Will Bleach Work?

While it is widely accepted that molds are dangerous to the inhabitants of a home or office, many people do not take the threat seriously enough to get professional help. Whether this is due to expense of professional remediation or the DIY rage that has currently infatuated our society, a lack of knowledge about proper remediation has in many cases endangered health and wellness. In response, let’s quickly address one of the leading mistakes made by homeowners attempting mold remediation: does bleach kill mold?

Does Bleach Kill Mold?

The straight up truth is that bleach has never been approved by the EPA for mold remediation because it has no power to eliminate the deadly spores and enzyme roots that nourish the mold infection. Though bleach has been used for many years as a powerful disinfectant and to whiten fabrics and organic materials, many studies have lead to the conclusion that bleach is very much impotent against molds.

Perhaps it is surprising, but the actual ionic structure of bleach prevents it from penetrating into any porous surface and eliminating the bacteria or fungus festering there. Because of the patterns by which mold grows, the roots and spores of the mold permeate the wood or dry wall in which they grow, deeply embedding themselves in the material. Without a proper cleanser and disinfectant, these healthy roots will not be threatened.

Bleach Can Have Negative Results

Bleach itself is made mostly of water. When bleach is used for decontamination of molds, the water in the bleach will penetrate deep to the root system of the mold, but the disinfectant chemical will stay on the surface. On occasion, depending upon the moisture or humidity in the room and other conditions, bleach used on the surface will evaporate away, but the water that penetrated the mold will remain to nourish the roots. In this situation, the mold will not only grow back, but will come with a vengeance.

Instead of Bleach

Rather than falling for bleach, make an effort to find an EPA approved mold remediation system. There are a good number of options available that are sure to provide complete disinfection of the mold because they are designed to sterilize deeply. Whether you hire professionals to come in and sterilize the space or you undertake the task yourself, it should be done right the first time.