http://www.care2.com/greenliving/vinegar-with-essential-oils-for-mold-and-mildew.html
Mold and Mildew Eliminator: Vinegar with Essential Oils
I live in the humid Hudson Valley in New York, and I’ll never forget one of my first summers here when a green-like mildew grew inside of closets and over and inside of shoes. Being sensitive to mold I was very alarmed that the thick humidity would make such colonies flourish in my bedroom.
I have a number of tricks up my sleeve to kill mildew and mold, three of which are written about in 3 Ways to Kill Mold Naturally. These three are tea tree oil, vinegar, and grapefruit seed extract. Grapefruit seed extract is good for those who want no odor for the few days after spraying the mildew. I’ve used them all very successfully.
I’d like to add more about vinegar and essential oils. Studies by Heinz and others have shown that straight household white distilled vinegar kills 82 percent of mold when used straight up. (This means straight 7 percent acid solution from a bottle of vinegar that you buy in the supermarket.) This is a very good kill rate. And you can’t beat the price.
The problem is that many people write to me saying that they hate the smell of vinegar. What to do? I’ve been experimenting with adding a few drops of essential oil to straight white distilled vinegar and the results for smell are remarkable and unexpected. The essential oils seem to mellow out the bite of the smell of vinegar, leaving a vibrant essence that is mostly the smell of the essential oil with a bit of a sharp almost resinous touch, which would be the transformed vinegar.
A boon is that essential oils are very antimicrobial and will work to kill mold, too.
To try this yourself, place about 1/2 cup straight white distilled vinegar in a spray bottle. Add about 10 drops of essential oil, to start, shake, and smell. How do you like it? Do you need more essential oil? Just make sure not to add more than 15 drops of oil as it can be strong. I personally love lavender in this.
Spray this concoction directly on mold and mildew. Don’t rinse. The smell will dissipate.
Note: Make sure to avoid your eyes!
related stories
-
(136 comments)
-
(1 comment)
-
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
21 comments
add your comment »Chris Gebert: - How about oil of bergamot? This is not sweet-smelling at all but rather "tart" (if that makes sense). The bergamot is a citrus fruit, I believe.
Very useful information, this! I have known about many and varied uses of vinegar since childhood. My mother used to drop vinegar on a sugar cube and tell me to suck this whenever I had hickups. It works a treat! If you can bear the acidity, just swallow a spoonful straight, if ever you are afflicted with a nasty, stubborn attack of hickups.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
great...
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
I have a number of tricks up my sleeve to kill mildew and mold, three of which are written about in 3 Ways to Kill Mold Naturally. These three are tea tree oil, vinegar, and grapefruit seed extract. Grapefruit seed extract is good for those who want no odor for the few days after spraying the mildew. I’ve used them all very successfully.I’d like to add more about vinegar and essential oils. Studies by Heinz and others have shown that straight household white distilled vinegar kills 82 percent of mold when used straight up. (This means straight 7 percent acid solution from a bottle of vinegar that you buy in the supermarket. ) This is a very good kill rate. And you can’t beat the price.The problem is that many people write to me saying that they hate the smell of vinegar.
tea
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
here in the northwest we have mildew a lot! i'm going to try this.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Interested to know if combining these products changes (^ or down) their efficacy in any way.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Do these 3 products also kill black mold?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
This sounds like a great idea. Is there an essential oil that has a more masculine scent that would work for this application?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Just wondering, if you can mix essential oils w/ vinegar then couldn't you just mix grapefruit seed extract, tea tree oil AND vinegar all together to make a super good mold killer?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Just wondering, if you can mix essential oils w/ vinegar then couldn't you just mix grapefruit seed extract, tea tree oil AND vinegar all together to make a super good mold killer?
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
How can anyone complain about the smell of vinegar in comparison with bleach! And think of the harm that bleach does. Drip it on the carpet or your sleeve and it is a permanent reminder of poison.
Also, did you know that vinegar is great in the garden too? If you spray under the plants where your slugs congregate it not only rids you of the slugs but amends the soil!
How's that for magic.
And nothing shines brighter than a window cleaned with vinegar and polished with yesterday's news.
send green star
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: