Mold can be such a frustrating thing. I have lived in multiple rentals that had serious hidden mold problems - two had Stachybotrys (also known as "black mold") and others had massive amounts of Aspergillus penicillium and Cladosporium and extremely high levels of Wallemia sebi and Penicillium brevicompactum and a whole slew of other strains.
Please note, serious mold problems need to be dealt with by a licensed mold professional. Do not let anyone who is not a licensed mold professional (including you, a landlord, contractor, etc.) start removing anything (walls, flooring, carpet, wallpaper, etc.) or disturbing the mold - this will only further damage your home and your health.
If you suspect you have a mold problem and don't know where to start, check out Mold Help For You and Hybrid Rasta Mama for really helpful info - where to begin, mold 101, mold testing, mold remediation, symptoms of exposure, etc.
Pretty much all homes have small amounts of common household mold and surface mold from time to time, especially in bathrooms. It's important to keep bathrooms, sink areas in the kitchen and other areas in the home clean, especially as soon as you see any surface mold - before it becomes a problem.
Ways to Reduce Moisture in Your Home
We all know that extra moisture doesn't help when it comes to keeping mold at bay. There are proactive things that you can do to help keep moisture levels lower in your home.
- If you have a water leak, fix it immediately.
- After showering, use a squeegee to wipe down the shower walls. You can even use it to wipe the water down the tub to the drain.
- Use dehumidifers and moisture absorbers in your home to help dry out dampness. Look for renewable dehumidifiers (I have used these dehumidifiers for many years in smaller spaces) or regular dehumidifiers for smaller spaces and larger capacity dehumidifiers for larger spaces.
- Use fans and/or ceiling fans to keep air circulating in your home - cross ventilation is very important.
- When possible, open your windows and let the light in! Sunshine helps dry out moisture and outdoor air almost always helps clean your indoor air.
To Help Clean Your Indoor Household Air
- Using True HEPA Air Filtration Purifiers (not HEPA-Type) to help clean your indoor air. They are portable and can be moved from room to room. It's especially important to use air purifiers in the rooms that you sleep in. This is my favorite, high quality air purifier brand that is well known for how well they work. I have also used this air purifier in medium size rooms, these air purifiers in bedrooms and these independently tested certified B corporation air purifiers in bedrooms (they also carry larger space air purifiers). Look for models that work for the space you need from small to medium to large size rooms.
- Change your indoor filters every 1-3 months (1-2 months is ideal) and always when the season changes. Replace with high quality filters that help filter mold, dander, allergens, viruses, etc. If you need to use less expensive filters, make sure to replace them more often, every 1-2 months.
- Open your windows to get fresh air as much as possible. Outdoor air quality is usually better than indoor air quality.
- Use waterless nebulizer diffusers with quality essential oils like lemon, peppermint, lavender, or lemon eucalyptus essential oils.
- Use Himalayan salt lamps in your home. Not only are they absolutely beautiful, but they're known for helping clean the air and they're known for helping block harmful EMFs (electromagnetic fields). When heated, they release negative ions to help purify the air. Check your local natural foods stores, often they carry some in wellness sections.
- Ditch the toxic scented laundry detergents and use fragrance free, perfume free, eco-friendly, quality laundry detergents. Laundry detergents can pollute your indoor air not only while washing - those chemicals stay in your linens and clothing after washing. This laundry detergent is great, especially if you suspect there is a mold issue in your home - or anytime you have been exposed to a moldy environment. I use both of the linked laundry detergents and alternate (weekly) using them.
- Some indoor house plants can help clean the indoor air quality. Be careful about moisture though, watering indoor plants can add extra moisture to your home. If mold is an issue in your home, most certified mold professionals will advise against indoor house plants.
How to Clean Common Household Mold
Vinegar and tea tree essential oil are known for helping combat mold. Combining the two makes one powerful homemade anti-mold spray.
One simple way to help clean common household mold is by making a simple, homemade anti-mold cleaner spray. It's so easy to make!
I personally do NOT recommend the use of bleach and never use it. During my first experience with a toxic mold rental, I learned from certified toxic mold professionals that bleach should never be used to clean mold. They shared that it actually makes the problem worse, releasing the mold spores into the air for you then to breathe. Plus it's also known to be highly toxic and emits a gas that can cause damage to your lungs. Read more here to find out why chlorine bleach does not kill mold.
Homemade Anti-Mold Spray & Bathroom Cleaner
Use this homemade anti-mold spray to help combat surface mold buildup and clean surface mold. It's also great as a common household cleaner.
