Kill and remove mould

Mould is one of those things that is really hard to get rid of and there isn’t just one solution. A combination of processes need to be done. First of all:

• Reduce the moisture in your home – Maintain good air flow, open windows and make sure bathrooms have a good ventilation system.

BLEACH will NOT kill mould. We all have the idea that by using those toxic cleaning products from the supermarket, we are getting rid of mould. NOT true. Bleach is only making the mould “white” for a period of time. The spores are still there and will reappear. Not only that, you are treating it with something really detrimental to your health.

So how will you get rid of mould NATURALLY? Clove Leaf Oil will kill it but it will not remove it from the surface on it’s own. After the mould has been killed with Clove Leaf Oil you will need to use a little elbow power to remove it.

Killing the mould: A mixture of clove leaf oil and water is the best and safest way to remove mould and prevent it from resurfacing, but this mixture should not be used like regular cleaners because it requires a bit of time to kill the mould spores.
You will need to wipe the mould surface area dry first and then spray the area with the clove leaf Oil mixture ingredients. In some areas like the bathroom, it might be better to spray it at night to leave it to work for as long as possible before you attempt to remove it and expose yourself to the mould spores.  If the mould is in other areas, it is best to spray the affected area and leave for half an hour and then wipe the area with a cloth followed by spraying the area again and leaving it for several days, giving it an opportunity to kill, dry, crumble and drop off.

Here is the recipe I use:

• half teaspoon 100% pure clove leaf essential oil (about 40 drops)
• 500ml water
• Plastic spray bottle

Once the spores are dead, mix  seven parts vinegar and three parts water applied with a microfibre cloth and scrub.  I like to use a toothbrush to get in those little areas hard to reach like in between tiles in the bathroom.
Spraying the area again after the area has been cleaned will help prevent the mould from resurfacing.  Make it a regular cleaning routine (at least once a month repeat the process).

Clove leaf oil is better than clove bud oil as the amount of eugenol is higher than the clove bud oil. They are both antifungal, antimicrobial and antiseptic .  Clove bud oil contains approximately 60 – 85% eugenol, whilst clove leaf oil contains 80 – 85% eugenol.

Have you found a natural way to get rid of mould? I would love to hear your opinion on this.

Take care.

Erika