Both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are good for killing household mold. The difference between the two lies mainly in which surfaces they can be used on. Some surfaces can be bleached by hydrogen peroxide and others can be damaged by the acidity of vinegar. Both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide and safer and, importantly, far more effective than bleach.
How Does Vinegar Kill Mold?
Regular white vinegar is about 5% acetic acid, and you can get “cleaning vinegar” which is 6% acetic acid and quite a bit stronger.
The acid in vinegar is able to penetrate cell walls and leave tiny holes in them. This weakens the cell wall enough to kill the organism the vinegar is attacking.
Note: studies have found that vinegar does not kill Aspergillus fumigatus, a common mold found on plants and in soil, and in household dust.
How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Mold?
Hydrogen Peroxide is sometimes called oxygen bleach because it acts as an oxidizing agent. Oxidizing agents are substances that are able to accept electrons from other substances.
During the transfer of electrons the cell walls of, for example, bacteria or fungus, are damaged and may rupture entirely.
Hydrogen Peroxide is non-toxic and leaves behind only water and oxygen when it is done working.
Does it Work Behind Drywall?
Cleaning mold from a structure’s framework will be much the same as any other porous surface. Scrub it well, apply whichever mold-destroying agent you have chosen, let it do its work, then dry, dry, dry the area.
Does It Kill Mold Permanently?
Both vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are effective at killing mold spores and the body of the organism. They do not magically keep mold from growing back forever if conditions remain favorable for fungal growth.
Mold spreads both by mycelium (fungal roots) and by spores (equivalent to seeds of plants). Most things used to kill mold will destroy or hinder the spores fairly easily. Whether or not these same methods kill the mycelium depends on how porous the surface you are cleaning is, and how well the cleaning agent penetrates it.
Mycelium responds to some cleaners, such as bleach, by moving deeper into the substrate and growing back more vigorously than before.
Hydrogen peroxide penetrates porous surfaces better than bleach does and it’s worth a try to clean porous surfaces before replacing them.
Keeping the newly cleaned area as dry as possible will go a long way toward preventing the return of mold growth.
How Long Does It Last Before The Mold Comes Back?
Under the best of conditions, meaning the temperature and humidity are in the optimum range, mold takes about 24 to 48 hours to germinate or send out spores.
The spores will start to colonize favorable surfaces in 3 to 12 days. You’ll see the results of the colonizations in 18 to 21 days.
Mold is always present, indoors and out, spreading mycelium through a substrate and spores through the air. It just needs some moisture and organic material to take root in.
After you’ve cleaned a moldy area make sure to clean or discard anything that might have collected spores, such as shoes, gloves, and masks. This way you reduce the chances of spreading spores to other areas of your home.
Then, do whatever you can to dry the affected area. Fans and dehumidifiers can be very helpful for this.
If there is a leak or something else causing excess moisture this problem will need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Is It Safe To Mix Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide?
It is NOT safe to mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. You can safely use them one after another if you want to use both.
Mixing them creates peracetic acid, which, while used commercially as a disinfectant, requires special equipment to use safely. It is considered corrosive to the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes.
Breathing fumes of peracetic acid can result in cough, labored breathing, and shortness of breath. Getting it on your skin can result in pain, redness, and blisters. Splash some in your eye and it can cause “severe deep burns” of the eye according to The International Chemical Safety Card.
Peracetic acid is also a heavy oxidizer and can cause explosions if enclosed.
Which Kills Mold Better, Bleach or Vinegar?
Definitely vinegar, since bleach doesn’t actually kill mold.
Spraying bleach on a moldy spot will lighten the color and make it appear cleaner. A bleach solution that is safe to use as a home cleaner is not strong enough to kill mold spores, and it definitely does not damage the mycelium under the surface.
Further, bleach only works on impermeable surfaces, it does not penetrate porous surfaces like drywall or wood.
Bleach also provides excess moisture, being mostly made up of water, and since the chlorine breaks down almost immediately (in spite of the lingering smell), you’ll be providing a great deal of wet for future mold growth.
Is Hydrogen Peroxide Better Than Bleach For Disinfecting?
Hydrogen peroxide is definitely capable of killing bacteria and viruses. It’s also much safer and cleaner than bleach.
It takes a little time to do its job, so you’ll need to apply it to the surface in question and leave it for about 10 minutes.
What Kills Black Mold Naturally?
Many types of mold are black in color and there is no one type of mold that is “black mold”. The term is often used to refer to a mold called Stachybotrys chartarum.
You may hear that this type of household mold is more dangerous than others because it releases mycotoxins. However, most types of mold are capable of releasing mycotoxins, and just because mold is present does not mean mycotoxins are.
Exposure to any type of mold spores can cause allergic reactions in some people, and some people are far more sensitive than others. There is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that S. chartarum is any more dangerous than any other type of mold.
Most cases of mycotoxicosis are caused by eating moldy food, rather than by touching or inhaling spores.
Killing black mold is no different than killing any household mold. Wear skin and eye protection and proceed with the cleaning process with care.