I live in the south and sometimes we get a lot of rain. Most houses here have basements and sometimes they will hold moisture. That can mean black mold. It can be pervasive and keep coming back if you don’t know how to get rid of it. Here is the best way to remove mold from your home and keep it from coming back.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
What things can cause mold inside homes?
- Humidity
- Leaky Pipes
- Condensation
- Poor Ventilation
- Flooding
Most people quickly grab the bottle of Clorox to clean up mold, thinking it will kill everything but it doesn’t. Mold will actually feed on the Clorox. It will return over and over again and can be a vicious cycle. Using Clorox will also harm your paint especially if you are trying to get it off of sheetrock.
Above is an example of some mold that was growing on our paneling after a water leak. This had been there for over a month when we found it. because there were some things propped against the wall. I wanted to make sure we didn’t take the paint off when we cleaned it and here is how we did it safely.
There are 2 products you will need to get, we found them at our local Home Depot:
They are safe and won’t harm your skin. First, spray on the Concrobium Mold Control, let it sit for a few seconds and then scrub with a damp cloth. You may have to use a little elbow grease or a second spray for set in mold, but most if it will wipe right off. Once it is dry, just spray on the Zep Clear Shell and let it dry.
It’s that easy and all the mold is gone leaving your paint job intact. The best part is the mold will not come back.
If you liked this household cleaning tip you might want to try these as well:
30+ Uses for WD40 in Your Home
How to Get the Mildew Smell out of Your Laundry
Martin @ Green Point Environmental says
I”m happy I read this. This is really helpful.
Lois says
Mold is my nightmare! We have moisture in your kitchen and it is very hard to deal with it as it is coming back again and again. Thanks for the post! I find it very helpful! 🙂
Johnny says
I have been worried about mold in my home. I was hoping that after we cleaned it for the second time it wouldn’t come back but it did. Hopefully this will work. Thanks for sharing.
Delma says
can this be used on carpet, as my car has mold on it’s carpet. Thank you
Kelley says
I have not tried it but I don’t see why not. I would try a small spot first to make sure it does not affect the color
Liz says
What about in the shower – grout area? Would this work?
Kelley says
Not sure have not tried it but I will soon, Great suggestion
Carrie says
think this will work on a cabinet? Don’t want to remove varnish or if it’s particle board cabinet??
Kelley says
Yes!
MamaBear says
Will this work on tile/grout inside a walk-in shower?
Kelley says
I am not sure MamaBear have not tried it yet
Maria Wicks says
Ugh I hate typos and autocorrect!! Here’s the corrected comment:
Thanks so much for this info!! Our bed sits right in front of our bedroom window, so in the cool wet season, we get some mold behind the bed from time to time. I have used everything from Clorox to Dawn and it keeps coming back. Will definitely try this out! Thanks!!
Kelley says
LOL no worries Maria and you are welcome!
Diane says
There was a leak in the basement before we moved in. The unfinished side still has a funky smell and I have tried mopping with a mildew removal. Suggestions? Thank you
Kelley says
Nothing I know for sure but you may want to try Vinegar, it is great for removing odors and then put in a dehumidifier or one of my favorite products damp rid.
Lindsay says
Any idea how this works in a shower/tub? Especially a tile shower on the grout? TIA!
Kelley says
No have not tried it there but I may…stay tuned!
Troy says
what about in the UK?
Kelley says
Not sure Troy but you can order it on Amazon
linda says
I am glad I read this we have problem in our bathroom well try this for sure Thanks for the info
Kelley says
You are welcome!
Stacy Bates says
Is this safe on drywall on the ceiling? We have it on the bathroom ceiling.
Kelley says
Hey Stacy, I am not sure it depends on what kind of paint you used. If it is oil or latex you should be fine but I would try a little corner first to check it.
Candy Bold says
I’m glad I read this on your site. I have a few places in a couple of bathrooms that have been hard to get rid of. I’ll try your suggestion!!
Kelley says
Candy, drop by you can borrow mine 🙂 I have plenty left!
Gail says
I’ve been using bleach with no result. Going to Home Depot in the AM! Thank you in advance!
Kelley says
You are welcome!
Lani says
Very good to know!
Marylou. Debacker says
I love the information on getting rid of mold
PAM says
THANKS SO MUCH………I PLAN TO KEEP THIS INFO IN MY FILES. GOOD INFO.
PAM
Rachel @ {i love} my disorganized life says
I had no idea bleach would make things worse, so glad I read this!