How to Kill Mold With Vinegar

Co-authored by Jonathan Tavarez

Last Updated: June 12, 2024 Approved

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Black mold, or Stachybotrys Chartarum, can be unsightly and can also pose a health hazard in your home. Large mold problems should be handled professionally using the necessary cleansers to rid your home of mold. Smaller mold removal projects may be able to be tackled organically using plain distilled white vinegar.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Removing the Mold

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1
Determine to get rid of the mold. Mold growing in your home can cause serious health problems. People who are sensitive to mold can suffer from irritation in their throat, their eyes, on their skin and in their lungs. Remove the mold to create a healthier, cleaner, safer home.
- Mold can aggravate existing allergies.
- Mold has been linked to respiratory tract infections and lung disease.
- Mold can cause coughing, wheezing and increased effects of asthma.
Vinegar is a natural and organic material, but extended exposure to vinegar can cause irritation to your skin. Protect your skin by wearing gloves when you are working with vinegar.

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Do not dilute the vinegar with water. Make sure that you have enough vinegar to cover the surface you would like to clean.
4
Spray the vinegar on the trouble area.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Jonathan Tavarez
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.} Cover the area thoroughly with the vinegar. Be generous in how much you use to be sure that there is enough vinegar to attempt to break up the mold.
- If you do not have a spray bottle handy, you can also use a disposable cloth. Thoroughly wet the cloth with vinegar and wipe the area of mold to soak it in vinegar.
EXPERT TIP

"If you use vinegar to kill mold in the bathroom, don't spray it on a shower or on tiles made of unsealed stone, as it could cause etching."

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
It takes a little time for the vinegar to work into the mold and break it. Give it at least an hour before you return to scrub the mold away.
6
Scrub the mold away with warm water and a scrub brush. Using a brush, scrub at the area of mold which has been sitting in the vinegar. Continue to clean your brush off in warm water as you work through the moldy area.
- Using a scrub brush will make it easier to break up the mold, as well as keeping your skin further removed from the vinegar while you are cleaning.
- Find a brush that is the appropriate size for the job. You may want a larger brush to cover more surface area, or a smaller brush to reach into cracks and corners.
7
Wipe the surface clean. Once you have dislodged the mold from the surface, wipe the space clean using warm water and allow the area to dry. If the mold persists, repeat this entire process until all the mold has been removed.
- Vinegar will likely leave an odor, which will fade within a few hours.
8
Mix vinegar with other products to enhance its killing power. Vinegar is thought to kill 82% of species of mold. If this is true, that still leaves you with the possibility of 18% of persistent species. If vinegar does not seem to be cutting through your mold problem, try mixing it with borax, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda or salt.^{[2]
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Research source}
- Only mix the vinegar with one of these products at a time. If it is still not working, try mixing it with another.
- Never mix vinegar with bleach. This creates dangerous, toxic fumes.
- If these combinations are not working, or you have a larger mold problem, you may need to hire a professional to remove the mold from your home.
EXPERT TIP

"To clean minerals and mold off a shower door, apply a mixture of baking soda and vinegar. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then wipe it away."

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
Marcus is the owner of Maid Easy, a local residential cleaning company in Phoenix, Arizona. His cleaning roots date back to his grandmother who cleaned homes for valley residents in the 60’s through the 70’s. After working in tech for over a decade, he came back to the cleaning industry and opened Maid Easy to pass his family’s tried and true methods to home dwellers across the Phoenix Metro Area.

Marcus Shields
House Cleaning Professional
9
Wear an N95 mask when you are dealing with large amounts of mold. You can find an N95 mask at your local hardware store. Follow the instructions on the packaging to fit the mask tightly to your face if you are cleaning a large mold infestation.
- This mask is not necessary for small projects and everyday cleaning.

