When Not to Use Bleach for Cleaning Mold

8/14/2020 (Permalink)

Never use bleach to clean mold from porous elements

In the event your office becomes infested with mold, you will want to begin a fungus cleanup right away. When starting, take care with your selection of disinfectant, as the wrong choice may exacerbate the problem.

Porous Materials and Mold

While bleach is a perfect answer for glass, metal, and hard plastic, never use it to clean mold from porous elements. Here’s why:

• Mold’s roots dig into surfaces such as wood, plaster, and drywall. Bleach works only upon the surface and the water may actually help mold grow from underneath.
  
• Chlorine spreads harmful pollutants called dioxins and washing with chemicals can actually damage what you are cleaning.
  
• Over time, bleach evaporates, meaning its effectiveness degrades over time. It’s impossible to tell how compromised your fungus cleanup agent has become merely through visual inspection.
  
  

Effective alternatives can be concocted using tree seed oil or grapefruit seed extract without any of the above drawbacks.

Cleaning Mold off Porous Materials
The most common homemade solution for removing mold is by spraying white vinegar then hydrogen peroxide onto the desired area. Be sure, however, to use protective gloves and facemasks no matter what solvent you choose and always saturate the affected items in a well-ventilated space. Depending upon what you are purifying, surfaces may be left to dry naturally. Otherwise, wait 10 to 15 minutes then get scrubbing. Fans and dehumidifiers can aid you in speeding up the drying process. Failure to comprehensively clean up mold may result in its return, so make doubly sure all spores have been eradicated with an air-filtered vacuum cleaner. Once you have handled these tasks to the best of your ability, employ a mold removal specialist to be positive everything has been eliminated.
Only use appropriate solvents on porous items during your fungus cleanup in Hanover Township, OH. For confirmation that the mold has completely disappeared, seek assistance from a reputable mold rehabilitation service.