Mold is something that occurs naturally in our world, both indoors and out. Before you go running to the store and scouring the shelves for the strongest mold killers and cleaning products, know that we have provided a natural mold cleaner list of recipes for you to make at home with less harmful ingredients.
Sometimes mold is easy to spot, like when we keep food in the fridge too long, but there are also times where it hides in crevices and behind drywall and grows until it makes us sick.
Finding a DIY mold cleaner that works well for your situation is easy because each homemade mold cleaner recipe uses minimal ingredients that all work well to kill mold and stop it from spreading.
Risks of House Mold
The role of molds in the world is to break down decaying plant and animal matter. They travel by releasing mold spores into the air. These microscopic spores then enter our homes through windows, doors, vents, and even our clothes and pets.
Mold growth occurs when the conditions are just right. Dark, damp spaces are their favorite places to hide, like in bathrooms or basements. Getting rid of mold inside walls is especially important for black mold and mildew, as they bring severe risks to our health and home safety.
If you have a mold problem, killing all the mold in your house is essential because of the risks they have on your health. Most people experience symptoms like runny nose, eye irritation, sneezing, coughing, rash, headache, sore throat, and wheezing.
People with allergies and asthma are at an even higher risk of getting sick or having an allergic reaction. Over time, some molds discolor your drywall, leave mold stains, and black mold on wood rots the wooden frame that supports your home.
Browse through this list and find a natural mold and mildew cleaner recipe that helps take care of your problem right away.
Simple DIY Mold Cleaner Solutions
The primary and most important steps for ridding your home from dangerous mold are to find the affected areas. Mold looks like small dots when it’s beginning to grow. These spots are black, white, green, or just about any other color.
They also have different textures that look like velvet, powder, or cotton. Molds have a musty smell and are almost always near moisture with minimal light.
The material mold grows on often cracks or warps over time. Mold also continues to grow and spread while stains and dirt don’t. If you identify mold in your home, it’s time to take action.
Before you try any of these cleaning solutions, open windows to get the area well ventilated. Always wear protective face gear and clothing.
This protection includes a face mask or respirator and gloves. Killing mold is a serious task, so make sure to take all the proper health precautions.
The Most Popular Natural Mold Cleaner
Bleach is always included in popular natural mold cleaner recipes because it has such strong properties that clean up mold with ease and prevents future mold from coming back.
Put on all safety gear before handing bleach and make sure the area is well-ventilated. Grab an old bucket and fill it with a gallon of water. Add the bleach to the water and use a large scrub brush to mix it.
Dip the brush in the bleach solution and scrub the infected area with the bleach water until all visible remnants are gone. Allow the solution to dry if it is an area free from food prep or children.
If in a place where food is prepared or people gather, rinse the surface with clean, warm water. For a more direct approach, pour some of the bleach water into a spray bottle and spray it directly on the mold. Use a rough brush or sponge to remove the mold.
You can also consider using a natural enzyme cleaner for mold. Enzymes naturally digest bacteria and odor. So, it’s usually a perfect solution to clean mold from any surface in your home.
Homemade Mold Cleaner Recipe
One of our favorite ways to clean mold includes white vinegar. Vinegar is such a potent ingredient because of the high amount of acid.
It cleans most surfaces around the home, but this recipe works exceptionally well along grout lines. It also has antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that prevent mold from returning.
To clean mold, fill a spray bottle with distilled vinegar. Use vinegar spray directly over the moldy area and let it sit for at least an hour. Dip the sponge in hot water and scrub the area until clean.
Vinegar and hot water make an ideal natural vinyl siding wash solution to eliminate grime and mold stains.
Using Borax to Kill Mold
Some of the most natural ways to kill mold often include Borax. Borax is a natural cleaning agent and disinfectant with a low toxicity level. It also deodorizes drains and is cheap to buy.
To create your homemade mold cleaner with Borax, add a cup of Borax to one gallon of water in a large bucket. Vacuum as much of the mold from the area as possible.
Dip a scrub brush into the Borax water and use it to scrub the moldy area. Once fully clean, wipe away the remaining moisture and mold spores with a clean cloth. Allow the surface to dry completely.
Use this solution with care to get rid of mold behind drywall to keep from damaging the surface. With drywall, it is sometimes best to replace it if the material is saturated with mold.
Ammonia Mold Killer
Ammonia is an excellent tool to fight mold, but it doesn’t work on porous surfaces like wood and drywall. Glass, tile, and countertops are safe for ammonia. Never combine ammonia with bleach because it created a dangerous, toxic gas.
