Clean and remove black mold with common, non-toxic household products

You will find several household products that you can use to clean up black mold. This is a short list of commonly used items that are safe to use.

Mold is really a fungus that thrives in moist or humid conditions. It can be found in places in the house that remain humid, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or basement. Mold can damage the surface it grows on, discoloring or corroding it. It can also affect people with allergies and can cause a fatal lung infection if inhaled. The key to controlling mold is moisture control.

It is essential to dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home, clean up the mold and remove any excess water or moisture. Repair leaky pipes or other sources of water. Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent materials (for example, ceiling tiles and carpeting) that become moldy may need to be replaced. These home remedies can help get rid of mold effectively.

1. Clean Black Mold With Detergent And Water

You can use a solution of detergent and water to clean mold from the surface of non-porous materials like glass and tile. Detergent does not remove mold, the solution is designed to remove visible mold from surfaces. When mold grows on a non-porous material, it is sufficient to thoroughly clean all mold from the surface. It is not necessary to kill the mold. To clean black mold from outside cushions, mix a gallon of water and 1/4 cup of soap in the bucket. You can stir the mixture with your hand and the sponge.

The mixture should be slightly foamy. Rub the cushions with the sponge. You can rub as hard as you like until you remove the mold and mildew stains. The detergent should kill mold and mildew while breaking up stains. Dowse any remaining stain with lemon juice. There may still be some pale stains on the cushions once you’ve finished cleaning them. These must be saturated with lemon juice. Let the cushions dry in the sun. The lemon juice will lift the remaining stain from the cushion using sunlight as a catalyst.

2. Clean Black Mold With Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda over the moldy carpet to absorb mold and freshen the air. Leave it on the carpet for as little as 20 minutes or overnight. Use a vacuum with an empty bag for maximum efficiency to suck up the baking soda. Baking soda paste can also be used to clean tile floors. It is suggested that you mix enough water with the baking soda to create a smooth paste, then apply it to trouble spots on your tile, scrub, and rinse with a mixture of vinegar and water to neutralize the baking soda and prevent residue.

3. Clean Black Mold With Borax Powder (This is possibly the easiest!)

Use a solution of 1 cup of borax powder in 1 cup of water to mop floors. Rub the black mold with the disinfectant solution in a small area. Wipe up liquid and mildew scum and sanitizing solution with old rags, but do not rinse the cleaned area. Leaving a bit of borax on will help prevent the black mold from coming back. Repeat the steps until you have cleaned all of the black mold. Leave your work area open to ventilation and exposed to the sun if possible. This will help speed up the drying process and remove spores from the air. That will also help reduce the chance of black mold coming back.

4. Clean Black Mold With Vinegar

Clean mold on hard surfaces with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Fill a plastic spray bottle with the solution. Spray kitchen and bathroom surfaces with the solution and scrub the area with a sturdy brush. The latest trend in mold and mildew control is shower and bath sprays that are used after you are done showering. These products work well, but they work on the same principle as vinegar spray. Vinegar can replace almost any bathroom cleaning product sold today, with the exception of heavy-duty abrasive cleaners like Comet.

5. Clean Black Mold With Chlorine Bleach

Use a solution of one part chlorine bleach to one part water to clean carpets and upholstery that have been affected by mold. Soak a sponge or cloth in the solution and wipe it across the mold to trap the spores on the cloth. NOTE… While leaching will clean black mold, it will not kill it on porous surfaces. You should still use a mold remover before or after cleaning up black mold with bleach.

6. Clean Black Mold With Hydrogen Peroxide

Get a bottle of 3% strength hydrogen peroxide at your local pharmacies. Transfer the hydrogen peroxide to a spray bottle and spray it on the surface of the infected mold. Leave it for at least 15 minutes for the hydrogen peroxide to work and kill the molds. After that, scrub the area to remove all mold and mildew stains.

For stubborn mold in hard-to-reach places, like tile grout, use full-strength hydrogen peroxide. Simply apply a capful amount to the affected area, let sit for 15 minutes, and scrub with an old toothbrush. Note… Keep the remaining hydrogen peroxide spray bottle in a dark place as light reduces the effectiveness of the hydrogen peroxide. For more effective mold removal, you may want to consider using hydrogen peroxide with vinegar during the cleaning process.

