Does Vinegar Kill Mold? What to Know

Looking for an affordable, natural product to get rid of mold? Just pick up some vinegar, one of the most powerful mold killers around. According to ServiceMaster Restoration and Cleaning, the mild acid in vinegar kills about 82% of known molds and can help prevent future outbreaks. It’s a great solution for cleaning small areas of mold on hard surfaces in your bathroom, kitchen and basement.

But, while vinegar is a powerful mold cleaning agent, it does have limitations. You can clean small amounts of mold with vinegar yourself, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises hiring professionals when the moldy patch covers about 10 square feet or larger. Keep reading to learn about how and when to use vinegar to clean and kill mold with tips from Michael Sacenti from American Healthy Homes and William Carroll from Indiana University.

Is Vinegar More Effective Than Bleach at Killing Mold?

Vinegar truly is better than bleach at killing mold.

The EPA does not recommend using bleach to kill or remove mold, except in special circumstances, nor does Sacenti. “Do not use bleach to clean up mold,” he says. He points to the fact that most bleach contains up to 80 per cent water, which can actually help mold to develop.

According to ServiceMaster, bleach is only effective at killing surface mold, which allows mold to not only grow back, but to grow back stronger. When bleach is used on porous surfaces like drywall or wood, mold membranes will move deeper into the surface to avoid the chemical.

Vinegar is much more effective at killing mold. A big reason for this lies in the inherent acidity of vinegar. “A five percent vinegar solution is fairly acidic with a pH of 2.5 to 3.5 depending on type,” Carroll says. That acidic of a solution creates an inhospitable environment that will kill most live mold spores. Vinegar also does not contain water, avoiding one of the major drawbacks of bleach.

What Kind of Vinegar Should You Useto Kill Mold?

First, save the apple cider vinegar for salad dressing. To clean mold, use regular white distilled vinegar, typically sold with five percent acidity. You can also use “cleaning vinegar” with its six percent acidity. Both are effective at killing mold, but “the stronger solution is more toxic to mold,” Carroll says. Generic brands are as effective as name brands. Cleaning vinegar is sold online and at many home improvement, discount and grocery stores.

How Long Does it Take for Vinegar to Kill Mold?

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Depending on the amount of mold, let the vinegar sit on the mold at least 60 minutes before wiping or scrubbing.

How Do You Use Vinegar to Clean Mold?

To safely and effectively clean a small area of mold, ServiceMaster advises the following:

1. Add full-strength white distilled vinegar to a spray bottle and spray it on the mold.
2. Let it sit for at least an hour before wiping away mold.
3. If you need follow-up scrubbing, combine one teaspoon baking soda with two cups of water. Pour it into a spray bottle, shake and spray it onto the mold. Scrub with a brush or scouring pad.
4. Rinse with warm water, then spray again with the vinegar and let it dry.

To protect yourself from mold and its spores, wear gloves, a mask and goggles. Gloves also prevent any skin irritation from the vinegar.

Where Not to Use Vinegar to Kill Mold

Because of vinegar’s acidity, it can damage some surfaces. We don’t recommend using vinegar to kill mold on natural stone, waxed wood, cast iron or aluminum.

FAQ

What other cleaning solutions can I use to kill mold?

Hydrogen peroxide is another option to kill mold. There are also specially-formulated mold cleaning products that contain fungicides or anti-fungal chemicals, like Mold Armor Mold Remover and Disinfectant Cleaner.

Should I call an expert if I spot mold?

You should call an expert if you see mold in your home, especially if you have mold allergies, existing asthma or a weakened immune system. Also, if the area requiring cleanup is larger than 10 sq. ft., don’t attempt to clean it yourself.

How do professionals clean and kill mold?

Sacenti’s company uses an extremely powerful commercial grade hydrogen peroxide to kill mold. “This is the best at not only killing mold but any other organics they have settled in the space that’s being cleaned,” he says.

Many professional mold remediation companies use commercial-grade anti-fungal cleaners to clean mold.

About the Expert

• Michael Sacenti owns American Healthy Homes. He has 10 years of experience in the mold remediation industry and 40 years experience in real estate maintenance.
• Bill Carroll, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University. The former vice president of industry issues for Occidental Chemical Corporation, he’s currently principal of Carroll Applied Science in Dallas, Texas.