Mix a few cups of water with equal parts ammonia in a spray bottle. Spray the ammonia mixture on the infected area and let it sit for three to four hours.
Wipe down the clean site with a fresh, wet rag. Ensure you thoroughly clean the area with fresh water so the ammonia is entirely removed from the surface.
Peroxide Mold Removal
Hydrogen peroxide is one of the few ingredients that are antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial. It’s incredibly effective for cleaning bathroom mold on walls. It is safe around your home and doesn’t damage the moldy area.
It also is one of the best things to use to get rid of mold stains because of its bleaching properties. Pour hydrogen peroxide directly into a spray bottle and saturate the infected area with it.
Let the peroxide sit for roughly ten minutes before using a scrub brush to clean the area. Wipe the surface with a clean cloth to remove the remaining mold spores.
Essential Oil Mold Cleaner
Some natural ways to clean mold are to use an essential oil like tea tree oil. Because tea tree oil is antifungal, it kills dozens of mold types and is safe for children and pets.
To clean mildew and mold from grout and other locations, add the water and the tea tree oil to a spray bottle and shake to combine. Spray the oil solution on the mold site so it is saturated. Allow it to dry. There is no need to wipe the oil off or clean the surface with water.
How to Kill Mold with Baking Soda
Baking soda is another product that people have been using for centuries to clean things and eliminate odors. Use baking soda to get mildew smell out of basement areas and clean moldy spots. It is milder than other cleaners but is equally effective.
To turn baking soda into a mold killer, add one tablespoon of baking soda to a quart of either water or vinegar into a squirt bottle and shake to combine.
Spray the solution over the moldy spots. Use a sponge or scrub brush and some elbow grease to lift the mold from the surface. Rinse the surface with warm water and repeat as often as necessary.
Prevent Mold from Returning
One of the most critical steps for ridding your home of mold is preventative action. After you use a homemade mold cleaner recipe, one of our cleaning tips is to do whatever you can to ensure that it doesn’t find its way back inside your home.
Control the Humidity
The easiest way to prevent different types of mold from making an appearance in your house is to keep the humidity under control. Levels below 60 percent are ideal in preventing mold growth. The easiest way to do this is to purchase a dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers suck excess moisture out of the air and empty the water into a bin. Keep this machine running in your basement, and make sure to empty it consistently so that it is always working.
If you can’t afford a dehumidifier, try keeping windows open or turning a fan on when bathing, showering, or washing dishes. Always wipe down walls and other surfaces after moisture has gotten on them.
Keep Clothing Dry
One of the most common ways for mold spores to enter our homes is on our clothing. After you wash your clothes, don’t leave them sitting in the dryer for too long.
Once they get washed, put them in the dryer and turn it on immediately or hang them up outside so they can dry and stop mold from growing and spreading.
Fix Leaky Pipes
Leaky pipes are a welcome mat to dangerous mold. Inspect all the drains and pipes in your home a couple of times each year. If you find a leak, fix the problem as soon as possible so that mold doesn’t start to grow.
Embrace the Sun
Mold enjoys dark areas the most. Opening your house’s windows and curtains and allowing the sunlight to shine inside is a great way to keep mold at bay.
Sunshine also has the added bonus of providing your body with vitamin D, so keep your house full of light to keep living a healthy lifestyle.
Don’t Mess with the Thermostat
Mold tends to thrive in areas with warmer temperatures, and keeping your home’s temperature regulated is vital to stop mold growth, especially during the hot summer months. Keeping your house below 70°F is one of the easiest ways to prevent mold.
Although mold occurs naturally, it sometimes becomes a serious health risk and can make people sick. On top of that, some molds begin destroying your home if they go long enough without being adequately handled.
Harsh chemicals and cleaning products aren’t always the best options to combat mold. Making a DIY mold cleaner at home is quicker and more effective than a lot of mold products and saves us time and energy in the long run.
Recipe for Natural Mold Cleaner
Natural Mold Cleaner
Mold doesn't stand a chance against vinegar!
Materials
- 3 cups distilled white vinegar
- Hot water in a bucket
Tools
- 24-ounce sprayer bottle
- Sponge
- Measuring cup
- Plastic gloves
Instructions
- Pour the vinegar into the sprayer.
- Don the gloves.
- Liberally spritz the mold with the vinegar spray.
- Let the cleaner work for an hour or more.
- Dampen the sponge in the hot water and wipe the moldy surface clean. Rinse the sponge frequently and change the water as needed.
Notes
This vinegar cleaning spray is ideal for small areas of mold.
If you found a natural mold cleaner here that rids your home of mildew and other molds, share these homemade mold cleaners on Facebook and Pinterest.