A type of fungus known as mold, also known as mildew, prefers to grow in damp spaces inside and outside of your home. Mold is most likely to grow on shower walls, windowsills, and other surfaces that are moist.
Due to its antifungal and antibacterial qualities, vinegar is a practical and affordable treatment for a variety of molds.
Continue reading to find out how vinegar stacks up against other options, when you should hire a pro cleaner, and when it might be a good idea to use vinegar to remove mold from your home.
Does Vinegar Kill Mold?
If bleach is unavailable, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t already have a mold-killing substance in your pantry. Your cupboard’s outdated bottle of vinegar is really quite a useful item. White vinegar is a mild acid that has been shown to kill 82 percent of known mold species. It can even help stop future mold outbreaks.
Vinegar’s antifungal and antibacterial qualities are the reason it can kill mold while bleach cannot. A respectably strong pH of 2.5 characterizes the acetic acid found in vinegar. The growth of mold, fungi, and other organisms can be slowed or stopped by vinegar because of its high pH level.
How to Use Vinegar to Kill Mold
Prior to cleaning the mold, it’s crucial to deal with the moisture issue that caused it in the first place. Mold will almost certainly reappear if you remove it without also addressing the moisture.
Here’s how to use vinegar to get rid of the mold after the moisture issue has been resolved.
What You’ll Need:
- Undiluted white vinegar with at least 5 percent acetic acid
- Non-porous gloves
- Face mask
- Protective eyewear
- Spray bottle
- Cleaning rag
- Soft brush
Step 1: Protect Yourself
Direct contact with mold can be risky, particularly if any spores escape into the air while being cleaned. The acidic nature of vinegar can also irritate the skin. Put on non-porous gloves, safety goggles or eye protection, and a mask that covers your mouth and nose for your own protection.
Step 2: Apply the Vinegar
Fill the empty spray bottle with enough undiluted white vinegar to cover the mold growth. Spray the mold directly, fully saturating it with the vinegar, and allow the vinegar to sit for at least an hour. Keep your hands off the mold; it needs time to absorb the vinegar completely. Resist the urge to scrub or rinse.
Step 3: Create a Baking Soda Scrub
Any remaining mold and stains can be scrubbed away with a baking soda solution after an hour or more. If you don’t have an extra spray bottle, use the one you used to pour out the leftover vinegar and add a teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of water to it. Once everything is well-combined, shake vigorously.
Step 4: Scrub Away the Remaining Mold
Scrub the mold and any mold stains with a scrub brush or scouring pad after spraying the baking soda solution directly on them. Baking soda has an abrasive effect that aids in removing stains and stubborn mold. Rinse the area with fresh, warm water after cleaning. To avoid unneeded exposure, make sure you are still wearing your protective gear for this step.
Step 5: Finish With a Final Spray
Spray the area with vinegar once more after cleaning it with a scrubber and water. Alternately, feel free to spritz the baking soda solution if you only have one spray bottle and any is left over. Dry the area by air alone. Any remaining mold will be removed and prevented from regrowing with the help of this final shot. The strong vinegar smell won’t last forever; it will go away on its own in a few hours.
Where Not to Use Vinegar to Remove Mold and Mildew
The acidity of vinegar has the potential to harm some types of surfaces in your house. Don’t use vinegar on:
- Stone countertops. Some stone surfaces, like marble and limestone, can be dulled and etched by vinegar.
- Wooden floors. Wooden floor cleaners should avoid using vinegar because it could damage the finish, according to flooring manufacturers.
- Electronic screens. Some screens’ anti-glare features could be harmed by vinegar, and a touch screen could be affected as well.
- Some types of metals. Some metals, such as copper and aluminum, are susceptible to corrosion by vinegar. On stainless steel, it is typically not advised.
- Porous surfaces. Mold removal from porous or absorbent surfaces is unlikely to be accomplished with vinegar. It is likely that you will need to replace the carpet or ceiling tiles if you find mold there.
Read More: How to Get Red Stains Out of Carpet
Will Killing Mold With Vinegar Make My House Smell?
The smell of vinegar is overpowering and lingers for a few hours. It ought to go away eventually, though. By opening windows and turning on your air conditioner, you can aid this procedure.
In conclusion, while not all molds will be eliminated by vinegar, it can be used to kill mold. If you decide to handle a mold infestation on your own, be sure to take precautions, such as donning the appropriate safety gear.
The professionals should be called if the mold infestation is larger than a foot or two across. Similarly, if the mold reappears. Bear in mind that mold is typically a symptom of an underlying issue, such as excessive humidity or a water leak. If this isn’t taken care of, the mold will come back, making your mold cleaning effort ineffective.
Is Vinegar Or Bleach Better at Killing Mold?
Although it is also possible to kill mold with bleach, experts concur that vinegar is a much better choice. Contrary to bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, decreasing the likelihood that it will reappear. Vinegar is a safer option for household use than bleach because it is also less toxic.
Related: Does Lysol Kill Mold
Conclusion
White vinegar is your best bet to halt the growth of a black mold colony once you find it growing in any area of your home and get rid of it before spores spread. A healthy dose of vinegar will kill the exposed moldy growth as well as the membranous roots by seeping into the surface.
However, you should only make an effort to get rid of black mold when it is still very small. This project becomes too risky if you find out about it after it has already significantly covered a portion of your house. You might also disperse the spores throughout your house, in which case you should immediately contact a professional.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take Vinegar to Kill Mold?
Let the vinegar sit on the mold for at least 60 minutes, depending on the amount of mold, before wiping or scrubbing.
Is It Safe to Spray Vinegar on Mold?
The answer is that vinegar, a mild acid, kills 82% of the mold species. When it comes to removing household mold, it’s frequently used as a safe, all-natural substitute for cleaning agents. The most effective type of vinegar for killing mold is cleaning vinegar because it contains 6% acetic acid.
Does White Vinegar Kill Mold Permanently?
Vinegar is effective at preventing mold growth on fruit and at getting rid of some common household molds, but it is ineffective at getting rid of all molds, according to research.