Homemade Anti-Mold Spray & Bathroom Cleaner
Clean minor household mold with this Homemade Anti Mold Spray & Bathroom Cleaner + 10 Ways to Reduce Moisture in Your Home and Clean Your Indoor Air.
Materials
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Pure Melaleuca Alternifolia Essential Oil (aka Tea Tree Oil - make sure to use a quality essential oil)
- Filtered Water
- Empty, Clean Spray Bottle (glass bottle preferably, old apple cider vinegar bottles work great with a spray nozzle)
Instructions
- Fill an empty spray bottle at least half full with vinegar (if you can stand the vinegar smell, I usually make mine a bit stronger with an 80:20 ratio of vinegar and filtered water instead of 50:50).
- Fill the rest of the spray bottle with filtered water, leaving about a 1 inch gap at the top of the bottle.
- Add drops of essential oil: 1 teaspoon of essential oil for every 1 cup of vinegar/water solution.
Notes
- When Ready to Use: Shake the cleaner vigorously to combine the essential oils throughout the mixture. Spray on surface to clean.
- To Help Remove Mold: Generously spray on showers walls, shower doors, walls, tubs, etc. and LET SIT as a preventative, do not wipe down. The smell will be strong but it will go away.
- Vinegar Tip: Large stores like Target usually carry 1 gallons of white vinegar for around $2-3. This is the best price that I have found for vinegar anywhere. Sprouts Farmers Market has a 64 oz. organic white vinegar for around $5.99 a bottle.
- Glass Bottle Tip: Reusing old apple cider vinegar glass bottles work great with a spray nozzle.
- NOTE: This homemade anti-mold spray is only intended for surface mold on non-porous surfaces. Mold cannot be completely cleaned from porous surfaces like clothing, particle board, mattresses, paper, etc.
Recommended Products
-
Empty Amber Glass Spray Bottles - 2 Pack - Each Large 16oz Refillable Bottle is Great for Essential Oils, Plants, Cleaning Solutions, Hair Mister - Durable Nozzle w/ Fine Mist and Stream Setting -
Aunt Fannie's Extra Strength Cleaning Vinegar, 32 Ounce, Multipurpose Household Cleaner, No Added Scents, Dyes, or Other Additives, Pack of 1
-
Plant Therapy Organic Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca) 100% Pure, USDA Certified Organic, Undiluted, Natural Aromatherapy for Skin, Hair, and Toenails, Therapeutic Grade 10 mL (⅓ oz)
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Disclaimer: ALL information you read on Recipes to Nourish is purely for informational and educational purposes only. I love to share and share with love, but I am not a health care practitioner. Information is not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements within this site have not been approved by the FDA, meaning information and statements regarding health claims on this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All blog posts are solely my personal experiences and opinions and should not be interpreted as an attempt to offer a medical opinion. If you have questions about food, diet, nutrition, natural remedies or holistic health, please do your own research and consult with your health care practitioner. For more information please see all of my disclaimers and disclosures.
Amber
Hi Emily,
This is such an excellent, comprehensive post! In college we lived in an apartment in Sac with a mold problem and it was very persistent and I found myself cleaning and cleaning the same space many times (this was before my health problems, and thus my before my enlightenment and knowledge of all things holistic and alternative). I used bleach A LOT. YIKES!!!!
On another note, I've been looking for a new air filter. We have a pretty good one that emits zero ozone, has UV and all that good stuff, but we need another one and I'm looking for updated technology. So I am ordering the one you suggested (that you use in Little Love's room) - so thank you for this reference.
And finally, I just LOVE your vinegar solution. I agree that vinegar is so powerful. I use it for many things around the house (and in my laundry). It's good for people to know they can kill mold with your safe solution!
Sharing!!
Hugs,
--Amber
Emily Sunwell
Aww thanks Amber. Mold is so nasty! I used to use bleach too, yuck. I stopped when I learned more about chemicals.
You're so sweet. I hope you like the filter. It's been great for us and it's quiet too. I originally found it on a site that talks all about allergen products, I wish I could remember the name.
I love vinegar for everything too 🙂 and love it for Tiny Love's diapers as a rinse.
Take care and thanks again. xo
Anonymous
Well peppermint oil work to don't have any tea tree oil on hand
Emily Sunwell
No, unfortunately peppermint oil will not work.
Matthew DeSantis
Hello, I have read this article on homemade anti-mold spray, and I was wondering if Citronella would be an effective alternative to Tea Tree oil, as I've heard it's pretty effective at killing bacteria and insects. Would you suggest citronella as an alternate ingredient in your anti-mold spray?
