Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Removing the mold
• Part 2 of 2: Prevent the fungus from coming back
• Tips
• Necessities

Spots of black mold, or Stachybotrys chartarum, can look ugly and also be bad for your health if you have them in your home. Large mold spots in the house are best removed by professionals who have the right cleaners for this. You may be able to biologically remove smaller mold spots yourself with regular distilled white vinegar.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Removing the mold

1. Tackle the mold spots and don't let them sit. Mold growth in your home can cause serious health problems. People who are sensitive to fungi can suffer from an irritated throat, eyes, skin and lungs. Get rid of the mold to get a healthier, cleaner, and safe home.
   • Mold can make existing allergies worse.
   • Fungus is associated with respiratory infections and lung diseases.
   • Mold can cause a cough, make wheezing and make asthma worse.
2. Wear waterproof gloves when cleaning with vinegar. Vinegar is a natural and organic remedy, but you can suffer from skin irritation if your skin comes into contact with it for a long time. Protect your skin by wearing gloves when using vinegar.
3. Fill an atomizer with plain white vinegar. Do not dilute the vinegar with water. Make sure you have enough vinegar to completely cover the surface you want to clean.
4. Spray the vinegar on the problem area. Spray a generous amount of vinegar on the affected area. Make sure to use enough vinegar to kill the fungus.
   • If you don't have a vaporizer, you can also use a disposable cloth. Wet the cloth well with vinegar and wipe over the mold area to soak it in vinegar.
   EXPERT TIP

   "If you use vinegar to kill mold in the bathroom, don't spray it on a shower or natural stone tiles without a protective coating, or they could be etched."

   
   

   Let the vinegar work for an hour. It takes a while for the vinegar to act on the fungus and kill the fungus. Let the vinegar sit for at least an hour before returning to scrub away the mold.

5. Scrub the mold off with warm water and a scrubbing brush. Scrub the vinegar-soaked mold area with a brush. Keep rinsing your brush with warm water while scrubbing the mold.
   • Using a scrub brush will make it easier to remove the mold. Your skin does not come into contact with vinegar during cleaning.
   • Find a brush large enough to get the job done. You may want to use a larger brush to treat a larger surface, or you may need a smaller brush to get into cracks and corners.
6. Wipe the surface. When you have loosened the mold from the surface, wipe the area with warm water and let the surface dry. If you still see mold, repeat the entire process until you have removed all of the mold.
   • The surface will likely start to smell like vinegar, but the odor will be gone in a few hours.
7. Mix vinegar with other agents to kill more fungi. Vinegar is thought to kill 82% of all fungi. If this is true, then you are probably still dealing with 18% of stubborn fungi. If vinegar doesn't help get rid of the mold, try mixing the vinegar with borax powder, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, or salt.
   • Only mix the vinegar with one of these at a time. If you still can't get rid of the mold, mix the vinegar with another solution.
   • Never mix vinegar with bleach. This creates dangerous toxic fumes.
   • If these mixes fail or the mold problem is worse, you may need to hire a professional to remove the mold in your home.
   EXPERT TIP

   "To remove limescale and mold from a shower door, apply a baking soda and vinegar mixture. Leave the mixture on for 10-15 minutes, then wipe it away."

   
   

   Wear an FFP2 mask when dealing with large amounts of mold. You can purchase an FFP2 mask that meets the EN 149: 2001 standard at any hardware store. If you are dealing with a very large fungal problem, follow the directions on the package to get the mask to fit snugly on your face.

   • Such a mask is not necessary for small mold spots and regular cleaning jobs.

Part 2 of 2: Prevent the fungus from coming back

1. Spray vinegar and let the vinegar sit on the surface to prevent new mold growth. You don't have to rinse off the vinegar. When the surface is clean, you can spray vinegar on it and leave the vinegar on the surface to prevent the fungus from returning.
   • Leave the vinegar spray bottle in your bathroom and spray the surface with vinegar every few days.
   • Mop your floors with vinegar to prevent mold growth in damp areas.
2. Stop leaks in your home. Your roof and drains can leak, and water can seep in through your windows. Mop up the leaked water and address the issues to keep your home dry and mold-free.
   • Check the roof for leaks and replace the entire roof or repair the area that is causing rain to enter your house.
   • Troubleshoot your drains right away to prevent water from leaking and entering your home.
   • Check the sealant edges of your windows and apply new sealant if water enters through it.
3. Measure the humidity level where mold is growing. You may need to buy a dehumidifier if the weather is humid or an area of ​​your home is not well ventilated and damp, causing mold to grow.
4. Ventilate areas that can get damp. Mold grows in damp and dark places. Let as much sunlight and air flow into these dark areas as possible to prevent mold. Turn on the extractor hood when you cook and turn on the ventilation when you take a shower or do the laundry.
   • Make sure you have a ventilation system in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room.
5. Clean your air conditioner regularly, if you have one. An air conditioner has a container where water ends up. Empty and clean this container regularly to prevent mold growth. This also prevents mold spores from spreading throughout your house.
   • Pull out the plug before cleaning the container.
   • The easiest way to get the water out is with a wet and dry vacuum to prevent spillage.
   • When you have emptied the bin, scrub away all the dirt and mold that is in the bin. Then put the container back.

Tips

• Place a label on the atomizer you are using so you don't forget what you are using it for. After cleaning, it is best to throw away the vinegar residue and use new vinegar for each job unless you plan to use the atomizer again soon.
• For a bigger mold problem, use 250 ml bleach diluted with 4 liters of water to clean the mold spot.

Necessities

• Rubber gloves
• Distilled white vinegar (use natural vinegar and no artificial vinegar)
• Spray with a mixture of 80% vinegar and 20% water
• Water
• A bucket of clean water to rinse your brush in
• Microfiber cloth and / or a stiff brush
• Safety goggles and a dust mask (only if you think you are experiencing the mold and you are breathing in dust with mold spores and moldy material through the brush)