tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post4465075269503122503..comments2024-03-29T19:22:11.409+10:00Comments on down to earth: Cleaning mould from walls and fabricsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-89028454965089888072013-06-18T13:03:49.457+10:002013-06-18T13:03:49.457+10:00Hi, I am trying to combat mold in my home. It is ...Hi, I am trying to combat mold in my home. It is in the walk in robes and on our rubber backed curtains where the curtain touches the window. Also notice it behind kitchen taps in grout. I do have white vinegar, tea tree oil and clove oil. Just want to check if I can spray this onto curtain backing rather than removing curtains and soaking, and do I spray vinegar undiluted onto tap areas or mix with water?Joy Hunternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4358580822000295602013-01-04T06:25:33.414+10:002013-01-04T06:25:33.414+10:00A light spray in an area you don't see should ...A light spray in an area you don't see should be okay if you don't wipe it off.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55264571351176413022013-01-03T19:59:33.632+10:002013-01-03T19:59:33.632+10:00I think I'll need to spray something routinely...I think I'll need to spray something routinely on the wall behind the washer and dryer which I can't get to. Can you use vinegar and/or clove oil in this way or do you need to wipe it off?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02854410701871765619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18558253785853183122013-01-03T12:33:14.268+10:002013-01-03T12:33:14.268+10:00In UK I find Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover to be...In UK I find Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover to be incredible for removing even thick black mould, even from grout. If it's bad it may take several applications. You just need to spray it on. Having read the above, I don't know what the long term affects are yet.<br />The ingredients are "Non-ionic surfactant, disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite 2.59 percent, perfume".<br />I have a dog, and of course I'm concerned about my own health too, so I was looking for something to use routinely which is safe, I'll try vinegar and clove oil. Thanks for all the info.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02854410701871765619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7507791119000714602012-12-19T02:46:35.551+10:002012-12-19T02:46:35.551+10:00Thank you for this. I'm about to tackle cleani...Thank you for this. I'm about to tackle cleaning mold off of plaster walls in our new house and this was very helpful.Panamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059282003527452424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70809195726522297642012-07-12T23:37:45.809+10:002012-07-12T23:37:45.809+10:00I've tried oil of clove, bleach, vinegar and I...I've tried oil of clove, bleach, vinegar and I'm giving up just about as we rent, I can't go re-grouting! The bleach at least gives me peace of mind for a couple of weeks. The corners of the shower recess I can never get white so I think I'll have to have a go at those.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78934509858295416402012-03-10T14:51:56.955+10:002012-03-10T14:51:56.955+10:00freckles, I have heard nothing about clove oil and...freckles, I have heard nothing about clove oil and pregnancy.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-35646890980627605372012-03-10T13:53:06.982+10:002012-03-10T13:53:06.982+10:00I've been wanting to try something like this t...I've been wanting to try something like this to rid our home of mould but was recently warned not to use clove oil as i'm pregnant, have you heard anything about this? I'll just stick to tea tree oil and vinegar to be on the safe side.mon_and_miahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13369765579615832316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-38865373269130335242012-03-09T12:45:14.609+10:002012-03-09T12:45:14.609+10:00I've had major issues with mold and discovered...I've had major issues with mold and discovered that I'm very allergic to it. Thank you for this very easy and homemade way to battle it.Ellen Allardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11449648700034444214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42380112602296843592012-03-09T08:23:37.077+10:002012-03-09T08:23:37.077+10:00Good luck to all of you who are battleing with mou...Good luck to all of you who are battleing with mould.<br />A friend had very good long lasting results using a mix of water and Dettol, not sure of the proportions.Abbeysmumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78826567751368949152012-03-08T06:41:56.860+10:002012-03-08T06:41:56.860+10:00Thanks Rhonda, this is a very timely post for me a...Thanks Rhonda, this is a very timely post for me as I have a small amount of mould growing in a couple of rooms I need to tackle.<br /><br />Jode, we have high ceilings too and I use a sponge mop to clean off the mould if that helps.Beenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-86547331655077005182012-03-07T12:35:44.083+10:002012-03-07T12:35:44.083+10:00I've been reading your blog for a while now an...I've been reading your blog for a while now and enjoying the excellent advice. The solution to get rid of mould must be just for me because I had just noticed some on some furniture. Thanks for the timely postArt Mattershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00278950159370807683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83225680495058639652012-03-07T10:45:21.720+10:002012-03-07T10:45:21.720+10:00I thought I'd leave a word on the science of t...I thought I'd leave a word on the science of this...