Spray affected area with solution
c) Let the bleach work for at least 10 mins before scrubbing with a bush
d) Wipe away and let it dry thoroughly, if possible, use a fan

2) Vinegar

A Hand Wearing A Yellow Glove Using A Bottle Spray Containing Cleaning Solutions To Clean Mould Stains Off A Wall

Also commonly found in most families but regarded not only as a universal mould removal but also an organic and natural option

Acetic acid in the vinegar is what helps breakdown the cell structure of the mould. The good thing about vinegar is that it is much more effective than bleach as it works better on both porous and non-porous surfaces. Results are usually better when multiple applications repeated to the same area.

How to use:

a) Add vinegar into spray bottle without diluting it
b) Spray affected area with solution
c) Let the vinegar work for at least 50-80mins before scrubbing with a bush
d) Wipe away and let it dry thoroughly, if possible, use a fan

3) Baking Soda

If you have avid bakers at home this shouldn’t be something hard to find in your home.

Instead of breaking down or destroying structures in or within the mould, baking soda actually works in a very different manner. How mould is prevented is actually by creating an alkaline environment around the mould invested area. Mould will not be able to grow and spread in such an environment. Most of the time this method is used on top of using vinegar and bleach.

How to use:

a) Add baking soda with vinegar into a spray bottle or directly to the affected area
b) Let the bleach work for at least 10 mins before scrubbing with a bush
c) Wipe away with damp cloth and let it dry thoroughly, if possible use a fan

4) Hydrogen Peroxide

The use of hydrogen peroxide is typically considered a much safer alternative to bleach as it does not irritate the skin and safer for pets and children at home.

Similar to bleach hydrogen peroxide acts as an oxidizing agent that help attack the walls of the mould causing them to breakdown and prevent further spreading. This method works both on porous and non-porous surfaces.

How to use:

a) Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle(anything higher is also possible)
b) Spray directly to affected area
c) Let the bleach work for at least 10 mins before scrubbing with a bush
d) Wipe away and let it dry thoroughly, if possible use a fan

5) Tea tree Oil

Tea tree oil functions a bit differently as compared to the above methods. What is special about tea tree oil is that it has a natural anti-fungal and bacterial agent called terpenoids. This natural ingredient disrupts the membrane on the mould, stopping it from growing further. Tea tree oil is effective in both porous and non-porous surfaces. The downside is that some people might not like the smell and it can be costly if used in large quantities.

How to use:

a) Mix 10 drops of tea tree oil with ½ a cup of water in a spray bottle
b) Shake well and spray onto affected area with solution
c) Let the solution work for at least 50-80mins before scrubbing with a bush
d) Let it dry naturally or with a fan if area is not well ventilated

Below is a table for ease of comparison

Method Description How it Kills Mould Pros Cons

Bleach

Common belief as a universal solution

Oxidizes and destroys mould proteins and enzymes

Readily available, inexpensive

Ineffective on porous surfaces, may leave water behind

Vinegar

Natural, touted as an effective mould killer

Acetic acid breaks down mould cell structure

Safe, natural

May not kill all mould species, multiple applications needed

Baking Soda

Used for odor neutralizing and abrasiveness

Creates hostile alkaline environment for mould

Safe, natural, inexpensive

Does not kill mould directly, only prevents growth

Hydrogen Peroxide

Safe alternative to bleach

Produces free radicals that destroy mould cells

Effective, safe

Limited effectiveness on deeply rooted mould

Tea Tree Oil

Natural antifungal and antibacterial

Terpenoids disrupt mould cell membranes

Natural, effective

Expensive, impractical for large areas

5 Common myths about DIY Mould Removal at home

Wooden Blocks With Individual Letters Spelling Out The Word Myths

Myth 1: Bleach is the ultimate mould removal

Bleach is not effective on porous surfaces, which is common in most homes. Areas such as false ceiling, wooden furniture, etc.

Myth 2: Once you remove it, it will not return

Mould grows deep into the surface of materials if it is porous. Without eliminating the roots of it mould can still come back. Another issue that cause mould to return are humidity issues and water leaks.

Myth 3: Mould can be removed with store bought household cleaners.

Although effective for visible mould, most household cleaners often fail to eliminate the underlying issues of mould.

Myth 4: Mould grows only in dirty and untidy homes

This has some truth to it as most untidy spots are hotspots for humidity to gather with the lack of ventilation. Mould can grow in any home as long as both moisture and warmth exists.

Myth 5: Professional mould remediation service is overpriced and DIY mould removal is equally effective.

In certain conditions yes, but what professionals are able to do is identify the root cause of it and then prevent it from returning or causing more damage to your home. After identifying the root cause, they will also remove existing mould to prevent further spreading.

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