You’ve been getting rid of mold all wrong – why you should NEVER use bleach and what to do instead
NO NEED to reach for the bleach when you come across mold in your household. It's actually not doing much to remove it.
It's actually causing more harm than good. Experts recommend using another solution that will in fact reach the root of the problem.
Before revealing the secret solution, experts at revealed a few reasons explaining why bleach is a no-go for killing mold.
IT ENCOURAGES MOLD GROWTH
Since bleach is made up of 90 percent water, when you use it to clean up mold, the chlorine quickly vaporizes it, leaving a large amount of water behind.
And when applying it to surfaces such as wood, the water from the bleach is immersed into the floor, which ends up producing more mold.
BLEACH ONLY REMOVES THE COLOR
Yup. You read that right. Only the color. So when you think you're getting to the root of the problem, you're actually only removing the color.
But the real issue is the root of the mold. So by using bleach, you're letting it continue to grow.
CHLORINE BLEACH IS EXTREMELY HARMFUL
Since bleach is known to be harmful to some surfaces, it is not recommended to clean up every single mess in the home.
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Applying bleach on wood, for example, is not advised because it starts to diminish it by breaking down the fibers.
On metal, it starts to tarnish it almost instantly.
DOESN'T SANITIZE WHEN MIXED WITH ORGANIC MATERIAL
In order to completely sanitize, bleach has to be used on items that are already clean.
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you when you clean your home next:
- How to clean your shower to ensure it's always sparkling
- What to do to get rid of nasty odors in your home
- Here's how to get your home smelling like fresh laundry
- You're cleaning your pots and pans all wrong - here's a trick to remove the residue
- These are five hacks to ensure your kitchen is spotless
- What you need to know when cleaning your bathroom
- This trick will ensure your washing machine is clean and smells great
- This cheap, easy trick will remove your mold from grout without scrubbing
- These simple items will make your carpet clean and look brand new
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For that reason, bleach products get utilized in the laundry after you've tossed them in the washer for a cycle.
Although the smell of the chemical product sticks around for some time after use, it actually weakens extremely fast so it doesn't have a lasting effect.
BLEACH IS CORROSIVE
One of the most important reasons to be careful when handling bleach is because of how harmful it is to the human body.
After using the chemical product, it releases chlorine gas, which can irritate and severely damage your skin, lungs, and eyes.
HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
Therefore the safest and best way to go about getting rid of the mold in your house is to use vinegar.
recommends first getting to the root of the problem to be sure you're getting rid of what caused the moisture in the first place.
Once you've tackled what generated the mold, you'll need to collect the following:
- undiluted white vinegar that contains at 5 percent acetic acid
- gloves
- face mask
- protective eyewear
- spray bottle
- cleaning rag
- soft brush
Before starting, you'll first need to open up any window so the smell doesn't stay in one area.
Next, you'll need to put on your safety goggles and gloves.
Thirdly, transfer the undiluted vinegar to the empty spray bottle. And use it to spray it directly onto the surface covered in mold.
Let the vinegar sit for about an hour.
Then pick up your brush, and scrub the moldy area until there is no longer any mold.
For a tougher exterior, they recommend switching to a thicker brush.
Lastly, dry the entire surface with a clean piece of cloth. And be sure to throw away the brush and rag you used.
And just because mold is most commonly found in showers, doesn't mean you shouldn't look elsewhere.
In fact, a mom discovered mold in her kid's rubber bath toys.
The woman revealed how she came across mold inside her daughter's rubber ducky.
She explained: "My daughters have these bath toys they love. They're made by Disney.
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"But I started to see shadows inside the Flounder one so I decided to cut it open and on the inside, there was so much black mold.
"I just want to warn other parents in case their kids also have these toys."
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