4 Best Natural Ways to Kill Mold in Your Home
If you see unsightly black stains or spots on the grout lines of your shower, on the back of your shower curtain, on the walls or on items stored in a damp basement, it is probably mold. Molds thrive in damp, humid, warm environments. So bathrooms, kitchens, damp basements, and window sills are prime areas for mold growth.
4 Best Natural Ways to Kill Mold Molds or mildew are tiny fungi that are transmitted by microscopic spores. Molds can be black, grey-green, green, white or a combination of those colors. Mold smells musty.
Mold is more than just unsightly with an unpleasant odor. Molds can cause allergies and sinus infections, provoke asthma attacks, irritate the skin, and even cause depression. Symptoms of mold exposure may include: sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and skin rash. Some molds are even highly toxic., Mold is definitely not something you want to live with in your home!
Mold Prevention
The saying, prevention is the best medicine is definitely true when it comes to mold. Since mold requires moisture to grow and survive, the best way to prevent it is by eliminating moisture. Here is how you can prevent mold growth:
Repair any water leaks in your plumbing
Keep areas under your sink dry
Avoid letting damp clothes or other articles lie around
Use a dehumidifier in a damp room or basement
Ventilate a bathroom or other moist areas regularly
Discard mildewy shower curtains and other disposable items
Use an air purifier to rid the air of mold spores
Make sure the grout is sealed in tiled areas
Natural vs Chemical
Many people resort to natural remedies because they wish to avoid caustic and environmentally unfriendly chemicals. But while doing so, they often think that they are sacrificing effectiveness for the sake of the environment. Fortunately, the natural remedies below are often superior to industrial chemicals when it comes to killing mold.
Advantages of natural remedies:
Penetrate porous surfaces better
Are non-toxic and safer to use
Exhibit more powerful natural anti-fungal properties
Precautions
Due to the harmful nature of molds, the EPA recommends wearing an N-95 respirator (available at a local hardware store), gloves (rubber, neoprene, or nitrile), and safety goggles when removing mold. Avoid touching mold with your bare hands.
4 Best Natural Ways to Kill Mold
1. Tea Tree Oil
This essential oil is a natural fungicide and may well be the most effective solution for killing mold and preventing a re occurrence of mold. Solumel is the most effective natural disinfectant to destroy MOLD. Soluguard is also effective.
In a spray bottle, combine 1 tablespoon of SOLUMEL [tea tree oil] + one tablespoon of SOLUGUARD with 1 cup of water. Shake well and spray infected areas and wipe with a disposable cloth or towel. You may wish to let the tea tree oil soak on the mold for a few minutes before wiping it down.
You can also spray tea tree oil to a previously infected area and let it dry to prevent mold from recurring. Tea tree oil has a strong piney scent, so if you prefer not to leave that odor behind, you might try grapefruit seed extract.
2. Grapefruit Seed Extract
grapefruit seed extract to kill mold Grapefruit seed extract is also a natural mold killer and works similarly to tea tree oil. Use 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract per cup of water and dispense with a spray bottle.