Is Bleach or Vinegar Better to Kill Mold? (2024)

FAQs

Is Bleach or Vinegar Better to Kill Mold? ›

Both vinegar and bleach are practical and powerful to kill mold growth around the house. However, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Vinegar is a safer choice than bleach. If mold is growing on porous surfaces: Vinegar can penetrate deep into the pores of the surface, killing around 82% of it.

Yes, vinegar is a mild acid that kills 82% of mold species. It's often used as a natural and nontoxic alternative to cleaning chemicals when it comes to killing household mold. Cleaning vinegar, which contains 6% acetic acid, is the best type for killing mold.

Use regular, distilled white vinegar to kill mold, as it's the most acidic. Some homeowners can even utilize vinegar directly to their walls or linoleum floors as a cleaning technique to prevent mold from forming.

If you don't have hydrogen peroxide, cleaning vinegar is a great substitute that can be used safely on most porous and non-porous surfaces. Distilled white vinegar can work too, since the acidity in vinegar can slowly break down the structure of mold and kill it, but it will work much slower than cleaning vinegar.

Allow the area to air dry. This last shot will help eradicate any lingering mold and prevent it from growing back. Don't worry about the strong vinegar odor—it will fade on its own after a couple hours.

Because of this acid, vinegar, especially when combined with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide, is an effective mold and bacteria killer. While not as strong as bleach, according to some estimates it can destroy over 80% of bacteria.

The most effective chemicals for removing mold stains contain bleach. Even though bleach does not kill mold as well as some other chemicals, it still kills the mold. These chemicals work very quickly: just spray them on, wait a few minutes, scrub with a scrub sponge, and watch the stains begin to lighten up.

A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.

Mold professionals use expensive, professional equipment such as HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air scrubbers, HEPA vacuums, commercial-strength dehumidifiers, etc. Regular handymen won't have that stuff.

Then, pick up some vinegar, which is one of the most powerful mold killers around. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks.

Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar? ›

White vinegar, also known as distilled vinegar or spirit vinegar, is made by fermenting grain alcohol (ethanol) which then turns into acetic acid. Water is then added to the vinegar, so white vinegar is made of five to ten percent acetic acid and ninety to ninety-five percent water.

On almost all wood surfaces, distilled white vinegar is a very efficient method to kill mold effectively. It will go through the wood and kill the fungus at its source. Painted or stained wood can be cleaned with a cleaning solution of warm water and dishwashing detergent or laundry detergent.

Vinegar usually isn't recommended to kill mold on concrete. Although it's unlikely to harm the concrete itself, it may damage the surrounding cement.

While it is possible to use bleach to kill mold, experts agree that vinegar is a much better option. Unlike bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, making it less likely to return. Vinegar is also less toxic than bleach, making it a better choice for household use.

Don't mix hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together in the same mixture. This can create peracetic acid, which may be toxic and can irritate your throat and lungs, eyes and skin. You can, however, alternate spraying hydrogen peroxide and vinegar on a surface. Just make sure to wipe the surface between sprays.

Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.

affected area of mold and let set for 15 minutes. Rinse the area with a damp towel using clean warm water or by lightly spraying with warm rinse water in a spray bottle (spray bottle #3) and wiping with a clean towel.

If cleaning with detergent doesn't work, it's possible to remove mould using diluted vinegar and a microfibre cloth. If mould cannot be removed using the vinegar method, cleaning with diluted bleach or a commercial product may be required.