The sight of mould can incite horror when we discover it in our houses. We think of it as dirty and toxic, polluting our nice, clean homes. Certain cases of mould can get out of hand if they aren’t treated right away, but most of the time mould is harmless – just an eyesore. It occurs when there is moisture and heat – humidity. Typical locations for mould are ceilings and wall corners, closets, under sinks, shower stalls, and behind toilets.
Before you reach for chemical mould remover products, though, there are natural ways to remove mould from inside your home. Many of these methods are already in your kitchen, even! So if you see mould in your house, it’s a simple matter of grabbing your cleaner of choice, putting on a face mask and protective eyewear, and getting to work.
Here’s a quick and handy guide for removing mould from your home naturally.
Prevention
The most ideal solution, of course, is avoiding the growth of mould on surfaces. Mould grows in humid or damp spots, so minimising these areas in your home will prevent mould and mildew from forming. Some simple steps include:
- Good ventilation and sunlight, especially in rooms with water sources (bathrooms and kitchens). This prevents humidity from building up and creating an environment that encourages mould to grow.
- Airing out small, enclosed spaces like storage rooms or closets. Leaving them closed for prolonged periods of time means moisture and heat builds up inside. You can also place dehumidifiers inside to deter this – just replace them as needed.
- Ensuring drainage is clear. Gutters, pipes, drains, and trenches should all be free-flowing. Clogged drainage causes water to build up, which raises the moisture content of the air.
- Drying out any wet areas immediately, such as shower curtains and walls after use, or windows and walls after rain.
- Regularly spraying surfaces with disinfectants or mould deterrents, especially fabrics (like curtains and couches).
- Making sure indoor plants don’t accumulate water, especially in the basins of their pots.
Still, despite our best efforts, mould can develop in our houses. So if you do find that dreaded spot of fungi creeping up your wall, it’s time to get cleaning!
Top natural mould removers
It might feel tempting to reach for the bleach, but it’s not actually that effective at removing and killing mould on surfaces. Instead, rummage through your kitchen for any of these three handy products that are natural mould killers – and you can mix them together, too!
Vinegar
This is truly the best natural multi-purpose cleaner. Using vinegar to kill mould is very straightforward. Just pour some into a spray bottle – undiluted! – and apply to any affected surfaces. Leave it for an hour, then wipe off with warm water. If the scent bothers you, add a few drops of essential oil. Try tea tree oil – it’s also an effective fungicide!
Bicarb Soda
You can use this either combined with vinegar and water for a paste, or by itself with water. Dissolve it into water and spray onto a surface, or mix with vinegar and water and spread on. Let it sit for at least an hour, the scrub off with a damp cloth. This is milder than vinegar, so it won’t leave a scent.
Lemon
Yet another multi-purpose cleaner just sitting in your kitchen, lemons are natural antiseptics, bleach, and cleaning agents. The acid concentration in these fruits mean lemons are natural mould removers, breaking down the fungi and leaving a disinfected surface. Plus, they smell great! Simply spray or pour undiluted lemon juice onto a surface, let sit for five minutes, and wipe off. You can reapply for tougher mould stains, or even mix in a little bicarb soda to make a mould-removing scrub.
Other natural mould solutions
Besides the three primary ways to rid yourself of mould, there are other methods you can use in a pinch!
Hydrogen Peroxide
This is an antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial solution commonly found in our medicine cabinets. It’s safe to use on most surfaces, although you may want to test first to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage. Simply spray a 3% solution onto the surface and lightly scrub to remove any mould or mildew. Wipe dry afterwards.
Vodka
Alcohol is a surprisingly good disinfectant, especially vodka! As with the other methods, simply pour straight vodka into the spray bottle and apply to a surface. Wipe off with warm water after an hour.
Plant Extracts
Tea tree, clove, and citrus seed extracts are all effective at removing mould from surfaces. Combine one teaspoon of the extract of your choice into a cup of water, and then spray onto the surface. Unlike other solutions, though, you shouldn’t rinse this off – just leave it to dry!
Got mould? Leave it to the professionals!
There are plenty of natural ways to remove mould from our homes, but sometimes we’re unable to handle the job ourselves. Or maybe you’d like a thorough clean of your home to prevent mould from developing. At Maid2Match, we offer both regular and deep cleaning services for your house, which include scrubbing and cleaning areas where mould tends to grow. We’re also NDIS accredited! Simply book an appointment with our professional cleaning teams and leave the spraying and scrubbing to us.