What Kills Mold? A List of Effective Household Cleaners (2024)

Trying to clean up mold in your home? Here’s what can kill it.

While a severe mold problem (more than 10 square feet) is best left to the professionals, you may opt to tackle a smaller mold cleanup yourself.

After you’ve fixed the moisture issue and dried the area completely, here’s a list of household products that can help you kill and remove mold.

• Does Bleach Kill Mold?
• Does Vinegar Kill Mold?
• Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Mold?
• Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Mold?
• Does Ammonia Kill Mold?
• Does Baking Soda Kill Mold?
• Does Borax Kill Mold?
• Does Dish Soap Kill Mold?
• Does Lysol Kill Mold?
• Does Clorox Kill Mold?

Does Bleach Kill Mold?

Yes, bleach is a potent biocide that can be used to kill mold.

The active ingredient in bleach, sodium hypochlorite, reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid, which kills mold by denaturing proteins, inactivating enzymes, disrupting nucleic acids, and destroying other cellular components.

Because bleach requires direct contact to kill mold, it’s most effective at killing mold on the surface of nonporous surfaces like tiles and sinks. It’s not as effective at killing mold on porous materials (such as wood and drywall), which absorb moisture and allow mold to penetrate underneath the surface.

When using bleach, the CDC recommends using a diluted solution of no more than 1 cup of household bleach (5-6% sodium hypochlorite) mixed in with 1 gallon of water. Never mix bleach with ammonia-based cleaners, which can react to produce toxic fumes.

1. Apply the diluted bleach solution to the moldy surface
2. Let it sit for 15 minutes
3. Scrub off the mold
4. Rinse with water
5. Dry the surface thoroughly

Does Vinegar Kill Mold?

Yes, vinegar is a mild acid that kills 82% of mold species. It’s often used as a natural and nontoxic alternative to cleaning chemicals when it comes to killing household mold.

Cleaning vinegar, which contains 6% acetic acid, is the best type for killing mold. White vinegar containing 5% acidity will also work just fine. If you don’t already have some at home, white vinegar can be inexpensively purchased at most grocery stores.

Vinegar can be used to kill mold on both nonporous surfaces and porous surfaces. Compared to bleach, it can more easily penetrate porous materials like wood to kill mold growing underneath the surface.

1. Apply vinegar to the moldy surface using a spray bottle
2. Let it sit for 1 hour
3. Scrub off the mold
4. Wipe clean and let surface dry

Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Mold?

Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.

In a study testing the effects of various mold-killers, hydrogen peroxide was found to be moderately effective at killing mold on nonporous surfaces, albeit less potently than bleach.

1. Apply hydrogen peroxide to the mold surface using a spray bottle
2. Let it sit for 10 minutes or until it stops bubbling
3. Scrub off the mold
4. Wipe clean and let surface dry

Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Mold?

Alcohol kills a variety of microbes by denaturing proteins and dissolving lipids. However, it’s not as effective as other substances on this list, such as bleach and vinegar.

A common use of alcohol is for removing minor mold stains on fabrics, leather, furniture, and books. For hard, non-porous surfaces, vinegar and bleach are far more effective at killing mold.

1. Clean moldy area with soap and water
2. Let surface dry
3. Mix together a 1:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol and water
4. Apply to moldy area using sponge or spray bottle
5. Let it sit for 15 minutes
6. Wipe clean and let surface dry

Does Ammonia Kill Mold?

Yes, ammonia is a strong mold killer. In fact, many commercial mold cleaning products contain ammonia. It’s stronger than vinegar and is similar to bleach in terms of potency, although make sure to never mix two together — ammonia and bleach react to produce toxic fumes.

Ammonia is an alkaline substance with pH levels between 11-13, which is significantly higher than what most molds are able to tolerate (most molds prefer slightly acidic pH levels below 7).

1. Prepare a diluted solution using a 1:1 ratio of clear ammonia and water
2. Apply ammonia solution to moldy area using a spray bottle
3. Let sit for 3-4 hours
4. Wipe clean and let surface dry

Does Baking Soda Kill Mold?

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is another natural household cleaner that can be used for cleaning mold. It’s also an alkaline substance with pH levels between 8 to 9, which is is higher than what most molds are able to tolerate.

As a result, baking soda can be considered a safe and natural mold killer.

1. Make a paste using a 1:1 ration of baking soda and water
2. Apply to moldy area
3. Scrub off the mold
4. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water and pour into a spray bottle
5. Spray the surface and let it dry

Does Borax Kill Mold?

Borax (sodium borate) is slightly stronger than baking soda. With a pH level above 9, borax creates an unfavorable, high-alkalinity environment that kills mold and inhibits it from regrowing.

It’s weaker than ammonia, but it’s a natural product and doesn’t produce harmful fumes.

1. Mix 1 cup of borax in 1 gallon of water
2. Apply to moldy area using a spray bottle
3. Scrub off the mold
4. Wipe clean and let surface dry

Does Dish Soap Kill Mold?

Dish soap doesn’t exactly kill mold, but it can be used to remove visible mold. When added to water, dish soap acts as a surfactant that helps detach mold and mold spores from surfaces, making them easier to scrub off.

According to CDC recommendations, “mold can be removed from hard surfaces with household products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of household laundry bleach in 1 gallon of water.”

Using soap and water with a sponge or stiff brush, scrub off all visible traces of mold before using a disinfectant to kill the residual mold and mold spores. This works for most non-porous surfaces, as well as some hard, porous surfaces.

Does Lysol Kill Mold?

According to the manufacturer, Lysol Mold and Mildew Remover “destroys stubborn mold & mildew stains” and “remove[s] mold from tubs.”

Lysol is a brand of disinfectant that contains bleach, which has been shown to be effective at killing mold on contact. It is useful for cleaning mold on hard, non-porous surfaces, especially in bathrooms.

Does Clorox Kill Mold?

Yes Clorox products such as Clorox Disinfecting Bleach and Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover both use bleach (sodium hypochlorite) as the active ingredient, which is effective at killing mold.

Just like with generic bleach, these products are most effective for removing mold from hard, non-porous surfaces.