Bleach Mold Away, Think So? Think Again!

 

Thinking about swabbing those mold spots with bleach? Think again. This home remedy, which was once widely used and even recommended by government agencies as a first defense against mold, is NOT recommended. In fact, the EPA now recommends against using mold in its publication titled A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home. This publication says:

“The use of a chemical or biocide that kills organisms such as mold (chlorine bleach, for example) is not recommended as a routine practice during mold cleanup.”  

 

Why not? After all, homemakers have been spraying bleach on mold spots for generations. There are several compelling reasons not to use bleach as a mold cleanup agent including its health effects, limited effectiveness, and potential to cause additional damage to building materials.

 

Adverse Health Effects of Chlorine Bleach

If you’re concerned about mold’s health effects, why would you want to subject yourself and your family to a dangerous chemical? Take a look at the warning label on your bleach bottle and you’ll see an exhaustive list of potential dangers such as:

“IRRITANT: May cause severe skin and eye irritation or chemical burns to broken skin. Causes eye damage. . . Strong oxidizer: Do not use or mix with other household chemicals such as toilet bowl cleaners, rust removers, acid or ammonia containing products. To do so will release hazardous gasses. . . Wear safety glasses and rubber gloves when handling this product. Wash after handling. Use with adequate ventilation.”

 

In addition to the corrosive and irritating effects of bleach, if you or a family member is allergic to chlorine, using household bleach in the home should be avoided as chlorine gas could be emitted in the presence of other chemicals.

 

When bleach mixes with other chemicals such as ammonia or acid, hazardous, sometimes fatal, gasses are released that can cause coughing, shortness of breath, irritation to eyes, nose and throat, chest pain, vomiting, fluid buildup in the lungs, pneumonia, or even death at higher exposures.

 

While you may not intend to mix chemicals, inadvertent mixing can occur. For example, if your toilet has a ring of mold, you may be tempted to pour some bleach in the toilet bowl in an effort to bleach the mold away. But what about that automatic toilet cleaner that you installed in the tank? What chemicals does it infuse into the water with each flush?

 

Ammonia is commonly found in glass cleaners, paints, and urine while acid is often found in toilet bowl cleaners, glass cleaners, drain cleaners, automatic dish detergents/rinses, rust removers, lime and calcium removers, brick and concrete cleaners, and vinegar.

 

Limited Effectiveness of Bleach on Mold

Even if bleach weren’t so toxic to you and your family, it has a limited effectiveness on mold. While bleach can kill mold on hard, porous surfaces, it is ineffective at killing mold when applied to porous building materials such as wood products. Mold sends out deep roots which penetrate wallpaper, drywall, ceiling tiles, carpets, insulation, baseboards, and upholstery. Since the bleach is unable to reach these roots, the mold quickly grows back after the initial application of bleach.

 

Bleach’s Damaging Effects to Materials

If you take a look at the warning label on your bleach bottle, you’ll likely see additional warnings such as:

“Prolonged contact with metal such as silver may cause pitting or discoloration.”

 

While you’re more likely to try mold on your walls than on your family’s heirloom silver set, these warnings should not be taken lightly. For example, if you pour bleach into a sink and allow it to sit for a few minutes, you may notice discoloration around the stainless steel drain. In addition to its damaging effect on metals, bleach and commercial “mildew removers” containing bleach should not be applied to marble or natural stone, wood or painted surfaces, aluminum, faucets, fabrics, carpets, and paper. These are but a few examples of surfaces that should be avoided that are commonly listed on products containing bleach. Corrosion and bleaching are among the adverse effects.

 

With its adverse health effects, limited effectiveness on solving mold problems, and damaging effects on the surfaces where mold is found, bleach is perhaps the worst possible choice for dealing with mold and mildew. If your house has a few flecks of mold, a good scrubbing with gentle cleansers followed by controlling the underlying moisture problem may be enough. If the problem is more severe, contact a professional mold remediation company for safe mold removal.

 

By: Mr. Mark Decherd

 

For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:

 

Dryout® Inc.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907

239-437-7100

 

Dryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.

 

Comments

[custom living room furniture]

Remind yourself that “prevention is better than cure” therefore, keep all areas uninviting to mold and mildew by keeping them dry and well ventilated.

[Raleigh Gutters]

Instead of trying to wipe away a mold problem, I would advice fixing it from the core. It could be your gutters that are causing the mold issue. Check them out and make sure they are installed properly and clean and are guiding the water away from your foundation properly. :-) could save you a lot of time, money, and bleach in the long run!

[water damage company]

At last, someone that knows what he's talking about when it comes to bleach and mold. As you've correctly pointed out bleach is not the answer. Great article.