There are so many options with mould cleaning chemicals on the market today, many consumers are confused as to what to do to kill mould. In this article, we will look at how to effectively kill mould using products that we as professionals use every day.
Before you kill the mould you must
- Remove the source of the mould first — or it will come back
- You need to contain the area — so disturbed mould spores in the cleaning process do not spread to other areas
- Wear appropriate PPE (Personal Protection Equipment)
Now that we have that out of the way let’s look at the different mould cleaning solutions.
Removing Mould with Oil of Cloves
I have heard all sorts of information about how effective this is as a mould cleaning solution. The first question I ask is why? I mean there are so many other cheaper and more convenient and natural options available. The fact is that clove oil can leave stains and is an allergen for many people. Who knows, it may work, but I just don’t see the need for it.
Does Bleach Kill Mould?
The truth is that Bleach is actually quite a good disinfectant and is great for deodorizing. It is also fairly easy to get a hold of and is quite inexpensive. But it is inactivated by organic matter and therefore you must clean the surfaces first with a good detergent. Not to mention that it can be hazardous to your health
So this begs the question, why use it in the first place? Let’s have a look at some more effective solutions
Mould Removal with Simple Detergent
This surprisingly is a totally effective solution. Why? because detergent (even dish soap) contains a surfactant. This means it works as dishwashing liquid should, it cleans surfaces well. So how exactly do we do this? Let me introduce you to what we call the “HEPA sandwich.”
- Basically, you will HEPA vacuum all surfaces first — This is where you use a HEPA rated vacuum cleaner with a horse brush tip (see picture to the right) to vacuum the mould spores off the surface first
- Damp wipe all the surfaces with detergent
- HEPA vacuum surface again
This is your HEPA sandwich, no magic chemical we use, we just remove the mould and get on with it.
Mould Removal with Vinegar
This is one of our favourite methods because it is reasonably effective, cheap, inexpensive, natural and is a non-hazardous solution. The way it works is that you have 3 buckets one is an 80% vinegar and 20% water solution, the second bucket is used to rinse the cloth and the last bucket is just water to rinse the surface. Basically, you will clean off the area a few square meters at a time. Just as the steps above, you must HEPA vacuum the surfaces first.
Just remember however that, unlike detergent, vinegar does not contain a surfactant, so be prepared for a bit of elbow grease.
We use microfiber cloth just like this one. You can purchase this from local hardware like Bunnings.
Don’t Just Kill The Mould
Did you know that antibacterials such as bleach and hydrogen peroxide will most likely kill the surface mould however the mould has to be removed from the surface too? You cannot just simply kill the mould and leave the dead organisms there. These organisms and spores are still held allergenic and toxic properties and can cause adverse health effects. This is why I always stress removing the mould first before even considering antimicrobials.
What about Porous materials?
By porous materials, we mean materials like plasterboard and carpets. As professionals, we follow mould standards (IICRC standards) which means we dispose of them. We cannot recover these materials since the mould has penetrated the surface and has grown through it.
But What is the Best Way to Kill Mould?
The best way is simply to remove it. Simple as that. Don’t get caught up in trying to use the latest mould cleaning product, just remove the mould. I have given a few tips above, but if you have a large mould problem you should consider calling the mould experts. If you require mould removal in Brisbane services please call us on 1300 346 988 or book online with us today.