Asked by: Jenny Zscharschuch
home and garden indoor environmental quality

Can I use straight bleach to kill mold?

19
Bleach will kill mold growing on non-porous surfaces like glass, tiles, bathtubs and counter tops. However bleach cannot completely kill mold growing in non-porous materials like drywall and wood. Bleach does not penetrate into these non-porous substances and so only the mold growing above the surface is killed.


Regarding this, is bleach or vinegar better to kill mold?

Bleach and vinegar can both kill mold, but vinegar is much more effective for removing mold from porous materials. This is because bleach only kills mold spores on the surface of affected materials. Vinegar will penetrate porous materials and kill the mold at the roots.

Also, how long does it take for bleach to kill mold? Usually, one application of your bleach and water solution is enough to kill mold. However, it may take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours before the mold disappears.

Similarly one may ask, can you kill mold with bleach?

Bleach does not kill mold on porous surfaces and can actually contribute to mold growth! This means that chlorine bleach can only kill surface mold. Because mold can grow deep roots within porous surfaces, such as wood and drywall, bleach will not assist you in exterminating mold.

What kind of bleach kills mold?

For killing mold with bleach use a ratio of one cup of bleach per gallon of water (ie about 1 part bleach to 10 parts water). Apply the solution to non-porous surfaces with mold growth either by using a spray bottle or by using a bucket and a sponge or cloth.

Related Question Answers

Cenobio Zantedeschi

Professional

Is vinegar or hydrogen peroxide better for mold?

A: Both distilled white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide will do an effective job of killing mold spores in porous materials. Bleach can only kill mold on non-porous surfaces, as it does not penetrate porous surfaces; so mold roots are left to grow again.

Ase Siaba

Professional

How long does it take for vinegar to kill mold?

Allow the vinegar to sit for one hour.
It takes a little time for the vinegar to work into the mold and break it. Give it at least an hour before you return to scrub the mold away.

Sokayna Godart

Professional

What kills black mold naturally?

  1. Combine vinegar and tea tree oil into a spray bottle and spray directly onto mold.
  2. Combine water and baking soda in another spray bottle and spray directly onto mold.
  3. In a glass cup, add hydrogen peroxide.
  4. Wipe down with a dry microfiber cloth to ensure all mold is gone and the surface is dry.

Obdulio Kernchen

Explainer

Is it safe to mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide?

Hydrogen Peroxide + Vinegar
Experts say this method is safe — but don't mix the two products in the same container. Combining them creates peracetic acid, which is potentially toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system.

Kasem Rennie

Explainer

Does white vinegar kill black mold?

White vinegar is a mild acid that is known to kill roughly 82 percent of mold species, and it can even help prevent mold outbreaks in the future. Pour plain, white distilled vinegar into a spray bottle. Because mold is such a resilient force, it's best not to dilute the vinegar.

Tayna Enner

Explainer

How do you get rid of Mould on walls permanently?

How to Clean Mould on Walls in Three Steps
  1. Simply mix one part bleach to four parts water.
  2. Using a damp cloth gently scrub and wipe the mould until the mould is gone.
  3. Once finished, dry the area well with a soft cloth.

Arcenio Helgenberg

Pundit

How does hydrogen peroxide get rid of black mold?

To kill mold: Pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Saturate the moldy surface completely and leave it to sit for 10 minutes. Next, scrub the area to remove all of the mold and mold stains. And finally, wipe the surface down to remove residual mold and spores.

Josiah Heberer

Pundit

What is the difference between mold and mildew?

Mildew is typically white, gray or yellow and grows on the surface of moist, warm areas. Its texture is fluffy or powdery. On the other hand, mold tends to be green or black, and it usually grows underneath the surface of anything that has gotten wet. Its texture can be fuzzy or slimy.

Moha Dauder

Pundit

Can bleach make mold worse?

On porous surfaces such as walls, floors, ceilings, wood framing, drywall, and cabinets. It is not effective – in fact, it can actually feed the mold and make the problem worse. This is counterintuitive – it goes against the common thought that bleach kills germs. Chlorine bleach is mostly water.

Chunwei Hilberth

Pundit

How do you treat mold with bleach?

A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. You can also add a little dish soap to the bleach mixture to help the bleach penetrate porous surfaces, such as grout. When adding soap to the mixture, be sure to rinse after application.

Helio Keteleers

Pundit

How do you remove black Mould from sealant?

Mix one part bleach with four parts water and pour into a spray bottle. Spray the sealant with the bleach mixture. Allow the bleach to evaporate on the sealant and kill any lingering mold spores. Scrub once more with the baking soda paste if mold stains remain on the sealant.

Hagie Aliques

Teacher

Can you remove mold yourself?

Scrub the surface mold stains from walls and wood trim with a mixture of 1 qt. water and 1/2 cup bleach mold cleaner to kill the mold. Use a soft brush and work until signs of the mold disappear. After scrubbing the surfaces, simply allow the bleach solution to continue to penetrate the surfaces and dry.

Marca Agahanyan

Teacher

How do you get rid of Mould in a washing machine?

2 cups water, ¼ cup lemon juice, and ½ cup distilled white vinegar – white vinegar is an all-around cleaner which you can use as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide. 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water – just vinegar and water can do the trick if the mold growth in your washer gasket is in scarce amounts.

Kimetz Rauh

Teacher

How do you know it's black mold?

To tell if black mold may be growing in your home, just follow your nose. A musty, earthy smell, like dirt and rotting leaves, is a telltale sign of mold's presence. Stachybotrys smells especially strong. All molds need food, water and a dark, stagnant environment with temperatures that neither freeze nor boil to grow.

Lynna Gallarreta

Teacher

Does Clorox kill black mold?

Black mold also has a musty or earthy odor, which is also indicative of mold growth. Clorox bleach will kill mold on hard surfaces, such as floors, counters, sinks and stoves. However, bleach does not kill mold spores that become airborne during the cleaning process.

Guido Sabria

Reviewer

Can you mix bleach and vinegar?

1. Bleach + Vinegar = Toxic Chlorine Gas. While the combination does create a good disinfectant, these two common cleaning agents should never be used at the same time. Why: Adding any weak acid to bleach will release toxic chlorine and chloramine vapors.

Sheena Otte

Reviewer

Does Pine Sol kill mold?

Sanitizing chemicals like ShockWave, bleach, or Pine Sol will not kill all of the mold spores. In fact, most disinfectants are only capable of stunting mold growth without killing the actual spore.

Aiyun Rothberg

Reviewer

Will mold come back after bleach?

That's because mold spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces. Even after applying bleach and wiping away mold from these surfaces, the mold will continue to grow beneath the surface and will return to the area you cleaned in a short amount of time.

Francisco Mollenkopf

Reviewer

Can I paint over mold?

When you paint over mold, you're not getting rid of a problem, you're hiding it. Painting over mold does not fix the source of the mold (water leak, flood, etc.) and will only make the problem worse. If mold is painted over, it will continue to grow.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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17th April, 2020

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