Finding mold in your home is a scary event, with knowledge that mold is “bad” it is usually first instinct to try to tackle the problem immediately with a household cleaner and remove the visible mold. Bleach is probably one of the most common household cleaners that are used for its combat activity on mold. There are a few things to keep in mind in the mold vs. bleach battle that you should know before believing that bleach has won the fight.
Bleach kills bacteria and viruses and is used for its sanitizing qualities on surfaces. It will kill surface mold on non-porous surfaces (glass, tub, tile etc.) but it cannot ever completely kill mold that grows on porous materials (drywall or wood). Recommendations from the EPA do not include bleach for killing mold as it is a corrosive material that can be harmful if inhaled and can cause burns with exposure.
A good rule of thumb when dealing with the first sight of surface mold is to use whatever method, bleach or natural mold killing products that you are comfortable using. If after a waiting period you see the mold return, then you can be sure that the mold is deeper in the material and will only be wasting time continually using that product over again.
If you begin to realize that the visible mold that you’ve tried to combat is returning after cleaning, it’s time to contact an expert in mold inspection, assessment and remediation. These experts are trained to look for areas that are susceptible to mold and moisture, abate the problem and get you back to living life without mold. If you have found yourself in this situation in the New York/New Jersey area, call HNST Mold Inspections today, we’re waiting for your call.