Does Alcohol Kill Mould?

• What is mould?
• Can alcohol kill mould?
• Why you should leave mould removal to professionals
• How to prevent mould coming back in the future
• Book your mould remediation today

Using rubbing alcohol for mould removal is a popular cleaning hack. However, this DIY remedy is not an effective solution and the mould could come back soon after treatment. You must always bring in mould remediation specialists to remove any mould growing in your home.

At ICE Cleaning, we offer thorough, fast mould removal services. Our technicians are Dewpoint-accredited and can get rid of all traces of mould on both hard surfaces and in the air. They are available nationwide, day and night, 365 days a year.

Keep reading to find out whether alcohol can treat mould and why you should bring in professional cleaners.

What is mould?

Mould is a type of fungus that feeds on dead organic materials and grows in environments with excess moisture. It is usually caused by humidity, damp, condensation, and poor ventilation in a property.

Exposure to mould could put people at risk of health problems, particularly if they are very young, elderly, have existing skin or respiratory problems, or a weakened immune system.

Mould releases allergens, irritants, and occasionally toxins which can trigger an allergic reaction, like sneezing and a runny nose, and even asthma attacks. Should you breathe some mould in, it could start growing in your lungs and be extremely dangerous.

As soon as you spot mould growing in your home, you must solve the problem causing it and have it all removed to protect your health and stop it returning.

Can alcohol kill mould?

Alcohol can be used as a disinfectant which means it can kill microorganisms, like mould. It is an inexpensive cleaning solution which does not produce toxic fumes or even leave behind an unpleasant odour. However, its effectiveness at getting rid of mould is heavily disputed.

To begin with, only certain kinds of alcohol can remove mould. Rubbing alcohol (also known as isopropyl alcohol) has a very high alcohol content and therefore is the best for disinfecting surfaces. Choose the wrong type and it might not get rid of the mould.

How quickly isopropyl alcohol remediates mould is unknown, too. Some claim it takes minutes, others say hours. This means that you might not treat the mould thoroughly enough and it will continue to grow.  

Another issue is that alcohol may damage some surfaces like wooden furniture, painted surfaces, acrylic and plastic, and rubber. As a flammable substance, it can create a fire risk when used in your home, as well.

Alcohol will not solve what is causing of the mould problem in your home, either, so it may come back quickly. Instead of treating it yourself, you should bring in mould remediation professionals who can diagnose its cause, remove it, and advise on how to stop it returning.

Why you should leave mould removal to professionals

Firstly, cleaning mould yourself can be very dangerous. Without personal protective equipment (PPE) you are likely to touch, ingest, or inhale the harmful mould spores and could be putting your health at risk. You probably will not remove all the mould, either, so the property will still be dangerous.

There is also a chance you will make the mould problem worse. Wiping down mouldy surfaces, for example, spreads the mould around the surface instead of removing it. Or, should you scrub the mould, you might aggravate it and encourage it to release spores and grow elsewhere.

You might miss some of the mould, as well. Mould can grow in difficult to reach areas like on the ceiling or in cupboards and crawlspaces. Mould removal professionals will have the training to identify all the mould in your home and thoroughly treat it.

They have the specialist products and tools to get rid of it quickly, safely, and effectively, too. Instead of wasting money on mould removers and DIY remedies that might not work, you can be sure it will be gone for good.

How to prevent mould coming back in the future

• Fix the problem that caused the mould in the first place, whether that be condensation on windowsills or rising damp, for example
• Regularly ventilate your home by opening windows to stop steam and humid air building up, particularly in the bathroom or kitchen
• Dry clothes outdoors, if possible, to stop moist air getting trapped in your home
• Clear out gutters to reduce the likelihood of damp in your property
• Use dehumidifiers to keep humidity levels in your home low

Book your mould remediation today

Our fully trained technicians can carry out a nine-stage mould treatment process to eradicate all the mould in your home. Every service comes with a lifetime guarantee*, as well, so you can be sure your home will stay mould-free.

Give us a call on 0208 066 0360 or send an email to enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk to find out more about our mould cleaning services, and get a free site survey and no-obligation quote.

*subject to advisories