House Mold Treatment

How can I kill mold? I answer this question time and time again.

It is a relatively simple task because mold is not the most resilient living organism on the planet and there are various ways in which you can achieve your goal of killing mold. The biggest problem most people encounter is recurring mold. The reason that it keeps on returning within days or weeks of removing it is that whilst you may have killed the mold easily, the mold spores are more difficult to eradicate and if the conditions are correct will simply germinate once again.

There are a number of products you can use to kill mold. There are vast numbers of commercial products available which will undoubtedly do the job, however some of these can be fairly toxic, bleach will also do the job but again this is harsh and may end up damaging surfaces or floor coverings.

Tea Tree Oil Source

There are many safe, household items which probably cost a lot less than commercial products and will kill the mold just as well. Here are a few ideas.

* Soap and water – what could be simpler.

* Vinegar – Used diluted with water in a spray bottle this is very effective and cheap! One draw back it is rather smelly!

* Lemon Juice – Same as the vinegar works really well and it has a more clean and fresh aroma which is what you want to eliminate the horrid musty odour of mold.

* Tea Tree Oil- You can buy this at any health food store. Add a few drops to a spray bottle of water spray down the area and leave to dry. This too has a very strong smell and can be fairly expensive but a little goes a very long way.

Lemon Juice

* Grapefruit Seed Oil- used in the same way as tea tree oil and again can be costly but very effective at killing mold. It has one huge advantage – it is odourless!

Grapefruit Seed Oil

Now that you have succeeded in killing the mold, if you want to prevent its return you must keep any remaining mold spores in conditions which will not allow them to flourish once again.

To do this you must keep the humidity levels in the home down. This can be done by simply opening a window, switching on an extractor fan – particularly in rooms where there can be a lot of steam and condensation created i.e. bathrooms and kitchens or perhaps the use of a dehumidifier would be beneficial in especially damp areas.

If you can achieve a warm, dry atmosphere having killed the mold you should stay mold free!