Does Isopropyl Alcohol Kill Mold? Everything You Need to Know

Mold is among those ubiquitous house monsters appearing suddenly in your bathroom, kitchen, or basement—actually any place that happens to be damp and humid. Unsightly, it even causes health problems in case one doesn’t deal with them, mainly for people suffering from allergies or asthma. So, when you find mold, you want to be done with it as soon as possible. One of those popular approaches comprises using isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol. But does rubbing alcohol do the trick? And is there anything better? Let’s break it down.

Is Isopropyl Alcohol Good for Killing Mold? How to Use It?

Yes, isopropyl alcohol kills certain mold types on hard, non-porous surfaces. When molds on tiles, countertops, and glass are set in their places, they can be cleaned and disinfected with alcohol. On the other hand, if someone is dealing with porous materials, like wood, drywall, or fabrics, then alcohol would be a bad option since mold usually keeps growing inside such materials.

How to use isopropyl alcohol to kill mold:

1. Ventilate the room: The first thing you do is ensure that the room is well-ventilated, which includes opening windows and turning on fans. For protecting your hands and keeping away from mold spores and alcohol fumes, wear gloves and a mask.
2. Apply the alcohol:

• For smaller areas: Use a cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol of at least 70% concentration.
• For larger areas: Dip a spray bottle in isopropyl alcohol and spray directly on the mold for larger areas.

3. Scrub the surface: Take a sponge, scrub brush, or cloth to remove mold from the surface. Be sure not to leave any spot, as it may create regrowth.
4. Wipe it down: After scrubbing, use a clean, damp cloth and wipe the area to remove residual mold and alcohol.
5. Let it dry: Allow the area to dry completely before reuse. This way, mold cannot grow once more.

Isopropyl alcohol works great in cases of light mold issues, especially on non-porous surfaces; however, this is not a long-term solution if there’s still moisture or if the mold has made its way into porous materials.

Does Isopropyl Alcohol Kill Fungal Spores?

Mold and fungi reproduce by means of spores: tiny, invisible particles that can float through the air, landing on damp surfaces. Surface mold is killed easily enough, but that doesn’t mean you’ve killed the spores, which is why mold often returns after cleaning.

Isopropyl alcohol may kill a portion of the spores on the surface, but it does not reach those floating in the air or buried inside porous materials like fabrics or drywall. For a proper way to deal with the fungal spores, more than just alcohol is required.

How to deal with fungal spores:

• Air purifiers: Avail the service of a HEPA filter to capture airborne spores. These are quite useful for a basement or poorly ventilated area.
• Dehumidifiers: Keeping the level of humidity below 50 percent can stop mold and spores from spreading.
• Regular cleaning: Even if you have killed surface mold, regular cleaning reduces the number of spores inside your home.

Can You Kill Mold with Bleach?

One other common household cleaner for mold issues is bleach, but it certainly is not always the best alternative. This is most particularly the case with porous surfaces, although bleach does kill mold on non-porous surfaces, such as tile or glass.

On the other hand, it does virtually nothing to mold growing on wood, drywall, or fabrics. In fact, using bleach on such surfaces makes it even worse by allowing moisture further into the depth of the material and really encouraging further mold growth.

How to use bleach for mold:

1. Take one cup of bleach and mix with one gallon of water.
2. Either in a spray bottle or sponge, take the mixture onto the moldy area.
3. Scrub the surface with a stiff brush.
4. Let it sit for about ten minutes before wiping with water.
5. Allow to totally dry out.

Bleach will only work wonders superficially because it cannot penetrate deep enough to permeate and kill the mold that has grown deep into porous materials. For deep-rooted mold problems, you would require something stronger, if not professional help.

What Is the Best Homemade Mold Killer?

If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, you can make a killer of mold out of likely what’s sitting in your kitchen. One of the best homemade mold killers is vinegar. Non-toxic, works on a variety of mold types, and is less dangerous to have around children and pets compared to certain chemicals like bleach or alcohol.