Thanks in advance!
-Matthew
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
No, I would not suggest citronella as an alternative. Tea Tree essential oil is recommended by many mold remediation companies and mold experts. Citronella has lots of other uses, but I have never read anything about it having the properties to combat mold.
N.McBee
This is really a brilliant post! You have no idea how much you hlep me! I have horrible problems with moisture and mold at home! Thanks a lot! Greets!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thank you! Hope it helps out.
Marlene
Excellent post! I hate cleaning mold because I usually associate it with using very toxic cleaning products! I love the natural cleaning methods so I am very happy to find you post! Thanks a lot! Greetings!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Glad you found it helpful.
Sydney
About how long does it normally take to knock the mold out? I've just sprayed it and am antsy to see the results ?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
It depends on what kind of mold you have and how severe it is. This only works with cleaning surface mold. If you're letting it sit, you can let it sit overnight and the next day reapply and wipe it clean.
Samantha
Great post! Will this only work as a preventative or will it work to remove existing mold? I'm seeing some black/dark brown areas in my shower and I want to get rid of them safely!
Thanks 🙂
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks! You can use it for both. Depending on the severity, it might take several treatments.
Trudi
I am wanting to use this solution to remove mold spots in my shower. After spraying the solution, should I wipe it off to remove the mold or let sit like you recommended?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
You could try letting it sit, then reapplying and wiping it off.
Katrina
Enjoyed the post! I have a 2 year old and the cold bugs have been thru our home long enough . I very recently started researching natural ways to clean and disinfect and I've been excited to be using my mixtures this week. How long can the vinegar, water and tea tree oil solution sit in a spray bottle? I added alittle dish detergent for extra cleaning and love it. I've also just been spritz in the house each day with tea tree, thieves and water vs. Lysol ... I'm loving essential oils!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
The vinegar - tea tree oil mixture can be left in the spray bottle for as long as needed. I have never had an issue with it. I usually go through a full spray bottle every other month. I love essential oils too 🙂
Anna @Green Talk
I have used hydrogen peroxide on mold as well. We have stone in our bathroom and vinegar would eat it alive.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
There are lots of great ways to clean mold off of non-porous surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide is one good alternative as long as it is fresh and not stored in light - as light breaks down the potency in hydrogen peroxide. Distilled white vinegar, essential oils and baking soda are all wonderful options for non-porous surfaces. I don't have experience with stone. It's good that you know what works best for you.
Stephanie
Great info, I'm going to be making a bottle tomorrow!
I know you say to only use it on non-porous surfaces, do you have a suggestion for porous surfaces? I have noticed white mold spots on the bottom of my little one's playpen that we keep in our living room. Do you know of anything that could help that? Thank you!!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Hi Stephanie, this cleaner can be very helpful for surface mold. Unfortunately mold really cannot be cleaned on porous surfaces. You could try using it, but the thing with porous surfaces is that it will most likely come back because the mold never really goes away. Here's a couple of other ideas for cleaning that might help - Natural Ways to Clean and Remove Mold, from Hybrid Rasta Mama.
Cat
Thanks for posting simple instructions on how to make this amazing cleaner! I finally have my first adult home, and I'm inspired to try all-natural cleaning products!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
How exciting! I'm so happy to hear you're inspired to try all-natural cleaning products 🙂 Very cool!
Same Day Inspection
Thanks for the tips you shared. Very useful for me. We have a house with some foundation damage. Because of that, water has been coming into the basement whenever it rains. And now my tension relief.
Jennifer
Do you know if this is safe to use on an acrylic shower stall? The manufacturer says to only use Dawn dishwashing liquid, but that doesn't do anything to the mold.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I would think it's fine, if you do a quick internet search it seems as though vinegar is safe for acrylic. Dawn is a name brand soap, and I'm guessing there is a contract with the company if the manufacturer is using that brand as a suggestion. Sorry, I can't say for sure. I would suggest maybe doing an internet search so you feel more comfortable about it.
Pamela Patterson
Hi Emily,
Love your blog! Just wanted to let you know that I get 2-1gallon jugs of vinegar at Same Club for about 3 bucks!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
That's an awesome deal!
Kate
It wasn't until recently that I realized that the dark dust I was cleaning every week in my bathroom corner was mold. Apparently it could have happened from never turning on the bathroom fan. We just hate the noise, it is so loud and obnoxious! I will have to try this concoction, thank you for sharing!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Oh no! Mold is such a pest and sneaks up so easily.
