Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Black Mold?

If you’ve recently discovered black mold in your home, you may be wondering about which chemicals can provide safe and effective remedies.

Luckily, hydrogen peroxide does effectively kill black mold on certain surfaces such as Countertops, Bathtubs, Walls, Plastics, Floorings and toilets.

There are, however, certain exceptions which will be detailed below as some surfaces should not be cleaned with Hydrogen peroxide.

In general though, hydrogen peroxide kills mold in a safe, effective and eco-friendly manner.

How Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Black Mold

Hydrogen peroxide is an effective weapon to employ against black mold.

It is antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral, and is therefore able to kill microorganisms, spores, bacteria and viruses.

Since mold is a living microorganism, hydrogen peroxide can work against it by destructuring its proteins and DNA strands.

Once the proteins or DNA strands of the black mold have been destroyed, the mold dies, and can then be cleaned away by scrubbing and washing.

Safety of Cleaning Black Mold with Hydrogen Peroxide

In certain cases, cleaning black mold with hydrogen peroxide is safe and effective; however, there are certain precautions to be taken, as well as certain exceptions to this rule to consider.

A select number of surfaces may not react well to hydrogen peroxide, whereas other surfaces may be too porous for the peroxide to be able to penetrate and properly kill the black mold.

Surfaces that are Safe to Clean

Surfaces that are safe to clean are non-porous, solid surfaces such as:

• Countertops*
• Bathtubs
• Walls
• Tabletops
• Varnished wood
• Plastics
• Flooring*
• Toilet bowls and tanks

*Take note that over time if cleaning black mold with hydrogen peroxide, it may damage these surfaces, as it is slightly acidic.

This means that eventually and with continual use, it can begin to break down coloured surfaces, even if they are solid and non-porous.

Surfaces to Avoid Cleaning with Hydrogen Peroxide

For the most part, the surfaces to avoid are surfaces that are porous, as they may limit the ability of hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and black mold. These surfaces include:

• Non-Varnished wood
• Untreated wood
• Natural stone
• Carpet
• Drapes
• Grout
• Concrete*

* For concrete, one may choose to attempt to clean it using the method listed below, but scrubbing more aggressively. Since concrete is porous, it is best to recruit professional help or use a product like vinegar or mold remover.

If mold has affected surfaces that are porous or non-solid, it is considered best practice to discard and replace them.

Most cleaning agents that kill mold will have a hard time penetrating through porous surfaces, thus making them extremely difficult to clean.

This in turn can make them potentially harmful, which is why it’s considered safer to replace them entirely.

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How to Use Hydrogen Peroxide to Kill Black Mold

The first step will be keeping in mind the surface and area of mold that you wish to remove. It is not recommended to remove more than 10 square feet of mold by yourself.

If the area of mold exceeds this amount, it is safest at that point to call an expert for removal, especially since black mold can be very toxic.

The surface on which the black mold grows is also important. As mentioned above, make sure that the surface on which you’re clearing mold is safe for hydrogen peroxide use.

In order to clean black mold using hydrogen peroxide, you will want to use a 3 percent solution of the product.

• Once obtained, place the solution in a spray bottle and cover the moldy area with hydrogen peroxide by spraying directly onto it.

• Let the product sit for approximately 10-15 minutes. The peroxide should have stopped bubbling by this time.

• Scrub the affected area with a bristle brush until all the visible mold has been removed. Scrub carefully, so as to not damage the surface beneath.

• Once all the black mold has dissipated, wipe down the surface with a wet cloth.

• After wiping the surface with a wet cloth, you’ll next want to dry the surface with a dry rag.

• In order to prevent regrowth, it is best to provide high air flow to the affected room. This can be done after drying the spot. Potential solutions include opening a window or placing fans in the room.

For toilet bowls and tanks:

• Pour one cup of 3 percent hydrogen into the toilet bowl or, drain and dry the toilet tank before spraying the moldy spots with the solution.

• Scrub the solution in, then let the mixture sit for half an hour without flushing the toilet or refilling the tank.

• If cleaning the tank, rinse off the hydrogen peroxide.

• Once half an hour has passed, flush the toilet and/or refill the toilet tank.

It’s important to regulate expectations when dealing with black mold. While cleaning with hydrogen peroxide might kill any visible mold, there is a possibility that residual mold can remain hidden.

