HOUSEHOLD: Three Ways to Kill Mold Naturally (OILS, HINTS, TIPS)

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Three Ways to Kill Mold Naturally

By Annie B. Bond, author of Home Enlightenment (Rodale, 2005).

 

A proliferation of mold and mildew can be the hallmark of hot and humid

summers. I have a friend who has green mold growing on the shoes in her

closet! A humidifier might be the best help for her, but there are also

three natural materials that can be used as a spray to kill mold and

mildew. They are all an excellent substitute for less environmentally

safe bleach.

 

Learn these three tricks for killing mold and mildew. One of these you

most likely already have in your kitchen cupboard:

 

Over the years I have found three natural ingredients that kill mold:

tea tree oil (an essential oil found in most health food stores),

grapefruit seed extract, and vinegar. There are pros and cons of each,

but all three work. Vinegar is by far the cheapest. Tea tree oil is

expensive, but it is a broad spectrum fungicide and seems to kill all

the mold families it contacts. The problem is that it has a very strong

smell, but that dissipates in a few days. Grapefruit seed extract is

also expensive, but has no smell. Click here for how to use these three

ingredients in your home, to kill mold and mildew.

 

Mold can be dangerous to your health, even if you aren't allergic. Many

people react to mold by getting tired and even depressed. Try to stay on

top of moisture and mold as soon as either arises. Dry out anything that

is damp, such as basements (use a dehumidifier), and carpets. Fix leaks

in plumbing and roofs. Wipe up spills. Make sure water doesn't escape

from shower curtains. Vigilance will pay off!

 

* Tea Tree Treasure

Nothing natural works for mold and mildew as well as this spray. I've

used it successfully on a moldy ceiling from a leaking roof, on a musty

bureau, a musty rug, and a moldy shower curtain. Tea tree oil is

expensive, but a little goes a very long way. Note that the smell of tea

tree oil is very strong, but it will dissipate in a few days.

 

2 teaspoons tea tree oil

2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas.

Do not rinse.

Makes 2 cups

Preparation Time: Under a minute

Shelf Life: Indefinite

Storage: Leave in the spray bottle

 

* Grapefruit Seed Extract

The advantage of using grapefruit seed extract instead of tea tree oil

for killing mold is that it is odorless.

 

20 drops grapefruit seed extract

2 cups water

 

Combine in a spray bottle, shake to blend, and spray on problem areas.

Do not rinse.

 

Makes 2 cups

Preparation Time: A minute or so

Shelf Life: Indefinite

Storage: Leave in the spray bottle

 

* Vinegar Spray

Straight vinegar reportedly kills 82 percent of mold. Pour some white

distilled vinegar straight into a spray bottle, spray on the moldy area,

and let set without rinsing if you can put up with the smell. It will

dissipate in a few hours.

 

 

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Better Basics for the Home (book)

Natural living has reached the mainstream: we are now far more concerned

about the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the chemicals that

surround us, and recognize that government regulations all too often

fall short of safeguarding our health. Enter Annie Berthold-Bond, whose

Better Basics for the Home is a compendium of practical information --

recipes, tips, and guidelines -- for creating a simpler, cheaper and

environmentally safer lifestyle.

 

 

http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/home/110

 

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