J+E
What an informative post! I love DIY ideas and super clean products for the home. Thanks for sharing!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks! 🙂
linda spiker
How easy is that!? Pinned.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
😉 pretty simple. Thanks for the pin!
beth
Such a great post! I'm sorry you had to learn all this the hard way. Great to know about bleach, I never would have thought it could make the problem worse.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Thanks Beth! 🙂 It's all good, we've just learned to find the beauty in all of it.
Karen
Love this spray!! Great to add tea tree oil. I usually use vinegar only but tea tree oil definitely boosts the mild killing power.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I love vinegar too, but you're right, for mold related stuff, the tea tree really helps. 🙂
Elaina
Great recipe! I really need to buy another spray bottle so I can make up a batch of this to spray in my shower and tub everyday!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
I need to get another bottle too 🙂 Thanks for the reminder.
Melissa
You mentioned using old ACV bottles, but where do you get a sprayer that will fit?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
They sell the sprayers online, but you can always use an old one from a different bottle ... just make sure it's clean and safe to use.
Michelle Childs
Great Post! Important information and you covered all the stuff that most sites don't mention. Mold is horrible! We had a mold problem in our lower level after putting in a closet and didn't discover it until a year later. The lower level of our house is concrete a tri-level house with a daylight basement. Putting in the closet closed off air circulation and collected moisture in the corner that went from floor to ceiling. It wasn't horrible but it was nasty. I used vinegar and tea tree like in your recipe and it cleaned it off. Works well except I still had stains from the mold in the paint. We put in vents in two places in the closet to help with air flow and there hasn't been any mold since. Air flow is crucial in helping with mold.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Oh wow 🙁 So true, no or reduced moisture and air flow is really important.
Rai Zapata
Saving this post. We don't have any mold, well I hope not, but I want to make this for a bathroom cleaner. I'm slowly disgarding the other products.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
That's a good thing! I'm so glad you don't have any mold 🙂 I love using this for a bathroom cleaner too.
Alicia Owen
I will have to try some of these more often. Our house is terrible, especially the bathroom off our bedroom. It just smells damp and I'm pretty sure I noticed my nursing pads (that I sit out to dry between washings) were getting mold on them. Gross. :/
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Oh no! That's no good at all. I hope you're able to determine what's going on. Do you have a dehumidifier? Those can be really helpful in bathrooms.
Floodaz
Yeah that's true if you want to remove mold completely then you must have to remove moisture. If the leaks or the persistent condensation aren’t improved, the mold will reappear after the removal.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Indeed. So important to determine the actual problem.
shannoaresca
To put it bluntly, our industry is sadly full of bad bad bad information about mold, and especially about Black Mold. We see misinformed media reports all the time about Black Mold.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Very true, most people don't really know much about mold and how damaging it can be for health.
Aileen
Saved and pinned. 🙂 This seems so simple and I can't wait to try it. I'm trying to go more natural in the home after discovering my little ones may have asthma and sensitivity to allergens. The info about air purifying was very helpful, too. I do have a question... we have a cat and I read somewhere that tea tree oil can be toxic for pets. Do you know if the amount in this solution would be harmful to a pet? I don't think our cat would ever get into the solution itself, but she does like to hang out in the bathroom.
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Cats are definitely more sensitive to essential oils compared to other animals. Do you have any kind of air circulation in your bathroom? That would help. Also, it wouldn't be applied topically and most cats don't care for the smell of vinegar, so I'm guessing your cat wouldn't want to go near it. That's wonderful that you're looking for ways to be more natural in your home! Good for you!
Renee
Would using Apple Cider Vinegar give an extra benefit to the solution?
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Hi Renee, I wouldn't use apple cider vinegar, it's not the same as distilled vinegar and much more expensive. ACV is more for cooking and health benefits, not for cleaning purposes.
Megan Stevens
Hi Emily! We found mold in my daughter's bedroom today! Her room gets too much moisture from our shower, my worst fear. I am thankful, in a way, that you've gone before me, so I know what to do and how seriously to take this situation. I'm excited to have this recipe and planning to make it tonight. Much love and thanks!!
Emily Sunwell-Vidaurri
Oh goodness 🙁 Please reach out to me and we can chat more.
Alex Sutton
You have no idea how much this actually saved us! I found your post and started cleaning the bathroom with the vinegar solution and ended up finding a bigger mold problem in an area that I wouldn't have even noticed if I hadn't been deep cleaning. We ended up calling a mold remediation professional like you recommended and they were able to take care of it before it became a huge issue, fortunately. Thank you so much for sharing!