Molds have to be removed entirely, and there are different procedures for doing this depending on the type of surface on which the mold has occurred. Cleaning mold is not enough to eliminate their harmful effects because, even when molds are dead, they can still produce toxic spores. In the long run, you should call an expert to look into any mold problem you have. Also, bleach does not stop harmful mold spores from spreading within the house. However, the roots of the molds which have reached deep into the insides continue to grow. After you have applied bleach to a porous surface, the mold’s dark green color is removed, and your wall returns to its bright colors. In the long run, bleach only helps you mask the mold for a short period. This is why mold problems often become worse a few days after bleach is applied.Īpplying bleach on mold may even cause mold to grow in surrounding areas that were previously unaffected. The water travels down to the root of the mold and helps it thrive. Once you apply bleach to mold on a porous surface, the chlorine content of the beach dries up almost immediately, leaving behind the water content to be absorbed into the wood or any other absorbent material. Moreover, since molds thrive with moisture, spraying bleach on mold can contribute to further mold growth, especially on porous (permeable) surfaces. Bleach can contribute to further mold growthīleach is made up of about 90 percent water. In essence, using bleach to kill mold can cause you even more harm than the mold you are trying to kill. This includes an N95 respirator to prevent you from inhaling harmful gas, goggles, and protective gloves. To stress the potential harm of using bleach to kill mold, the the CDC advises against handling bleach without wearing complete personal protective gear. It can also negatively affect the lungs or cause breathing anomalies, mostly when used around individuals with a lung condition such as asthma. Exposure to chlorine gas can cause a burning sensation on the skin, eyes, and nostrils. In addition to this, mixing chlorine bleach with ammonia, drain cleaners, cleansers, or any other similar chemical produces chlorine gas, which can be very harmful to health. When in the gaseous state, chlorine bleach produces a byproduct called dioxin, recognized as a cancer-causing compound. There are many reasons for this and mainly because, using bleach to treat or clean mold can jeopardize your health.Ĭommon household bleach is not necessarily toxic, but prolonged exposure to bleach can be very harmful to humans. Should you use bleach to clean mold at all?Įxperts advise that you should never use bleach to clean mold, whether on a porous or non-porous surface. The fact is that bleach might work well on a non-porous surfaces like tiles, sinks etc., it is not worth trying due to the numerous health hazards associated with it. So, in a few days or weeks, the mold regains its color and grows back to become even worse than it was before you applied the bleach. Bleach quickly dries off on the surface and will not reach into the deeper part of the material to the mold’s root. So when you apply bleach to such a surface, you are merely changing the mold’s color on the surface. However, when mold grows on a porous material like wood or drywall, it spreads its root deep into the material to reach more nutrients. This is because the roots of the mold do not penetrate through this surface and so it is easily wiped off. The primary function of bleach is to disinfect (chlorine bleach) and to bleach (change color).Ĭhlorine bleach can help eliminate mold on hard non-porous surfaces like sinks, bathtubs, tiles, or glass. The idea that bleach will help completely get rid of the mold in your home is a common misconception that has been sold by big bleach marketing agencies and websites. So it only makes sense that once you notice mold, you want to get rid of it immediately. Not only does it stain surfaces within the house, causing your space to look very unpleasant, it can also cause damage to your structures by eating away at your building materials like walls and furniture. What is the best way to get rid of mold?.Should you use bleach to clean mold at all?.This article provides the answer to these questions and explains why you should never consider using bleach in cleaning mold. However, is bleach really effective in mold remediation? Should you use bleach to clean mold at all? It is easily accessible and visibly removes the mold once you apply it. For most homeowners, bleach seems to be the answer to all of their mold problems.
WOOD BLEACH HOW TO
The first thing that comes to mind when you notice you have mold in the house is how to get rid of it.