Mold is a fungus that lives in damp corners of an apartment. Most often, this shaggy black-and-green muck settles in window openings, in the corners of rooms and, of course, in the bathroom. If you do not fight the fungus, it gradually spreads throughout all rooms, attacking books, the inner surfaces of wooden furniture and the back of the carpet.
How to get rid of moldThis is not only not beautiful, but also dangerous for the health of the abode of the apartment. Therefore, the question of how to get rid of mold arises for any sane person. I hasten to please, there are a lot of methods. True, some of them are more effective, some less. However, many of them have been tested by me personally, and therefore I am happy to share with you the pros and cons of each method.
Copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is commonly used in agriculture. Therefore, you can buy it in shops selling goods for the garden and vegetable garden. The solution is prepared from the proportion: 100 g of vitriol per 10 liters of water. It is applied by spraying or using a sponge. It is not required to wash off the solution after application.
It should be noted that after such treatment, the mold disappears for a long time, and if the cause of the appearance of the fungus is eliminated, then completely forever. But, unfortunately, this remedy has one significant drawback - copper sulfate is a poison. And a very strong poison. In order not to undermine health, you must follow the precautions:
The room must be well ventilated.
Clothing should completely cover the skin.
Always wear rubber gloves on your hands.
It is best to protect the mouth and nose with a Petal respirator or a high-quality cotton-gauze bandage.
Chlorine based bleach
You can find inexpensive chlorine-based bleach at any hardware store. For example, "Whiteness". The solution is prepared at the rate of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Then the product is sprayed or applied with a sponge on the moldy surface. It can be removed after 10-15 minutes.
This method has two disadvantages:
Bleach works well against fungus that has settled on tiles, glass and marble. But it is absolutely not effective against mold spores that have penetrated deep into porous materials such as drywall, wood and others.
Chlorine vapors are toxic to humans. The precautions described above must be followed.
Vinegar
Plain table vinegar can also fight mold. Moreover, you can use both 6% and 9% acetic acid solution. To do this, spray undiluted table vinegar onto a moldy surface, then rinse thoroughly after an hour.
Minuses, as such, were not found by me. Only the sour smell lasts long enough in the room, and precautions should also be taken. After all, vinegar is an acid, albeit a weak one.
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia
Both of these products are sold in pharmacies. They fight mold well, but not on porous surfaces. At the same time, both hydrogen peroxide and ammonia have a whitening effect. Therefore, use these products on colored surfaces with caution.
To combat mold with peroxide, apply a 3% pharmaceutical solution to the surface infected with the fungus and leave for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse off. Ammonia must be diluted with water (one to one) and then applied to moldy tiles, walls or floors. It should be kept for several hours, after which the surface can be washed.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree essential oil is one of the safest and most affordable mold-fighting remedies. At the same time, its effectiveness is high, and it is very easy to use:
Wash off the surface infected with the fungus.
Prepare a solution at the rate of: 1 teaspoon of oil to 1 glass of water.
Spray on and leave to dry.
You do not need to rinse off the solution. It will serve as additional protection against mold for a long time.
But this method also has several drawbacks: the ether is not cheap and can provoke an allergic reaction.
You can also use other means to eliminate the fungus:
borax solution;
baking soda;
laundry soap;
special chemical and biological preparations against mold.
But whichever method is chosen, keep in mind that the main task in the fight against a fungus is to eliminate the cause of its appearance. Leaking pipes, lack of ventilation, freezing of walls - all this can provoke the reoccurrence of mold. Identify and correct the cause, then use any of the methods described above. I hope my personal experience and the described advantages and disadvantages of each method will help you to forget about this dangerous fungus forever.