Q&A for How to Kill Mold With Vinegar

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  • Question
    Is vinegar or bleach better to remove mold?
    Jonathan Tavarez
    Cleaning Specialist
    Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
    Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The answer depends on the type of surface you need to clean. Both are very effective cleaning agents. Vinegar is able to penetrate porous surfaces much easier than bleach, though, which makes it a far more effective mold-killer than bleach in this scenario.
  • Question
    Is vinegar safe for hardwood floors?
    Jonathan Tavarez
    Cleaning Specialist
    Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.
    Cleaning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    It is safe — as long as you use it in a 3 parts water 1 part vinegar ratio —, but I still wouldn't recommend using it.
  • Question
    How much borax do I add to vinegar?
    Community Answer
    Use half a cup of vinegar to each two tablespoons of Borax.
  • Question
    What strength of vinegar should I buy?
    Community Answer
    You can just use regular distilled white vinegar from the grocery store.
  • Question
    Can you use apple vinegar?
    Community Answer
    No. Apple vinegar has a different composition. You will want to use plain white distilled vinegar, which you can find at your grocery store.
  • Question
    What is the ratio of vinegar to water to mix a solution for killing mold in a hummingbird feeder?
    Community Answer
    It is not necessary to dilute the vinegar with water. Just spray the vinegar on and allow it time to set in before your scrub away the mold.
  • Question
    How should I clean mold from ceilings?
    Community Answer
    Ceilings can be difficult to reach, so you may need a ladder and a bush with a longer handle to clean the mold off a ceiling. Also consider wearing protective eyewear, since you will be beneath the surface and looking up at it.
  • Question
    Would 20%, or even 30%, agricultural vinegar be even better at killing and removing mold than the strength sold in grocery stores?
    Community Answer
    This is theoretically true, as long as the surface can withstand the increased concentration of vinegar. Do a color test on a small, out of sight area before trying on a larger, more conspicuous surface.
  • Question
    What ratio of vinegar and water will kill common fungal infections in socks or clothes?
    Community Answer
    You can wash your clothes with a cup of vinegar and no detergent, but be aware that vinegar has not been proven to get rid of fungal infections in clothes.
  • Question
    I can't find white distilled vinegar where I live. Can I use white wine vinegar?
    Community Answer
    White distilled vinegar is just the clear vinegar sold in most grocery stores. Are you sure they don't have it in your store? If they sell white wine vinegar, it would be odd if they don't have the distilled version. Maybe you could ask a clerk?
  • Question
    How do I get rid of mold and mildew in a garage that has pegboard on the walls?
    Community Answer
    This is caused by condensation - if you can't insulate the walls, you can use damp-resisting insulating wallpaper.
  • Question
    Should I check the attic area under the roof for mold before I take care of the mold in my basement?
    Community Answer
    Unless the mold appears to trace down the walls, there is no need to go higher than the walls you are trying to clean.
  • Question
    How do I clean mold off fabric?
    Community Answer
    Rinse off as much mold as possible by running water from the backside through to the front. Then, soak item in white distilled vinegar (you may add borax also) for no less than 1 hour. Rinse. Wash the fabric and hang it out in the sun or a well-lit room to dry. You may have to repeat this process one or two more times.
  • Question
    Can I use white vinegar on a painted ceiling without negative effects?
    Community Answer
    Yes. I have been using vinegar on everything thing painted with no problem.
  • Question
    Will white vinegar remove mold from books?
    Community Answer
    Unfortunately, no. When the mold seeps into a porous surface (such as the paper in a book), it is nearly impossible to get rid of. The white vinegar will work to remove mold from hard/ solid surfaces.
  • Question
    I have ceiling mold. I once sprayed with vinegar. Do I need to wash off the ceiling before repainting?
    R.garner1300
    Community Answer
    Yes, you should scrub or rinse off all visible mold before painting. Otherwise, mold spores can be reactivated.
  • Question
    How much baking soda do I add to vinegar for use in a spray bottle?
    Community Answer
    Don't use baking soda. It will eliminate the cleaning power of vinegar.
  • Question
    How much baking soda do I use with the vinegar?
    Community Answer
    None. You can use just straight white vinegar and scrub with a sponge. Doing this will get a lot of mold off a surface such as a bath mat or wall.
  • Question
    When I opened a bag with lemons, one "exploded" greenish black powder out of bag in my face and all over. It was on top of a bag with cans of soup. Can I wipe the cans down with vinegar or discard?
    Crystal
    Community Answer
    As long as the cans of soup were unopened, they should be fine and can just be wiped down with warm water and dish soap, or vinegar if you prefer. If it got in the soup though, you should throw out any such soup or other contaminated food.
  • Question
    Can I use vinegar on an oil-painted picture?
    Community Answer
    Yes you can use vinegar on oil paintings. Let it set for 20 minutes and then was with clean water. Its best to use disposable wipes to clean off the vinegar. Clean with water and clean wipe 3 times.
  • Question
    Can I use these methods to remove mold in a refrigerator and freezer?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but do not use vinegar + baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), since one is an alkaline and the other is an acid, therefore they cancel each other out. They initially fizz out of control, but the mixture left behind after the fizzing is over, is just simple water, which will disinfect and kill nothing. A better choice would be vinegar + salt o vinegar + borax (not to be confused with boric acid which is not the same).
  • Question
    Can I use vinegar to remove mold from soil?
    Community Answer
    No, this will most likely poison the soil. If you're talking about mold growing on soil in a plant pot, you could just physically remove it with a gardening tool.
  • Question
    Will white vinegar help to kill and remove mold from the siding of my house?
    Community Answer
    It can be useful, especially when combined with generic Oxy/generic Dawn type dishwashing liquid. Sprayed on or slopped on, it loosens mold which is now ready to be scrubbed and hosed away. Ammonia and water also work very well.
  • Question
    How do I clean mold in the pan at the back of refrigerator?
    Community Answer
    Soak it with vinegar for an hour, then rub it with a brush and rinse with warm water.
  • Question
    Will vinegar work on mold on wood furniture?
    Community Answer
    In my experience, no. The mold gets into the pores of the wood and just grows back after the mold on the surface is removed. Your best bet is to sand the wood down until you see no more mold, and then sand a little bit more to make sure. If doing indoors, do not use a power sander without a dust-collection system/vacuum attachment, as it will cause mold to become airborne as well as annoying teeny tiny sanding dust-particles. Seal the wood with varnish or lacquer or enamel or any wood sealer to prevent this from happening again.
  • Question
    How do I clean mold out of car vents?
    Community Answer
    Pour vinegar into the vents first. Then have the vent give out warm air for 20 minutes, then cold air for 10.
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