<br /><br />Bleach appears to do a sterling job of getting rid of mould, but when I lived in the wet north I too noticed its annual reappearance. I spoke to a university lecturer (pharmacologist) about this because I was forever hearing that bleach removes the colour, but doesn't kill the mould. This sounded like nonsense to me as bleach kills virtually every micro-organism that we come in to contact with. She told me that there was new research showing that bleach may be a food source for mould.<br /><br />I went searching the science journal databases to read the original research, but I couldn't find anything like this. I have since read (in science journals, not hearsay on the web!) that the issue with bleach is moreso that it does such damage to surfaces, particularly painted surfaces (at the microscopic level) that it makes them MORE hospitable. So the issue may not be so much that bleach is a food source, but that it provides an environment for growth. Or perhaps it is a combination of the two, but as I said, I have found nothing in the journals about food sources.<br /><br />Fungi is a bit of an unusual kindgom too because they are capable of growing even after they has been killed as a result of the spores which are also shed as the parent organism dies. This is why a two-step process is ESSENTIAL.<br /><br />Tea tree oil is anti-fungal, but testing of clove oil (scientific testing too) has seen it dubbed a "mould-inhibitor". Whether this is really any different to being anti-fungal, I don't know. But certainly there is science supporting a coat of diluted clove oil as a preventative. I buy clove oil from pharmacies, where it is usually with castor oil and hydrogen peroxide. <br /><br />As for my own experience, I find that sometimes the stain is impossible to shift and it is at that stage that I will bleach. Fabric is the hardest thing to remedy as others have clearly found. We treat our walls with a 1 L spray bottle, containing 5% oil of cloves, and the rest NEAT 'cleaning vinegar' (which is said to have a lower pH than regular food stuff... I'm not sure and haven't tested it to find out). We scrub with the old terry towelling nappies that we kept - that texture really helps :-) However if we don't get to it quickly, it often can't be removed with this mix. Mould just seems to stain, even if it has been killed. So I'll give the walls a couple of doses of this treatment and if it still hasn't gone from sight, I'll leave it a few days before using diluted bleach on it. At least then I can be fairly confident that the vinegar has killed it. I then have to respray with oil of cloves (but I use the same mix as before, with the vinegar in it). I play it by ear each time and just hope to find it early enough to remove it completely without having to bleach.<br /><br />Our house now has six of those pots of absorbent crystals and you wouldn't believe how quickly they fill up with water :-O We have been horrified. We've actually just had a reverse cycle air conditioner put in to the lounge primarily to dehumidify it as it's one of the worst rooms for mould. It will also replace our useless and filthy wood fire (we're not air-con users for cooling purposes). <br /><br />For those of you with poorly-ventilated bathrooms: mould won't grow without moisture. Keep an old nappy or thread-bare towel and dry the tiles with it when the last shower of the day has been had. It REALLY reduces the amount of cleaning that you'll need to do and will greatly deter the mould. It seems like a burden, but you'll only need to do it once per day if everyone showers in the same half of the day, and it's worth it for the benefits :-) As Rhonda pointed out, there's a few things that mould needs to grow. Do what you can to eliminate any of them and you'll see considerable improvement :-)Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813415890134133213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3026345915228816732012-03-07T02:15:55.466+10:002012-03-07T02:15:55.466+10:00Thank you for the tips. I think I have one area wh...Thank you for the tips. I think I have one area where I can go ahead and put them into action... out door furniture could use it.Brittanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00019027182442028209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31080216813853181142012-03-06T23:14:54.089+10:002012-03-06T23:14:54.089+10:00I know it's a pain, but when you think about i...I know it's a pain, but when you think about it, it's actually pretty awesome how enthusiastic nature is on reclaiming the earth whenever the opportunity arises.<br />In the islands, because of our high humidity, we have a constant struggle to keep her at bay, especially where I live which is close to a stream and up close to a mountainful of tropical rainforest. But, I can't help but salute and even find a measure of reassurance in her persistence =)<br />That said, Borax has always been a constant in households here ;)<br />Vicki<br />Trinidad & TobagoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-86650318894282162522012-03-06T13:07:08.136+10:002012-03-06T13:07:08.136+10:00i have been getting a little overwhelmed by the jo...i have been getting a little overwhelmed by the job of cleaning mould lately and you have just encouraged me to keep going with this post thanks Rhonda!<br />I have both the cloves and tea tree oil in a sprayer and they both seem to be workiing well...if only it would stop raining and the humidity would lessen i might be able to keep up!<br />Do you or any other readers have tips for cleaning mould off of high ceilings? It is an old house with decorative plaster and the ceilings are so hard to reach!