If toxic mold is affecting a less than 3×3 foot area in your home and office, and you’re determined to tackle the cleanup yourself, there are several DIY products from which to choose – some of which are already in your kitchen pantry!

Common household products that can kill mold while saving money on removal include:

• Bleach
• Baking Soda
• Borax
• Grapefruit Seed Extract
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Vinegar
• Tea Tree Oil
• Hydrogen Peroxide

Bleach is great for killing mold on nonporous surfaces such as grout and tile, concrete, or linoleum. However, it is ineffective for killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood or drywall because bleach cannot penetrate beyond the top layer of these materials, leaving the mold roots intact. It may temporarily look cleaner as the bleach will clean the surface, but the mold will soon return.

The Badger likes to use chlorinated bleach for tile, grout, and non-porous substances, but otherwise, prefers one of the alternative solutions listed below. This is because bleach is extremely caustic and can cause rust on metals, heavy vapors in the air (make sure the area is well ventilated), and can damage skin. If you do choose to use bleach, be sure to wear gloves, and use the instructions below.

To clean mold with chlorinated bleach:

1. Before you start, make sure the area is well ventilated. Use a gas mask and gloves.
2. Mix approximately 2 parts bleach with 10 parts water.
3. Spray solution on affected areas and let sit for 10 minutes.
4. Wash area and repeat if needed.

Lastly, never mix bleach with Ammonia as it will create poison gas and YOU WILL DIE.

Baking soda is a natural and non-toxic mold removal product that you’re likely to find in your kitchen pantry.

To clean with baking soda:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon baking soda with 2 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. Mix well.
2. Spray the affected areas.
3. Use a brush to scrub the mold away.
4. Rinse the area with water.
5. Spray with baking soda solution.
6. Let the solution dry and leave it.

Borax is an extremely common and fairly non-toxic chemical that is not only used as a fungicide but is also an effective insecticide. It has an extremely basic pH at around 9, which toxic molds hate!

To clean with a borax solution:

1. Mix one cup of Borax per gallon of hot water (the heat helps it dissolve).
2. Spray affected areas with borax solution.
3. Once it has soaked in after around 5-10 minutes, use a brush to scrub any visible surface mold.
4. Use a rag or HEPA-filtered wet vac to remove any of the mold debris you have broken loose.
5. Do not worry about leaving excess Borax, it is fine to stay on the surface as it will help to inhibit future mold growth!

If you’re looking for another odorless, non-toxic and all natural solution, grapefruit seed extract is another antifungal that can be used both internally and externally.

To clean with a grapefruit seed extract solution:

1. Combine 10 drops of grapefruit seed extract with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Mix well.
2. Apply it generously to the affected areas.
3. Let it sit without any rinsing or scrubbing.

Hydrogen Peroxide is one of the badger’s favorite mold treatments. Hydrogen Peroxide is odorless, non-toxic and all natural, plus unlike bleach, it can penetrate porous surfaces. It can bleach certain materials (although unlikely in the concentrations used here), so do a small sample first just to be safe.

To clean with a hydrogen peroxide solution:

1. Add one part 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (available at any grocery store or pharmacy) to one part water
2. Use a spray bottle to apply it generously to the affected areas
3. Allow it to soak for 10 minutes while it works. The fizzing bubbles are a good sign!
4. Scrub the area with a brush or rag to help break up any mold still clinging to the surface
5. Wipe the area with hydrogen peroxide when you’re done scrubbing
6. May need to repeat the above steps a few times, but once the mold is removed the area should be sterilized from mold and bacteria