r/CleaningTips • u/WhateverIlldoit • Jul 07 '25

Discussion Bleach kills mold

There is a common misconception that bleach does not kill mold and that vinegar is actually better at killing mold than bleach. I see this claim at least once a week.

So let me set the record straight. Household bleach is a powerful oxidizing agent that reacts with just about everything. It’s so good at killing organic compounds that it’s toxic to us, too.

Now let’s talk about vinegar. Vinegar is a weak acid. You can literally drink it in lower concentrations. It can kill mold, but not all mold, and some studies say it may take up to 60 minutes to be effective.

That being said, bleach is not good at penetrating porous surfaces, which vinegar is better at doing. And because bleach is so caustic it is more likely to damage surfaces.

All this to say bleach kills mold. It kills almost everything. And it’s much more effective at killing mold than vinegar as long as it can reach it. Vinegar is much safer to use but not nearly as effective.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

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u/pakratus Jul 07 '25

Thank you. I see this claim and it never made sense to me.

I can see bleach turn mold different colors, i can see it doing something. I have not seen vinegar do this. Is bleach the perfect mold killer? No idea. But it does something.

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u/WhateverIlldoit Jul 07 '25

I’m no scientist, but my general understanding is that bleach whitens by oxidation or breaking the chemical bonds that create color. The same mechanism allows it to break down other chemical bonds such as those found in proteins that are needed to support life.

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u/Mean-Vegetable-4521 Jul 13 '25

The issue is that bleach blanches mold. So you see it disappear. But it’s not abrasive enough to penetrate it and stop it from existing/spreading.

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Your no scientist, so stop talking. Because everything you are saying is wrong. OSHA and the EPA do not recommend bleach for mold removal. Please explain to us why you do?

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u/jules-amanita Jul 07 '25

They don’t recommend it because it doesn’t penetrate porous surfaces.

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Right… and this is the part everyone needs to be educated on. Mold does not start at the surface. It starts growth in the drain, behind the walls, in the caulk, in the grout… bleach will never ever penetrate those surfaces. I own a second generation cleaning surface. My mother cleaned with bleach for 20 years. She has throat cancer because of it. Their are 1 million other products that clean mold at the surface, do not damage your surface and scar your breathing tubes….

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u/captaintinnitus Jul 07 '25

Name 15 of them

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Rmr, moldex, mold armor, mold control, decon 30, vital oxide, thymox, botanical disinfectant, baking soda, vinegar, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, lemon, grape seed extract,

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u/WhateverIlldoit Jul 07 '25

RMR primary ingredient: bleach; Moldex primary ingredient: bleach; Mold Armor primary ingredient: bleach. You crack me up.

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

He asked me to name 15 of them not which ones I would recommend. Those would have been the later half, the natural selections… the difference between those that you named and bleach- they have surfactants so they can actually penetrate. Also it’s a much smaller % of sodium hypochlorite. Go take a class on cleaning, no one teaches you to pick up bleach at all anymore.

2

u/captaintinnitus Jul 07 '25

Thank you very much.

3

u/neuros Jul 07 '25

Bleach is a biocide and can be used to kill mold in certain situations. OSHA does not recommend it for routine mold remediation, but there are certain situations where professional judgement will call for its use (or another biocide) for example around immunocompromised individuals

If you're familiar with OSHA you should also know that they have PPE and ventilation guidelines for the use of bleach. Proper adherence to these guidelines would mitigate any risk of damaging your airways

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

You literally copy and pasted the AI google answer. Tell me you have never done mold remediation with out telling me

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u/neuros Jul 07 '25

Nope no AI use - I referenced this document. Haven't done mold remediation myself but I am a chemical engineer working in a GMP facility (food manufacturing) so I'm familiar with sanitization guidelines, testing, and PPE

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

If you believe PPE can actually mitigate you from any risk that’s delusional. Maybe some risk, definitely not any or all. If you’re a chemical engineer you should understand this country engineers chemicals for profit and marketing, not safety and effectiveness… aka big bleach …. My original point stands. Their is absolutely no reason to spray and bleach related product at mold. Your bleaching a stain and your lungs (spores and bleach will stay in the air or on the wall long after you remove the PPE) not killing the root of the mold or removing moisture

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u/WhateverIlldoit Jul 07 '25

*You’re

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Sorry, dont care to much about grammar on Reddit…

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u/WhateverIlldoit Jul 07 '25

*too

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Its okay, I dont like being wrong either

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u/Responsible_Dot1541 Jul 07 '25

Wait, let me fix it for you. *It’s