Why You Should NEVER Use Bleach to Clean Mold

1/15/2018 (Permalink)

The surface mold looks gone (it's bleached white) but the internal mold always remains to grow back.

Chlorine bleach is generally seen as your “go-to” cleaner for tough jobs. Mold removal requires a heavy duty cleaner, but recently, many of the hazards of bleach are gaining more media attention causing people to take a closer look at the way they clean in Spencer, Storm Lake and Milford, Iowa.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) was one of the first federal agencies to STOP recommending the use of liquid bleach for mold remediation. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has since edited their “A brief guide to mold and moisture and your home” to exclude their once suggested use of bleach as a means to kill mold.

Big bleach labels have promised you that nothing else will do the job like bleach. Chlorine bleach is most well-known for its disinfecting properties but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for mold. Its main function is to disinfect and to, well, bleach or change the color. But after use, what usually happens? The moldy color looks like it’s gone but within a week or two the mold usually comes back and sometimes worse! Most homeowners don’t put together that it’s the bleach causing this reaction and not a really bad case of mold. The fact remains that if the mold is not removed from the material, it will most likely always return.

Does Bleach kill mold?

Yes, but it comes with a catch. Bleach labels will warn you that chlorine bleach will only be effective on a “hard, non-porous surface.’’ This basically means that chlorine bleach is not made to “soak in.” Therefore, its disinfecting properties are limited to a hard surface like tile or glass. So here’s the problem: To ensure survival, mold spores spread its roots (Mycelia) deep into a porous surface. Mold remediation requires a cleaner to reach deep down into wood and other porous building materials to remove or "pull out" the roots. The properties of bleach prevent it from soaking into these materials. The surface mold looks gone (it's bleached white) but the internal mold always remains to grow back.

Another issue: Bleach contains 90% water and mold LOVES water. When bleach is applied, the chlorine quickly evaporates after use leaving behind A LOT of water. This water often soaks into the porous surface allowing the mold to flourish and re-grow in this moist environment. So in effect, using bleach actually feeds the internal mold spores! Although the surface may look bleached and clean, the remaining spores will root deeper, stronger and will often return worse than before.

Bleach and mold. A few facts to remember:

• In some cases, bleach will encourage toxic mold to grow where it was not present before.
• Bleach will only remove the green stain from mold. The surface will appear clean but internal roots will continue to grow.
• OSHA and the EPA have specifically advised against the use of bleach for mold remediation.
• Chlorine bleach is caustic and extremely harmful to wood and many other surfaces. If bleach is used on wood, it will weaken the wood by breaking down its fibers. This can create further problems with the structural integrity of the home.
• When bleach is mixed with ammonia it creates a deadly gas!
• Bleach itself is considered a toxic chemical and is classified the same as gasoline.
• In its gaseous form (room temperature) chlorine releases Dioxins, a known cancer causing compound.
• Bleach is highly corrosive to skin. Exposure to bare skin creates a hydrolysis reaction. This means the “oily” feeling is actually the top layer of your skin beginning to dissolve!
• Bleach is not only hazardous to your health, it will make your mold problem worse in the long run.

A safer and more effective alternative to Chlorine Bleach:

Dead or alive, mold spores can still remain allergenic. In some severe cases, depending on the material, it may need to be replaced. Hard surfaces that aren't ruined by moisture damage can be salvaged and cleaned.

In this scenario, we recommend Concrobium Mold Control® is an EPA-registered solution that remediates and prevents mold without any harmful chemicals. Concrobium® Mold Control dries to form an invisible antimicrobial shield that encapsulates and physically crushes mold spores. The antimicrobial barrier remains on surfaces to provide continuous protection against mold growth.

We also use Sporicidin®, an EPA registered disinfectant for hard surfaces, and a cleaner and deodorizer for porous surfaces. The active ingredients phenol and sodium phenate, are also FDA approved for use in over-the-counter medicines such as throat sprays. Effective against a wide range of pathogens, Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution can be used for mold remediation work, bloodborne pathogen work (Tuberculocidal), and sewage jobs. Sporicidin®  provides residual bacteriostatic activity for up to six months. In addition to its biocidal activity, Sporicidin®  is also an effective deodorizer, and is less hazardous than other biocide type products.

Our team finishes with a mold resistant coating that adheres to porous and non-porous surfaces and leaves a durable, long-lasting barrier.

If mold has occurred once, it can always occur again. SERVPRO woprks hard to help keep this from happening and will provide your home with a protective barrier to prevent future mold growth.

To learn more about our mold remediation services visit our Mold Remediation and Restoration webpage.