Your shower area is smelling a little musty and you think you might have a little mold on the tile and grout. What do you do? The first thing most people think about doing is grabbing the bleach and dousing the shower to get it clean.

I’m here to tell you “STOP RIGHT THERE!” Put down the bleach—actually, get rid of that bottle altogether—because there are much safer alternatives that clean and disinfect just as well.

BLEACH DOES NOT KILL MOLD. That’s right. This is outdated information and it does not actually kill mold.

My own family members told me to use bleach when I found mold in my own home. I can’t blame them for not knowing, as it was once a recommendation from OSHA and the EPA. It’s hard for people to keep up with all of the changes and new science that comes out. Agencies like the EPA were only telling us the best thing that they knew at the time, but we know better now. So let’s discuss.

Reasons Why Bleach is Not an Acceptable Treatment for Mold

• The mold senses the pH of the product and starts to release spores in hopes of finding a new place to live.
• Bleach will only kill the mold on the surface of non-porous surfaces. It will not kill mold on anything porous and can penetrate the porous surface making it an even more ideal, wet climate for the mold to thrive.
• It is a dangerous chemical and should be avoided if possible. It can cause respiratory issues which only makes health symptoms, caused by mold, worse.
• Spraying bleach on any porous surface will penetrate the surface and the surface will slowly release the emissions back into the air in which you breathe.

Safer Alternatives to Bleach

Force of Nature Clean is a non-toxic bleach alternative

Beware of any mold inspector using bleach-containing solutions. The object of mold remediation is to get the roots (mycelia) and stop the problem. Mold is a huge issue and should really be handled by a professional. The extent of mold illness can be devastating and take years to overcome. When searching for a professional, make sure you find someone who understands this. The mold industry can be slimy, because of how much misinformation is out there. Be an informed consumer. Understanding this information will keep you and your family safe!

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