Mold and mildew are everywhere, but it is essential to keep them out of your home. The potential exists for many ill health effects, especially if you have a lot of build-up in the house. Learn different, natural ways to kill mold if you find it.
Respiratory problems and infections are common health risks, and those who have pre-existing respiratory diseases are more susceptible. Allergy symptoms like a runny nose, watery eyes, and itchy eyes can occur. Sneezing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing are also possible.
Mildew and mold can grow in many areas, and these can be very hard to treat due to millions of tiny spores clumping together. They grow rapidly and can even get into the air, allowing them to fully invade your home.
Kill Mold and Mildew the Natural Way
Since mold and mildew grow so rapidly, it is vital to take care of the problem quickly before they get out of control. In addition to controlling moisture so that mold and mildew cannot thrive, there are some ways to kill them naturally to reduce the effects on your health.
Check out our suggestions to kill mildew and for cleaning black mold so that your home is safe once again for your family. These solutions are all quite inexpensive and offer positive results for eliminating your mold or mildew problem.
Tea tree oil controls infection and clears the skin, but it is also incredibly useful for taking care of mold and mildew. You just need a spray that you can make at home.
This spray is safe for virtually all surfaces, and it is essential to note that the smell is quite strong for a couple of days. If you are sensitive to scents, this may not be the best option, and you may want to try other natural methods.
To make this simple natural mold and mildew cleaner recipe, combine the water and tea tree oil in a standard spray bottle. After shaking well, spray the solution on areas with mold and mildew. Do not wipe it because it must sit to get rid of the problem.
You can also use this spray for how to clean mold off leather, but it is important to wipe it off so that it doesn’t damage the material. Spritz the mixture onto the stain and rub it gently with an old rag to remove mold.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
The great thing about grapefruit seed extract is that it is free of smell, so if you want something that works effectively, this is the option for you. To remove mold from walls, floors, carpets, and furniture, mix two cups of water with 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract in a spray bottle and shake to combine.
Just like tea tree oil, spray on the problem areas and let it sit. There is no need to wipe it away. If this solution doesn’t give you the desired results, try one of our other mold removal suggestions.
Distilled Vinegar
Vinegar is the ideal solution for dealing with all types of stains and cleaning tasks, in addition to its benefits for cooking in the kitchen. It is imperative to use distilled white vinegar and not another type in these situations.
One of the fantastic things about vinegar is that it kills up to 82% of mold, but you can also use it as a regular homemade bathroom cleaner to prevent new mold spores from developing. Put distilled vinegar in a spray bottle and spray problem areas and do not wipe away.
You can get the same results with mold vs mildew when using vinegar.Dirty grout responds quite well to vinegar. Use it alone or as part of a vinegar based grout cleaner to get rid of mold and soap scum from grout in the shower or in other locations.
If the smell of vinegar is too strong or is otherwise unappealing when you are cleaning mildew with vinegar, add any essential oils that you like to cut the sour smell. With straight vinegar, the smell lasts only for a few hours.
One of the best essential oils to use is lemon oil because it is strong enough to hide the vinegar scent without being too overpowering. Orange and lavender are good choices, too.
While using vinegar is perfect for indoor surfaces, don’t forget about those on the outside of your home, as well. Use vinegar for how to remove green mold from a wood deck or your patio with a pressure washer and scrub away mold and mildew on your vinyl siding, too.
You can get rid of wood mites, as well as mold mites with vinegar, and leave surfaces sanitized at the same time.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Think about how peroxide reacts when you use it to clean a scrape or small cut. For this home remedy, you need is a spray bottle and 3% hydrogen peroxide. You can find peroxide at any drug store. Spray the peroxide on mold or mildew, allow it to sit for 10 minutes and wipe away. This works quite well for mold in washing machine.
You can also combine hydrogen peroxide and distilled vinegar for extra cleaning power and to kill mold mites and other tiny critters that may become a nuisance.
Pour a 1:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide and distilled vinegar in a spray bottle and shake. Note that hydrogen peroxide must be in a dark bottle or its strength weakens over time.
>> Quick Mold Cleaning Tip: To remove mold from leather use rubbing alcohol.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a fantastic cleaner for virtually any surface inside or outside your home. You can use it alone, mix it with water to form a paste, or combine it with vinegar.
If you mix it with vinegar, stir until the baking soda dissolves, pour it into a spray bottle, and spray the mold. After about 15 minutes, scrub it using a damp rag or a soft-bristled brush.
Baking soda is mild, and it disinfects thoroughly, so it is excellent for just about any area, but it works really well as a homemade tub and shower cleaner. If you’ve discovered mold or mildew in your grout in the bathroom or kitchen, use these tips for how to clean mold from grout, too.
Baking soda can also be used in your laundry to add a boost to the cleaning power of your detergent. A half a cup or so is ideal to add to a load in the washing machine to get musty smell out of clothing that you may have forgotten to dry in the dryer or left in the washer for too long.
To effectively get rid of a mildew smell in the car, make a baking soda sachet with your favorite essential oil and put it in one of the drink holders. Let it sit and absorb unwelcome odors as long as needed. Replace it after about a month.
Sometimes it seems as if nothing will clean your mold and mildew problem. If the grout in your bathroom or floors is older, crumbling, and seems to resist cleaning, you may need to clean and remove grout to prepare for new grout installation.
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