http://www.care2.com/greenliving/three-ways-to-kill-mold-naturally.html
3 Ways to Kill Mold Naturally
By Annie B. Bond
A proliferation of mold and mildew can be the hallmark of hot and humid summers. I have a friend who has green mold growing on the shoes in her closet! A humidifier might be the best help for her, but there are also three natural materials that can be used as a spray to kill mold and mildew. They are all an excellent substitute for less environmentally safe bleach.
Learn these three tricks for killing mold and mildew. One of these you most likely already have in your kitchen cupboard.
Over the years I have found three natural ingredients that kill mold: Tea tree oil (an essential oil found in most health food stores), grapefruit seed extract and vinegar. There are pros and cons of each, but all three work. Vinegar is by far the cheapest. Tea tree oil is expensive, but it is a broad spectrum fungicide and seems to kill all the mold families it contacts. The problem is that it has a very strong smell, but that dissipates in a few days. Grapefruit seed extract is also expensive, but has no smell.
Mold can be dangerous to your health, even if you aren’t allergic. Many people react to mold by getting tired and even depressed. Try to stay on top of moisture and mold as soon as either arises. Dry out anything that is damp, such as basements (use a dehumidifier) and carpets. Fix leaks in plumbing and roofs. Wipe up spills. Make sure water doesn’t escape from shower
curtains. Vigilance will pay off!
Tea Tree Treasure
Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I’ve used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof,
on a musty bureau, a musty rug and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.
2 teaspoons tea tree oil
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes about 2 cups, lasts indefinitely.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
The advantage of using grapefruit seed extract instead of tea tree oil for killing mold is that it is odorless.
20 drops grapefruit seed extract
2 cups water
Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas. Do not rinse. Makes about 2 cups, lasts indefinitely.
Vinegar Spray
Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area, and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will dissipate in a few hours.
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Natural living has reached the mainstream: we are now far more concerned about the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the chemicals that surround us, and recognize that government regulations all too often fall short of safeguarding our health. Enter Annie Berthold-Bond, whose Better Basics for the Home is a compendium of practical information -- recipes, tips, and guidelines -- for creating a simpler, cheaper and environmentally safer lifestyle.buy nowrelated stories
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134 comments
add your comment »Mold is no joke. I got seriously ill one time from it. Just look at the effects it can have: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4928945_effects-household-mold-humans.html
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The product described by Shanna has been sold in Japan for decades now. Its price here in Japan is now three for $2 only. Those tubs often contain those small dessicant beads (the type you see in small packets inside packaged food too) or some silicon gel to absorb the humidity. Before you dump them, as you said, (which means they are made of plastic and not very eco-friendly), you first have to pierce the film at the top and empty them of their water content.
Another way that Japanese people use is to put bamboo charcoal or other wood charcoal in their closets and wherever needed. The charcoal absorbs humidity and bad odors too. They are far more eco-friendly, especially the bamboo ones, as bamboos grow so fast every year.
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In response to the cost of a dehumidifier, there is now a product at stores called something like damp rid or similar name that you put in moisture areas of your home & it removes much of it from the air. There is water left in the bottom of the tub it comes in which you just dump out. It is only about $5 so would be worth looking into. Of course not the same result as a dehumidifier but maybe would serve a purpose on a smaller scale.
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Oil of cloves mixed with water and sprayed on also kills mould. Great for bathroom tiles but does have a smell (not as bad as tea tree though)
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mold/mildew thrive in dampness and become dormant when the humidity goes below a certain level...i forget what it is...around 50, i think. a good dehumidifier would certainly control mildew, a form of mold. removing it is the best thing. i understand that bleach just makes it invisible...nasty stuff can make you very sick and is hard to kill.
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http://www.tea-tree-oil-use.com/pets.htm
this is another website cautioning use of tea tree oil around pets. i think it would be especially something to be careful with if there are cats around since they wash themselves and are likely to ingest more...it CAN be fatal.
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be CAREFUL using tea tree oil around pets. there are quite a few websites about this. this one:http://www.teatreewonders.com/toxic.html seems reasonably conservative.
i think they are overdoing the chopra quotes too...quotes from other are nice...like they used to do...try not reading them
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Again, *dehumidifier, not humidifier (first paragraph).
Nice lil' article. Thanx.
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Please visit scdworld.net. you will find all natural products for mold problems.
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Good work Annie!
We had a mold problem at the house in /05. There were 3 toxic molds found after all the drywall in the living room fell in. The landlord did not address the issue untill I phoned the board of health. The maintenance guy told me to vacuum the mold up. Good thing I didn't. The Board of Health told me not to touch it. Next thing you know we had to leave our home for 3 days. Ever since then I have been depressed. I had ringworm for a whole year after as well. It made my mom sick too. I wish I knew a lawyer who could deal with this. Thanks for the advice on dealing with mold. People need to be more aware.
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