An Australian mom has shared how she transformed her moldy bathroom ceiling with one ‘miracle’ product.
The woman took to Facebook to reveal how she used a 30-second Mold Off spray from Bunnings to completely rid her bathroom ceiling of the harmful mold.
However, many in the comments pointed out that the product contains bleach, so it could just mask black mold spores that will inevitably come back.
Before and after: Australian mom shows off her incredible cleaning trick that made black mold on her bathroom ceiling look like it was completely gone with one product
“I cannot recommend this product more, I am amazed,” the mother wrote in the post.
“The yellow is when the mold is curing/softening the mold, which is essentially the easiest time to wipe with a damp cloth,” she added.
Her post drew a string of comments, with many warning the cleaning enthusiast that mold sprays and harsh chemicals only bleach the spores, making it just look like they’ve been eliminated.
‘As great as it looks. It will return. It is a bleach based product and all it has done is discolor the mold. It’s still there…you just can’t see it,” a woman advised.
However, many in the comments pointed out that the product contains bleach, so it could just mask black mold spores that will inevitably come back
Previously, experts have argued that bleach and harsh chemicals only mask traces, and many recommend using clove oil and vinegar instead, so make sure it doesn’t come back.
‘It just bleaches the fungus, it WILL come back. Mold must be treated and removed professionally,” said a second.
‘Make sure you also treat it with clove oil so it doesn’t come back’, another recommended addition of the oil can be found at the pharmacy or health food store.
‘Do you use heat lamps? When I’ve used mine in the past, the fungus spread like wildfire, so now I’ve banned anyone from using them,” asked a fourth to which the mother said she does and suspects it’s “oil on the fire’.
Previously, experts have argued that bleach and harsh chemicals only mask traces, and many recommend using clove oil and vinegar instead to prevent it from reappearing.
Professional cleaners also recommend using eucalyptus and bi-carb soda, advise keeping the air conditioner at a cool temperature, and suggest using gloves and face masks for safety when removing mold.
According to mycologist Heike Neumeister-Kemp, who studies mold for a living, using bleach and harsh chemicals is one of the worst ways to remove the toxic growths from your home.
“The molds contain melanin and the bleach just takes the color out, but the mold is still there, you’re just masking it,” she says. told the ABC†
“Six weeks later it seems to come back, but it never went away.”
Cleaners recommend using eucalyptus and bi-carb soda, recommend keeping the air conditioner at a cool temperature, and recommend using gloves and face masks when removing mold
One of the most productive ways to get rid of thick strands of mold is with a solution of vinegar and water.
You just take 80 percent vinegar and 20 percent water and put it in three buckets.
Dip a microfiber cloth in the first bucket and clean a patch of mold, then rinse the cloth in the second bucket.
Rinse again in the third and repeat until all mold is removed.
According to Mr. Neumeister-Kemp, this works because vinegar ‘mechanically’ attacks the fungi.
‘So it actually penetrates the structure via osmosis and makes it explode, so that you actually kill the fungi.’
Big Red Carpet Cleaning in Townsville offered some tips on how to stay safe around especially large infestations.
“Vacuum over the mold with a hepa vacuum to remove mold spores growing in the area,” they wrote on Facebook.
‘Keep your air conditioning on and set it to 21-22 degrees to prevent the humidity from spreading even more mold.’
For cleaning mold from carpet, Shannon Lush, ABC Local Radio’s cleaning expert, recommends two tablespoons of bi-carb soda, white vinegar and methylated spirits, and two teaspoons of eucalyptus and glycerin.
Sydney-based cleaner Ricky, who runs Ricky’s Cleaning Serviceswanted to make it clear that safety around mold was the number one priority.
“You have to wear gloves and a face mask to remove it,” he told FEMAIL.
“If a room has extreme mold, it’s better to scrub it away rather than spraying chemicals to treat it. If it’s mild mold, you can spray Exit Mold on the area and wipe it off.”