BLEACH DOES NOT KILL MOLD
As I do from time to time I peruse the internet for interesting articles about mold and how to clean it up. I just finished another article the reports that with a bleach mixture and water you can clean up mold. Well as those of you that know me, you know that I have reported this over and over, BLEACH DOES NOT KILL MOLD. So, you may ask, "why not". There was a study done at Oregon State University about 5 to 6 years ago that showed that when mold is growing on porous substrate like wood or sheet rock (found in all homes in the NW), the bleach molecule will not penetrate the surface of the material and get to the root of the mold "plant". Mold grows much like the other plants that we see around our homes and gardens. It has a flowering top with a root system back into the material it is growing on. Trees have roots that are sometimes deeper than the tree that we see. This root system is the part that will keep growing until it is eliminated. We have a particular plant in western Washington that is extremely hard to eliminate "scotch broom". In order to eliminate this plant you have to remove the roots and all. This is true with any mold also, you must kill it roots and all.
So, you ask, is that why I keep cleaning the bathroom wall around the tub and it keeps coming back? "YES" you have not killed the mildew or mold down to the root. Most of the products that we buy for cleaning our bathrooms use bleach as there basic ingredient. These cleaner will remove the flower of the mold and bleach the surface to a nice looking clean but the mildew and mold will return with in a couple of weeks. You must use a biocide to kill the mold back into the wall board or sheet rock.
You can check with your home improvment store for different products that do have a biocide in them to keep your bathroom and other damp places free from mold
If you have any questions please contact me. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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