If you are dealing with black mold, you’ll want to find the source of the dampness. This may be a leaking pipe or faucet, humidity, condensation or other forms of moisture.

If the problem persists after cleaning the mold and removing the point of moisture, it may be time to call an expert in order to better assess the problem.

Hydrogen Peroxide to Clean Black Mold Stains

You may notice after clearing away mold that there still remain a few stains. In order to wash these away, you can use the method detailed below:

• Use a 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide to clean black mold stains.

• Place the solution in a spray bottle and cover the moldy area by spraying directly onto it.

• Allow the solution to sit over the area for around ten minutes. The hydrogen peroxide should no longer be bubbling or fizzing.

• Scrub with a bristle brush until all mold stains have been removed. Scrub carefully, so as to not damage the surface beneath. If the stains are not fading and the surface is not damaged, then gradually increase the vigor with which you scrub.

• Once all the mold stains have dissipated, wipe down the surface with a wet cloth. There should no longer be any visible stains.

• After wiping the surface stains with a wet cloth, you’ll want to then dry the surface with a dry rag.

Hydrogen peroxide is a great and efficient option to kill black mold and remove the black mold stains. It’s eco friendly and a safe chemical to work with. It leaves no toxic residue and is easy and inexpensive to access.

On the flipside, it cannot work through porous surfaces. As mentioned before, it can also cause light discolouration.

Safety Precautions When Cleaning Black Mold

Though black mold, on its own, is less likely to be airborne, once the scrubbing and cleaning process starts, it may loosen some spores.

In order to combat loose spores, it’s important to wear a half-face respirator mask. This is recommended for jobs that involve less than 100 square feet of black mold.

It is also recommended to wear clothing that can be either thrown away or washed thoroughly immediately after removing the black mold.

Finally, it’s also a good idea to wear gloves and eye protection, so as to avoid any potential contact with spores and airborne mold.

Dangers of Black Mold

Contrary to popular belief, black mold is not more dangerous than other types of mold.

It is, however, still toxic and can be harmful, especially to those who may have underlying health conditions or allergies.

Black Mold exposure can cause symptoms of allergies, such as a runny nose, watery eyes, wheezing and more.

It can also pose a risk for infection, but it is not likely to infect those with healthy immune systems.

For those undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments, it may worsen symptoms or cause fungal infections.

Even though black mold may not be as dangerous to a healthy person as one may think, it can still cause health and home integrity problems in the long run.

Not only can black mold cause health issues when one is overexposed, it can also cause serious damage to your home when left untreated.

Left to its own devices, black mold will spread across surfaces and damage nearby walls, carpets, fabrics and furniture, thus causing serious structural damage and affecting the integrity of a home.

Identifying Black Mold

Although there is no one specific species of mold out there called “black mold”, the title is often used to refer to a group of similar looking growths.

The easiest way to identify black mold is, as the name suggests, its dark colour. It may be black, dark brown or a very dark shade of green. It typically has a slimy texture.

Black mold also thrives in wet, damp or humid areas. Locations with lots of vapour, such as kitchens and bathrooms, are prime growing spots for black mold.

Preventing Future Black Mold Growth

Certain prevention techniques will allow your home to remain black mold free in the long term. It may also help prevent the re-growth of the mold that has been cleaned with hydrogen peroxide.

Keeping a low and consistent humidity level in your home (under 50%) may help limit the chances of mold growth.

Fixing any leaks or extreme cases of condensation restricts moisture levels, which in turn helps create an environment that is less friendly to the black mold.

Having air flow freely in the home can also be an advantage against mold. Air flow helps remove hidden pockets of moisture, thus creating a more hostile environment for mold.

Furthermore, if any porous surfaces begin to mold, it is important to throw them away and replace them immediately.

When to Call a Professional

As previously mentioned, it is not recommended for a homeowner to try and clear a black mold area surpassing 10 square feet (that’s roughly 3 feet by 3 feet). If the black mold area is greater than this, it’s best to call a mold removal expert.

Furthermore, since mold can pose health issues, if you have any kind of autoimmune disorder, immune system disorder or are undergoing immunosuppressive therapies, it is safest to avoid cleaning mold by yourself, as it may aggravate health complications.

Overall, small amounts of black mold are safe to clean by yourself and Hydrogen Peroxide can be used Effectively for this.

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