Hydrogen peroxide is effective in killing mold as it has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal elements. It is a much safer mold remover compared to bleach because it does not produce toxic residues or toxic fumes that harm the environment. Hydrogen peroxide is good for cleaning mold on almost all materials, such as clothing, walls, bathroom fixtures, and other kitchen appliances. For removable rugs, place them outside on a sunny day with the back of the rug exposed to the sun. Mix one part 3% hydrogen peroxide with five parts water. Spray the solution on the back of the carpet and allow the sun to hit the carpet for a day. The combination of direct sunlight and hydrogen peroxide will kill mold spores.

7. Clean Black Mold With Ammonia

Make an ammonia solution using a ratio of 1 part ammonia to 1 part h2o. Fill a spray bottle with ammonia solution and spray it on moldy surfaces. Let the solution sit for several hours before rinsing with water. After rinsing or cleaning with water, allow areas to dry completely. For vinyl seats like on your boat, combine 1/4 cup of ammonia with 1 cup of water, and make this solution in a spray bottle. Spray the mold with this mixture and scrub it with a bristle brush. Rinse the solution with clean water to remove it from the vinyl seats. If you still notice mold on the seats, use isopropyl alcohol.

NOTE… Ammonia, similar to bleach, kills mold that grows on non-porous materials such as bathtubs, tile, countertops, and glass. However, ammonia is not an effective killer of mold growth on porous materials like drywall and wood. Ammonia is a harsh chemical, giving off toxic fumes when mixed with bleach. Use ammonia carefully.

8. Clean Black Mold With Liquid Laundry Detergent

For two cups of cold water and 1 tbsp. liquid laundry soap in a bowl. Mix vigorously with a whisk to create a thick foam. Dip a rag into the container to remove the foam. Rub the foam gently over the moldy carpet. Switch to clean portions of the cloth and apply more suds frequently. Rinse the mat with a rag and running water. Blot well with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture. Mix 1 gallon of warm water and 1/2 cup of borax powder in a bucket if mold remains. Dip a scrub brush into the borax solution and scrub the carpet until the mold is gone. Rinse the rug with a rag under running water and dry thoroughly with a clean rag.

9. Clean up black mold with a homemade disinfectant spray

Once you’ve cleaned up all the mold, use a disinfectant spray to purify the area. In a plastic spray bottle, combine 1 cup distilled (or spring) water, 1 cup 91% isopropyl alcohol, and the juice of a couple of average lemons. The solution is safe enough to spray into the air and will not harm surfaces it comes into contact with. Store the spray bottle in the refrigerator and use within a few weeks. This will give your house the sterile smell of a doctor’s office, as well as a touch of ‘Lemon Promise’ that creates the illusion of ‘dusting all day’!

10. Clean Black Mold With Grapefruit Seed Extract

Most households do not have grapefruit seed extract in the cupboard, but it is readily available. Combine 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract in about 1 cup of water for a helpful mold-killing solution. Simply spray the solution onto moldy surfaces while wiping with a soft cloth to remove mold and the light, harmless residue will prevent it from recurring.

11. Clean Black Mold With Citric Acid

Your local Whole Foods or co-op should have crystallized citric acid on hand and it’s relatively inexpensive. Use approximately 1 cup of acid for 1.5 gallons of hot water. You can wring out the mop a bit and spread it around lightly, but the chances of it evaporating before mopping increase when you use less. Soak the floor (tile floors only) if you have a large room and need time to scrub. Letting the acid soak in for a bit will also give it time to break down mineral deposits, dirt, rust, and of course, black mold.

You will need to rinse several times with citric acid, it does not come off as easily as other products, but it is much safer for young children. Cleaning a tile floor with citric acid is not only eco-friendly, but incredibly effective. You may already be familiar with orange-colored hand cleaners, which also use citric acid for cleaning.

And there you have it, household solutions to use to clean up black mold.

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