Is Bleach Or Vinegar Better To Kill Mold?

Everyone hates to find mold anywhere as it is not only unpleasant to look, but also unpleasant to smell. Mold is also a health hazard, being able to cause a severe allergic reaction to people and pets. Moreover, if mold exposure lasts for long enough, it can cause serious damage to the nerve and cause other health problems.

Mold is also a threat to the integrity of a building. It can destroy drywall completely, and eat away all the building materials, making them weak. In short, it increases the risk of structural damage. It is also very formidable as it can grow on any surface, in any place, just as long as there is moisture/wetness.

It spreads through the release of spores into the air. These spores act as seeds just waiting for the right opportunity to land and grow. Mold is indeed a pest. So, we should take immediate action at the first sighting of mold in our home.

For quite some time, there are two popular domestic cleaning agents; vinegar and bleach. When it comes to mold removal, a question often rings the bell in our minds – should I choose bleach or vinegar to kill mold?

 

True to their status as the best domestic home cleaning agents, both vinegar and bleach are able to kill mold, however, in different capacities.

Can Bleach Kill Mold?

Yes, the only thing is the capacity to which it is able to do this. Bleach is able to kill mold but only at surface level. It is unable to affect the membrane underneath the surface, and get to the root of the mold, to kill it.

The chemical structure of bleach prevents it from getting inside the porous surfaces. And so, to escape the attack from bleach, mold is able to burrow even deeper into surfaces to avoid being destroyed.

Bleach may also help mold to multiply in fact. When mold reacts with bleach it starts growing at even faster rates. In fact, it will take advantage of the water residue left behind by bleach to grow quickly.

Due to these limitations, bleach cannot be used to clean porous surfaces having mold growth. Instead, it is better suited to non-porous surfaces like metal, glass, and tiles. Bleach is also a very strong chemical and its fumes could be harmful to a user, it should be used as a last resort in the absence of a better option as it is dangerous for our health too.

Recommended Read: Can Bleach Make Mold Worse?

Can Vinegar Kill Mold?

Vinegar is much better at killing mold in comparison to bleach. White distilled vinegar is able to kill over 80 percent of mold species found in the home, effectively getting rid of them without any issue.

Due to the fact that it is a mild acid, it is very effective when it comes to killing mold. To properly kill mold using the vinegar you must;

1. Remember to properly protect yourself from the mold before you attempt anything. A mask and gloves are a good start. Make sure to have them on before you attack the mold growth.
2. When you are ready to use, put the vinegar into a spray bottle without any dilution. In this case, mixing water with the vinegar would be a terrible idea as not only would you dilute it, you would also provide water to the mold for its growth.
3. Spray affected areas with the undiluted vinegar and allow it to sit for an hour. After an hour, it will work it’s magic, sinking into the surface and getting into the roots to kill mold.
4. If the mold growth is on a surface you need to scrub it. For scrubbing, you will need a solution of two cups of water and a tablespoon of baking soda in a spray bottle, well shaken for proper use. Spray the affected area with the solution and use a brush or scouring pad to scrub the mold off the surface.
5. Once the solution has helped you scrub off the mold, rinse the scrubbed area off with some clean warm water.
6. Put undiluted vinegar in a spray bottle and spray down the affected area and allow the vinegar to dry naturally. It will seep into the surface and kill mold.

The Takeaway

When it comes to mold removal, both bleach, and vinegar work. But there is no doubt that vinegar wins over bleach in the effectiveness. Therefore, if you have both cleaning agents available, it’s best to choose vinegar.

The mold remediation process is not an easy task. If you are unable to do it yourself, or the mold patch is too large it’s best to take help from professionals.

Are you in search of mold remediation services in Cincinnati? Schedule an appointment with our restoration experts and we will help you get your home back like it was before the presence of mold!