Can You Get Rid Of Mold Using Vinegar?

The short answer is yes, you can get rid of mold by using vinegar. In fact, it's capable of killing about 82% of mold species, and it's also a great method of prevention for different areas of your home, notes ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning. Vinegar is also known to be more effective than bleach, which is only capable of eliminating the mold you see on the surface, and not the membranes that have grown within the material. Vinegar, however, typically has a pH of 2.5, which gives it the ability to kill mold and stop it from continuing to grow.

However, you never want to make a problem worse. So, be sure to avoid using vinegar on certain porous materials, such as stone and wood, and even certain metals, such as stainless steel and copper, as the acidic nature of this condiment will stain these types of surfaces. But if you're working on surfaces vinegar won't damage, take a look at the key steps necessary to banish mold from your residence for good.

While working with vinegar and mold, you should abide by certain safety precautions. First, wear something to protect your eyes, a face mask, and rubber gloves. This helps to ensure you don't suffer from any sort of reaction from the fungus. Next, establish fresh air flow by opening any windows and doors and turning on exhaust fans. Once that's all settled, fill a spray bottle with vinegar, label it, and douse the moldy area. Then, allow the vinegar to sit for about an hour.

Once time is up, grab a sponge that's been soaked in clean water and use it to wipe away the vinegar and mold. After you've wiped everything away, you may notice some discoloration. To get rid of this, mix together 2 cups of oxygen bleach powder and 10 cups of warm water in a large bucket, and dip a sponge or a rough textured brush into the cleaning solution before scrubbing down the stained area. After 30 minutes have passed, wash everything away with water and allow the area to air dry. However, if you find mold covering a large area in your home, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend calling a professional who will have the necessary equipment for more widespread mold remediation.

Sometimes, white vinegar alone isn't strong enough to eliminate tough mold stains, especially black mold. If your mold stains won't go away, mix together 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, and one cup of water. This should form a paste, which you can use to spread across the affected area. Once you've slathered on a generous amount, let it dry before using a scrub brush to eliminate the black mold and stains. After it's all gone, simply wash away any residue with water.

Once you've done all that cleaning, you surely don't want to do it again. In order to prevent mold growth, you can do a few things, such as routinely looking for and repairing water damage that may occur from leaks or floods. Water is mold's best friend, so be sure to remove as much as possible within the first 24 to 48 hours. It's also wise to invest in a dehumidifier, which you can place in more humid areas, such as the bathroom or basement.