You’ve just been informed that your worst enemy has been lurking behind your walls and has threatened to take over your home.
What’s worse? The police can do nothing to help you to fight off this dark invader.
This nightmarish intruder goes by the moniker of “Mold,” and he’s no joke. However, you’re not the only homeowner who has come face-to-face with him.
Research shows that mold is especially a problem during the cold, damp months of the year — for example, the upcoming winter months.
Dealing with mold in your home is never fun, but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Here are some eco-friendly mold removal solutions that can help.
Let’s get started!
Baking Soda
Baking soda does much more than just keep your refrigerator smelling fresh. It can help you to remove mold without harming the environment.
To tap into baking soda’s mold-removing power, simply dissolve it in vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Specifically, mix 2-3 tablespoons of the soda with two cups of warm water. Then, pour one cup of distilled vinegar into the mix.
Be sure to shake the mixture well to prevent your bottle’s spray nozzle from becoming clogged.
Next, spray the mix onto your moldy surface, and allow it to sit for around 15 minutes. Finally, scrub the mixture off with a sponge.
If you have a relatively light mold stain, you could remove it simply by mixing some baking soda with a little water to create a paste for scrubbing.
The benefit of using baking soda? It is extremely cheap and accessible.
The disadvantage? Baking soda likely won’t be as effective in a larger area. Also, although it may help you to clean your walls, it won’t necessarily kill your mold spores.
However, this is something a mold inspection and remediation company can handle.
Use Dry Ice
Yes, dry ice can certainly be helpful for shipping perishable items across state lines. But, as with baking soda, there’s more to dry ice than meets the eye.
With a technique known as dry ice blasting, you can remove mold in a natural way. The ice’s low temperature combined with the high impact of the blasting process will kill virtually all mold spores on your mold-covered surface.
The benefit of using dry ice? It doesn’t require scrubbing, and it’s non-toxic.
The disadvantage? Dry ice may be a little on the pricey side. Plus, it’s critical that you handle it with care to avoid being burned.
Got Vinegar?
Did you know that vinegar by itself can kill a large amount of mold if you spray it onto your moldy area and leave it to settle?
You could also pour distilled vinegar on a towel and then wipe the mold off. Later, wipe the area with a damp paper towel, and make sure that the area dries properly.
The benefit of using vinegar? It’s easy to access, as you likely already have it lying around the kitchen. On top of that, it’s not toxic.
The disadvantage? Vinegar can have a pretty pungent, disturbing odor — especially if you need to spray it on a large area. Of course, the smell is worth it if it means eradicating your mold problem and thus literally breathing easier as a result.
Don’t Forget Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is yet another easy-to-access household item that can come in handy for eliminating your mold issues.
Just spray peroxide on your mold-covered surface, and allow it to sit for 10 minutes. Then, scrub the infested surface carefully.
If you’d like, add vinegar to your hydrogen peroxide to make the peroxide even more effective.
The benefit of using hydrogen peroxide? It works, and it is hassle-free. Plus, you can store it in a location that is dark until you need it again in the future.
The disadvantage? If you don’t scrub off the hydrogen peroxide carefully, it might be harmful to your pets.
Tap into the Power of Essential Oils
You may have family and friends who swear by essential oils. For instance, many consumers may say that essential oils help to boost their energy, calm their nerves, relieve their headaches, and aid in digestion.
You can include “remove problematic mold” on the list, too.
Tea tree oil, in particular, is a powerful anti-microbial. Adding a teaspoon of this oil to two cups of water can help you to quickly clean your moldy area.
Grapefruit seed extract — an antibacterial and antifungal agent — is another essential oil that can work wonders on mold-infested surfaces. You can find this extract at a health food shop.
With grapefruit seed extract, simply combine 10 drops of it and a cup of water. Then, pour this mixture into a bottle, and spray it onto the problem surface.
The best part about using this extract? You don’t have to rinse the mixture off after applying it. In fact, it is more powerful and effective the longer you keep it on your infested surface.
The benefit of using essential oils? They are not harmful to pets or young children.
The disadvantage? Essential oils can be expensive — particularly if the mold in your home has started to spread.
More Than Mold Removal — We Can Help
In addition to offering pointers on eco-friendly mold removal, we offer a wide range of tips for going green in other aspects of your life.
For instance, we provide guidance from choosing organic toys for your dogs to choosing sport utility vehicles that are the most fuel efficient, and everything in between.
Take a peek here to find out more about how going green can benefit not only Mother Earth but also your body and your life as a whole in the years to come.