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07586610467519318424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78012926349869172622012-03-06T12:55:07.177+10:002012-03-06T12:55:07.177+10:00You can also use the borax solution to wash down w...You can also use the borax solution to wash down walls etc. It pops the cell membranes of the spores. Vinegar is fantastic too.<br /><br />We left a house last year that was unfit for living in due to mold. My son and I were extremely sick and I now have life long health problems and we only lived there 9 months.<br /><br />Unlike one of the earliest posters, we couldnt save anything and we had to walk away from all of our clothes and belongings. Nothing could be remediated :-(<br /><br />Mold is hardest to get out of fabric.Mrs Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18275981827041794709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90031422025834724292012-03-06T12:49:24.029+10:002012-03-06T12:49:24.029+10:00Thanks so much for this info. You have just stoppe...Thanks so much for this info. You have just stopped me needing to do my own research. I live on the humid mid-north coast of NSW and am always wiping away patches of developing mould. My mother used to swear by coke as a mould cleaner but as I don't drink it I have never had the chance to give it a go. Cherriewillywagtailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161501326916060091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-67752315485493030732012-03-06T12:44:32.521+10:002012-03-06T12:44:32.521+10:00Hi Rhonda
I have recently discovered your blog an...Hi Rhonda<br /><br />I have recently discovered your blog and really love it. I am a 27 year old wife, mother of 5 and stay at home mum. I have been into homesteading ( you call it simple living) for about 5 years now. I just wanted to add that lemon juice and salt is a great way to get mould stains out of fabric. It has a similar bleaching effect to bleach but is a lot safer. You simply saturate the area with lemon juice and rub in salt, then leave in the sun for a few hours. I have found this particularly useful on children's clothes.<br />Thank you for being a source of inspiration.Alisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-63043861301075962882012-03-06T12:09:15.770+10:002012-03-06T12:09:15.770+10:00You're right, Lisa, I just checked that. I'...You're right, Lisa, I just checked that. I'll change the post. Thank you!rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-28357022370108880562012-03-06T10:21:58.230+10:002012-03-06T10:21:58.230+10:00Hi Rhonda
Lovely to have you back again. Wow 4&qu...Hi Rhonda<br />Lovely to have you back again. Wow 4" of rain, crazy weather isn't it.<br />Just a comment about Shannon Lush's oil of cloves and water spray. I believe her recipe is for a 1/4 teaspoon of oil of cloves to 1L of water. That's what I wrote down after listening to her on ABC radio last year. However I could be wrong.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10874587176818504414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-66541310547233517062012-03-06T09:52:42.132+10:002012-03-06T09:52:42.132+10:00Thank you - I'm glad to know this formula.Thank you - I'm glad to know this formula.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12503930255842185609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-27269826324016135122012-03-06T09:43:47.702+10:002012-03-06T09:43:47.702+10:00this time of year is a continual fight against mol...this time of year is a continual fight against mold, and I agree that vinegar is the best. I had used bleach on the sealant(white) behind the sink taps, and it just seemed to be getting worse. Last weekend I just sprayed with vinegar as I was doing the sink and counters anyway. Just this morning I noticed how much better it is looking.... I looked for clove oil but it only seemed to be available in huge quantities, so glad we can use tea tree oil instead. my paving stones in the garden are quite slimy and I wonder whether we should try vinegar there too. I am a bit worried it might make the surroudning soil very acidic.africanaussiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16660727599623626163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42874446430658323182012-03-06T09:27:42.890+10:002012-03-06T09:27:42.890+10:00Dear Rhonda - this is not a comment on mold, but j...Dear Rhonda - this is not a comment on mold, but just to let you know that my copy of your book which I ordered through fishpond.au because you suggested the postage would be less, arrived here in northeast Ohio today and I am so extremely pleased with the way it looks and the content and organization... Your entire simple living message is there, expressed in a beautiful undogmatic and gentle way. You must be extremely pleased and delighted with the result. It is a gift to everyone who reads it. And how beautiful it looks, too. Just super.Thickethouse.wordpresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17187303460677067276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9730722260026517122012-03-06T08:22:31.294+10:002012-03-06T08:22:31.294+10:00Welcome home Rhonda. I wondered what you would be ...Welcome home Rhonda. I wondered what you would be greeted with but I was mainly thinking of weed in your garden after all that rain. Shannon Lush's mould remedy was very popular last year after the flooding and oil of cloves was extremely hard to get in the shops. I will try the vinegar and tea tree oil as well as I notice there is mould growing in some areas now after this last lot of rain. Thanks.Nanna Chelnoreply@blogger.com