General, 2 min read
Does Vinegar Kill Mold?
What types of vinegar are the best to kill mold? Should you even use vinegar to remove mold? Learn all of that today!
Can You Use Vinegar to Kill Mold
Yes! Vinegar has been used to kill mold for quite some time. The reason for this is that vinegar kills mold pretty efficiently.
To be more specific, vinegar can kill more than 80% of all mold species.
However, not all types of vinegar have the same effect.
Vinegar vs Bleach for Killing Mold
A very common question we get asked is: “What kills mold better – vinegar or bleach?”. The answer to this question is definitely vinegar.
At a glance, it may look like bleach is doing a good job when applied to mold-infected surface but you should know that the bleach only removes the mold from the surface and does not penetrate through the wall and remove the mold’s roots.
What Type of Vinegar is Best for Mold Removal
First, let’s cover why vinegar kills mold in the first place.
Vinegar contains acetic acid, an organic compound that’s also used in the production of paint. This compound can kill mold and other types of fungus.
All types of vinegar contain it but in different amounts. Vinegar that contains the most amount of acetic acid is “industrial” vinegar.
More than 20% of this vinegar is acetic acid. This is very high and it’s incredibly dangerous for an untrained individual to use. Industrial vinegar is only used by professionals for outdoors cleaning.
However, vinegar types you’re probably familiar with, like apple, wine, and white vinegar, have 4-5% of acetic acid. This is perfectly safe for indoors cleaning but we’d recommend sticking just to white vinegar.
The reason for this is that apple and wine vinegar contain nutritious components in order for them to be used in cooking. These components can also stimulate mold growth since they can be used for energy.
White vinegar has no nutritious value and a high enough amount of acetic acid – about 5%. This makes it an ideal weapon for combating mold.
Which white vinegar should I buy?
Go with Heinz. They make really great vinegar and also have a great price.
How to Use Vinegar for Mold Removal
Before we start, you should know that cleaning certain wooden or granite surfaces with vinegar can do more harm than good. The last thing you want is to further damage the surface that already has mold on it.
Use vinegar when cleaning mold in a room like the bathroom. This is where mold removal using vinegar is the most effective. Learn more about how to remove bathroom mold.
Conclusion
Vinegar can be very helpful in combating mold but sometimes, it may not be able to fully resolve the issue.
If you’re having problems, we’d be happy to offer it to you. There is nothing worse than being unsafe in your own home. Our team will help you resolve any issues you have quickly and efficiently.
Our number: 941-271-0599
We serve the entire Sarasota county. Looking forward to hearing from you!
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