Although lots of people recommend chemicals like bleach and vinegar for removing mould, these DIY solutions are not always that effective or safe. Instead, you should bring in professional cleaners who can quickly remediate all the mould spores on the surfaces and in the air.
Mould is not only unsightly, but it can also eat away at the surfaces it lives on, causing structural damage. Exposing to mould can also cause a number of health issues, and may be especially harmful for people with allergies or weekend immune system.
Can Bleach Kill Mould?
Bleach is commonly marketed as solution for eliminating mould, but it only works against mould on nonporous surfaces, like tiles and sinks. It doesn’t work on porous surfaces, such as wood or drywall.
Can You Use Bleach to Kill Mould?
Mould and its spores can be found almost anywhere, but active mould growth require moisture. You may initially notice the presence of mould due to its musty scent, or by spotting patches of black, brown, yellow, pink, green, fuzzy growths.
You can use bleach to remove traces of mould on tub and tile surfaces, which are hard and impermeable. However, bleach can’t kill mould on porous surfaces, such as those made of wood.
That’s because mould spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces.Even after applying bleach and wiping away mould from these surfaces, the mould will continue to grow beneath the surface and will return to the area you cleaned in a short amount of time.
Never mix Ammonia with bleach
Health Risks Associated with Using Bleach to Kill Mould
While household bleach isn’t considered corrosive or toxic, prolonged exposure to it may cause irritation to the eyes, mouth, lungs, and skin. This may be especially true if you live with respiratory condition such as asthma.
Most of the health concerns surrounding bleach are because it’s largely reactive.
In addition to reacting with ammonia, bleach may also react with drain cleaners and other acids, releasing chlorine gas. At low levels, this may irritate athe mucous membrane and cause coughing and breathing problems, watery eyes, and a runny nose.
When inhaled in large amounts, Chlorine gas can cause:
- Chest paint
- Severe breathing problems
- Fluid in the lungs
- Pneumonia
- Vommiting
Why You Should Not Try to Clean Mould Yourself
Mould remediation can be very hazardous if not done properly. Firstly, mould is harmful to be exposed to. It releases allergens, irritants, and occasionally toxins which can trigger allergic reactions like a stuffy nose, skin rash, and coughing.
When you clean mould, you are in much closer contact with it and are more likely to inhale, touch, or ingest the spores. Should you scrub it with bleach, for example, you could release spores up into the air and breathe them in.
It is likely you will only remove the surface spores from a patch of mould so it should quickly return after treatment.
Instead of putting your health at risk, bring in professional cleaners with PPE to safely remove the mould for you.