How to use vinegar to kill mold:

1. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle. You don’t need to add water.
2. Spray the affected area: Spray it liberally enough to completely saturate the moldy surface.
3. Let it sit for an hour: Vinegar takes time to do its magic, so let it stay there without immediately wiping it off.
4. Scrub the area: Scrub the place with a soft-bristled brush or sponge after keeping the vinegar intact in the area.
5. Rinse with water. Wipe the area with a wet rag.
6. Dry completely: Make sure the surface is fully dry afterward to avoid new mold growth.

Vinegar kills about 80% of mold types, so it is quite a good all-purpose cleaner. If you want to give it a little more oomph in the cleaning power, then you can add baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda onto the moldy area, spray vinegar over the top, then scrub away. The baking soda will act more like an abrasive to help rip the mold off.

What Do Professionals Use to Kill Mold?

In the case of larger mold infestations or mold that has infiltrated porous materials, professional mold remediation companies use tools and chemicals a bit more robust than what is available for the regular Joe homeowner. They have access to industrial-strength cleaners such as biocides and fungicides, which directly kill mold on contact and don’t allow molds to come back.

Here’s a look at what professionals might use:

1. Biocides: These are strong chemicals designed to eliminate mold growth with prevention from growing again. Stronger than the ordinary household cleaners, they find their application in mold cleanups that are on an industrial level.
2. HEPA vacuums: These are used by mold remediation personnel in sucking mold spores in the air and from surfaces. The vacuum machines come with special filters that trap even the tiniest particles, including mold spores.
3. Air scrubbers: These machines clean the air in a space by filtering mold spores, along with other pollutants. Experts use them in places where there is a higher level of mold to prevent spores from flying in the air.
4. Moisture control: Taking care of the moisture problem is one of the first professional actions to be performed. It could be by fixing a leak in a pipe, putting in a better ventilation system, or through the application of heavy-duty dehumidifiers; what is important here is keeping it dry to not allow mold to grow back again.

If your mold problem is too large to handle on your own or keeps coming back despite your best efforts, it’s a good idea to call in professionals. Do not hesitate to seek professionals who will evaluate the situation and use their equipment and expertise for thorough mold removal.

Tips for Preventing Mold in Your Home

The only real way of avoiding mold, even after cleaning up the mold, is by controlling the moisture. For molds to start growing, they need moisture. Thus, the only key to a no-mold home and premises is to keep them dry.

Quick tips to prevent mold:

• Fix leaks right away: Whether it is a leaky pipe or a dripping roof, repair any water issue as soon as possible.
• Use dehumidifiers: Keep the humidity in your house below 50%. If possible, get a dehumidifier, particularly in those areas that are humid, such as the basement or bathroom.
• Ventilate properly: Let the house be well-ventilated. This will involve opening the windows, making sure that the fans in the house, especially the exhaust ones, are up and running, and installing proper vents in those places highly susceptible to humidity, like the bathroom.
• Clean regularly: Cleaning on a regular basis prevents mold spores from starting to grow and taking hold.
• Avoid carpeting in damp areas: These carpets trap moisture. Therefore, avoid the installation of carpets either in basements or bathrooms because these are prone to mold growth.

Conclusion

Isopropyl alcohol would be good for cleaning surface mold off tile and countertops, but it’s not a complete solution for deeper, more serious mold problems. The mold grows very fast, and in most of those instances when there is moisture beneath, simple surface cleaning will hardly help.

Vinegar and baking soda provide a good, safer alternative to minor mold issues as a DIY, while bleach does for hard surfaces but is not the best option for porous ones. The larger or more persistent mold issues are best left to professionals in the interest of safety, since their tools and expertise go to the root of mold manifestation.

Whether one way or another, remember that the best way to stop molds from growing is by controlling the moisture. Keep things dry, repair the leaks, and keep your homes well-ventilated—you’re always one step ahead of mold at home.