Part 2

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Preventing Mold from Returning

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1
Spray vinegar and leave it to help prevent future mold growth. You do not have to wash the vinegar away. Once the surface is clean, you can spray it with vinegar and leave the vinegar on the surface to keep the mold from returning.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Keep a spray bottle of vinegar in your shower and spray the surface every few days.
- Mop your floors with vinegar to prevent mold growth in damp areas.
2
Fix leaks in your home. Leaks can occur in your roof, your plumbing and seep in through your window. Clean any spills and address these problems to keep you home dry and free of mold.
- Check your roof for leaks and replace the roof or fix an area which may be allowing the damp weather into your home.
- Fix any plumbing issues as soon as they happen to prevent water from dripping and spilling.
- Check the seals of your windows and replace any which are allowing dampness to get through.
You may need to invest in a dehumidifier if you live in a humid area or have a part of your home which lacks ventilation and tends to be damp and attract mold.
4
Ventilate areas which can become damp. Mold thrives in damp, dark places. Allow air and sunlight into damp spaces as much as possible in order to control mold. Turn on fans when you are cooking, showering, or doing laundry.
- The kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room should be equipped with ventilation systems.
5
Clean your air conditioner regularly. Air conditioners contain drip pans, which gather excess water. Empty and clean this pan regularly to keep mold from forming and blowing into your home.
- Cut power to the air conditioner before you clean the drain pan.
- It is easiest to remove the water with a wet/dry vacuum to avoid spilling.
- Once you have removed the water, scrub away any debris or mold which may have formed in the pan before you return it.

Join the Discussion...

How do I safely kill mold?

17

WikiCheetahRunner104

I think I found some mold in my bathroom recently and am a little worried. I know mold isn't good and stuff like black mold can be pretty dangero... Read More

Mike Kapur
Certified Mold Assessor & Home Inspector, Sonic Home Inspections

You can use vinegar, diluted bleach, ammonia, or pretty much any household cleaners that have some kind of moldicide in them. If you have mold in... Read More

WikiAxolotlDancer711

I agree that household white vinegar is the way to go! Make sure to give it time to soak if you want to maximize the effectiveness of the vinegar... Read More

See all 3 Replies and

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Question

Is vinegar or bleach better to remove mold?

Jonathan Tavarez
Cleaning Specialist
Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.

Jonathan Tavarez

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

The answer depends on the type of surface you need to clean. Both are very effective cleaning agents. Vinegar is able to penetrate porous surfaces much easier than bleach, though, which makes it a far more effective mold-killer than bleach in this scenario.

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Is vinegar safe for hardwood floors?

Jonathan Tavarez
Cleaning Specialist
Jonathan Tavarez is a Cleaning Specialist based in Tampa, Florida. He is the Founder of Pro Housekeepers, a premium cleaning service catering to residential and commercial clients across the United States. Founded in 2015, Pro Housekeepers uses rigorous training methodologies to ensure high-quality cleaning standards. He has also since founded Germaphobix, a hygiene and sanitization product company, where he leveraged his expertise in the cleaning industry to make innovative products. Jonathan has over nine years of professional cleaning experience and has over six years of experience as the Communications Director for the United Nations Association, Tampa Bay. Jonathan earned a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of South Florida in 2012.

Jonathan Tavarez

Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

It is safe — as long as you use it in a 3 parts water 1 part vinegar ratio —, but I still wouldn't recommend using it.

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How much borax do I add to vinegar?

Community Answer

Use half a cup of vinegar to each two tablespoons of Borax.

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Tips

Bleach might be better to treat non-porous surfaces, but vinegar is recommended for porous surfaces affected by mold.^{[4]
X
Expert Source

Jonathan Tavarez
Cleaning Specialist

Expert Interview. 13 September 2019.}

Thanks
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Label the spray bottle so that you remember its purpose when cleaning in the future. It is best to empty vinegar and use a fresh batch each time, unless you plan to use it again soon.

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If you have a larger mold problem, you may need to use 1 cup of bleach diluted in a gallon of water to clear the area of mold.

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Things You'll Need

Rubber gloves
Naturally distilled white vinegar (don't use artificial vinegar)
Spray bottle (mixture of 80% vinegar and 20% water)
Water
A bucket with clean water to wash your brush in.
Microfibre cloth and/or a stiff brush
Protective glasses and a dust mask should be used if you think you are affected by mould and the brush might raise spore laden dust or flick moldy material into your face.