How to Get Rid of Molds | 7 Ways to Keep House Disease Free

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Molds are people’s worst nightmares. They are disease-bearing; they make the house look dirty, not to mention that they are responsible for ruining the foundation of one’s home too. If you are struggling with these patchy molds all around your house, especially around the washroom and the enclosed spaces, the chances are that you have unresolved bouts of dampness around the home.

Molds and mildews grow around damp spots on the wall and the floor. This means that if you have spaces around the house that are damp or have persistent wetness around or in it, the chances are that molds will grow on it eventually.

The worst thing about molds is that it affects the health of individuals. This means that it will eventually hamper your breathing and even risk the rising chances of infections. So, knowing how to get rid of molds is quintessential.

Also read: How To Get Rid of Bats? | 12 Popular Humane Ways

In this article, we will discuss everything there is to know about getting rid of molds and how you can do the same success without any complications.

List of Ways to Get Rid of Molds

We understand that not everyone has the means to afford a high-class pest control service just for molds. They can be quite expensive, not to mention that they also make the whole approach more extensive.

So, if you are one of those people that want to start small and check all the DIY solutions before calling an exterminator, we have some amazing pointers for you.

1. Start with the Tea Tree Essential Oil

Eucalyptus Lavender And Tea Tree Oil
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/essential-oils-lavender-tea-tree-1508923/

Yes, you heard it right. Tea tree oil is not just good for your skin but also pretty potent in getting rid of molds and mildews. The strong smell of this essential oil is also effective in keeping spiders and other insects out of your house. 

The reason why tea tree oil works are all thanks to its natural fungicide properties. This means that you can use it to curtail the further spread and effectively kill the current appearance in no time. Also, since it is an essential oil, it is non-toxic.

Here’s what you can do. Take a spray bottle and fill it with one cup of water. To that, add 1 teaspoon of the tea tree oil and shake everything well. Spritz the solution over the areas where the molds have grown. Spray the surrounding area too.

Once you have applied it, leave it to soak into the molds and kill them. Come back after an hour and then clean the area with a dry cloth or towel. Make sure you are always wearing gloves when handling molds or mildews. Same with the face mask too.

2. Baking Soda Solution

Baking Soda

When it comes to treating pests and insects inside the house, there is nothing that works as well as baking soda. It is comparably non-toxic and won’t harm your children and pet if they accidentally come in contact with it.

The baking soda will halt the spread of the mold infestation and absorb the moisture in the area and get rid of the bad odor that comes with any kind of mold infestation. When it comes to getting rid of molds, this is the best way.

You can either make a baking soda and water solution to spray on the problem areas, or you can make a baking soda, water, and vinegar paste and then apply it over the infested wall in your house and leave it to dry. This should dry down in an hour or two. To prevent future growth, you can clean out the area and leave the baking soda on the site.

3. Try Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/grapefruit-cross-section-half-1647688/

Not many individuals know about this, but grapefruit seed extract can work wonders when it comes to getting rid of the mold growth in your house. The seeds are enriched with a host of polyphenols, all of which have potent benefits in getting rid of the mold without any further complications.

These compounds also have proven antibacterial properties, which is quite useful. So, if you have walls or even carpets and other areas in the house infested with molds, using the seed extract can disinfect those areas in no time at all.

Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with water. Add 1 tsp of grapefruit seed extract to it and mix well. Shake the bottle and then spray it around in the problem areas around the house. Once you are done applying, leave it to soak into the mold and work its magic. Once dried, you can clean off the area.

4. Opt for Vinegar

Vinegar

Another potent and less toxic DIY method to get rid of molds from inside your home is vinegar and distilled water solution. The high acidic properties of the vinegar with the antibacterial properties contribute to the quicker killing of the molds around the house. 

So, if you don’t want to use chemical repellents or other toxic materials because of children and pets in the house, vinegar and distilled water combination are hands down one of the safest that you can indulge in.

You can fill a spray bottle with a solution of vinegar and distilled water in equal proportions and then spray it on the problem areas where the molds have grown. Once you are done spraying, you can always leave it to dry on its own and then come back after an hour to clean up and reapply if there are any remnants.

5. Try Lemon Juice

Lemon
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/citrus-food-fresh-fruit-green-2272/

This might seem too easy to work, but lemon juice has high acidic properties that can easily eliminate mold growth inside your house. However, we’d recommend that you use it with some kind of chemicals like baking soda. This enhances its potential and ensures that the application of the combination does work.

The subtle citrus smell of the lemon also masks the bad odor that often comes from the mold growth in the house. 

Here’s what you can do. Take 3-5 lemons and extract their juice. Take a bowl and add 1-2 tsp of baking soda to it, followed by the lemon juice. Mix well and form a thick paste out of the two. Take a brush and paint the paste over the mold growth in your house. Leave it to dry for 1-2 hours.

If this does work, you can also mix dish soap with some lemon juice and use it to scrub down the mold-infested area. Just make sure that you are using protective gloves while doing so.

6. Hydrogen Peroxide 

The cleansing power of hydrogen peroxide is beyond your imagination. This means that if your mold and mildew infestation has gone out of hand, using hydrogen peroxide is one of your best bets.

It is a chemical but doesn’t impose any health risks when you are spritzing it over the infested area in the house. The good thing about this chemical is that it comes with three potent benefits – antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.

For this, take a spray bottle once again. Fill it to 2/3rd with some water and the rest with the hydrogen peroxide solution. Shake and mix well and then spray it on the infested site. You need to leave the solution to soak in for 10-20 minutes before scrubbing it down.

7. Call Professionals

Molds and mildews are a nightmare for allergic or asthmatic people. So, if you have issues with either of those and can’t clean the mold on your own, call in some professional help. Since mold growth is quite a common phenomenon with several households, you will get help quite easily.

The professionals are well equipped to assess the spread, analyze the potency of the molds and then implement the ways to get rid of them for good and in no time at all.

If you were looking for how to get rid of molds, we hope this article gives you all the insights you need. Just ensure that you get any professional help when it’s needed. Some people struggle with cleaning molds and end up falling sick by inhaling them. So, be careful while clearing them out too. Wear gloves and a face mask at all times while cleaning.

Also read: How to Get Rid of Brown House Moths? | 10 Easy Ways

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Kills Mold Instantly?

If you want instant results, several mold repellents are available in the market that kill them immediately.

Can I Remove Mold by Myself?

If the infestation is small and contained to one spot, you can go ahead and clean it out yourself with proper precaution. However, if the spread is beyond control, we’d recommend calling professionals.

Is It Safe to Live in a House with Black Mold?

Yes, it is safe. However, make sure you clean and treat the mold growth immediately when you find it. There is no point leaving it to fend for itself and grow to other parts of the house.

By James Edwards

James Edwards is a writer & editor with almost 15 years of experience from Murphys, California. He earned his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University.

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