Should You Use Bleach to Clean Mold?

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

BREAKING NEWS!

In some households, bleach has become a multi-cleaner agent and a disinfectant and while we can recognize that bleach does have its uses when it comes to remediating mold, SERVPRO of Decorah does not promote it as the best method.

Bleach is ok when it comes to "bleaching" things but, bleach alone is not a sufficient solution to mold issues. While bleach can kill mold on hard surfaces, it is almost impossible to use bleach to kill mold on wood, drywall, or any porous material inside your home. Not to mention the fumes can be hazardous to a person’s lungs. Mold tends to root itself deeper into the material. Bleach may kill some of the molds on the surface but what it’s mainly doing is “bleaching” or removing the color from the mold. This can be very misleading. Due to the bleaching of the mold, it might trick you into thinking the mold issue has been resolved, putting a pause to further removal actions. Even the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend using bleach for mold removal.

While killing mold is important, the removal of the mold and its mold spores are too! This will require agitation of the mold, cleaning up the mold, and airing out the mold spores away from your home. Safety measures such as wearing gloves, safety goggles, and a respirator mask are highly suggested. In some mold cases, a DIY cleanup is perfectly ok but it will require a thorough cleanup job and resolving of the humid or wet environment so the mold doesn’t return.

MOLD WILL CONTINUE TO RETURN IF HUMIDITY IS HIGH

SERVPRO of Decorah uses mold removal sprays in conjunction with cleaning methods as a way to remove and prevent mold. Two mold removal sprays that we recommend are Concrobium Mold Control and Benefect. The porous material may have to be disposed of and replaced. If you have mold issues inside your home or suspect some water damage, give us a call. We’re here to help!

References: https://moldhelpforyou.com/bleach-kill-mold/

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-10/documents/moldguide12.pdf