How to Get Rid of Mold Smell

Mold - one of the most common household problems, faced my most homeowners. It is nothing but one of the many types of fungi that thrive in damp and musty locations. This is the reason you may find your bathroom, basement, attics, ceiling, and sometimes even clothes that have not been used for years, to have been affected by mold infestation. Most of these types of fungi are airborne, thus have the ability to spread from one area to the other in the house. But they need moist, dark and warm places as their ideal place to breed and thrive. Black mold infestation can affect the way a house looks, by a great degree, giving the place an unsightly or let's say an ugly appearance. No one would like to see their bathroom tiles bearing slimy green or black substances. But more important than this is the fact that a mold infestation presents severe health hazards to the occupants of the house, since it is an allergen and irritant. This is the reason, a mold infested house present greater threats to people who already have a condition of allergy.

Tips on Getting Rid of Mold Smell in House

Due to obvious reasons, the best way of getting rid of mold smell, is to get rid of the mold itself. So I would be giving you some tips on putting an end to the mold infestation in your house, which automatically would also take care of the moldy smell.

Tip #1

So what kills mold? The most popular home remedy for getting rid of mold smell is the use of vinegar. But first you would have to discover the problem areas, some of which I have already mentioned above. Wear protective rubber gloves and start with the cleaning. Get an empty spray bottle, and fill it with vinegar. Do not add water. Spray the solution on the moldy surfaces, and wait for an hour or so. In the meantime, make a soapy solution and soak a washcloth in it. Thereafter, wipe off the surface with the cloth, and allow the area to dry off.

Tip #2

Arrange for ingredients such as 2 parts vinegar, 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, 1 part boric acid and 4 parts water. Mix all these, and spray it on the surface. Ensure that you spray it properly so as to make the surface wet. Rub the surface with a brush, and rinse off with soapy water. Wipe the surface and allow it to dry. It is better to wear a mask while doing this. This is to prevent the spores of the mold from reaching you. This method is especially beneficial to kill black mold and get rid of its smell.

Apart from the above methods, there are some more which can be used to take care of the smell, after you are done cleaning the moldy areas. These are as follows:

• For instance, after you are done washing and cleaning the moldy areas with vinegar, and having allowed it to dry, sprinkle some baking soda all over the place.
• In most cases, after you are done cleaning the affected areas with vinegar, the foul odor diminishes. But for added benefit, you can use lemon juice mixed with water. After you are done with the cleaning, spray the solution on the surface, and allow it to dry. The high acidic content of lemon not only reduces the moldy smell, but also reduces the growth of the fungi.
• You can also make use of muriatic acid, now known as hydrochloric acid, for mold-affected bathroom tiles. Along with the smell, it would wipe out the entire mold colony. Since it is high in corrosive nature, it is recommended to be used in bathrooms only. This acid is especially recommended if you have a problem of black mold in bathroom.
• Most people use beach against mold infestation. But there are speculations with the use of this product. Experts have found that bleach remains ineffective against mold infestation. Moreover, the substance is not a safe option to try out in presence of kids or pets. So considering all these facts, vinegar is a safe household remedy for dealing with most types of mold.

You may find many people making use of air freshener spray to get rid of the smell. However, this method only masks the odor, and does not solve the problem which is at the source. So the best method always is to eliminate the source of the problem, instead of handling it superficially.