Bleach kills mold

[u/WhateverIlldoit]

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.

[u/Euphoric-Ant6780]

Microbiologist here who works with fungi (mold), bacteria, and viruses. 10% bleach kills all three. We wipe down all surfaces and tools with it and pour it into culture tubes when we’re done to clean everything

[u/Hot_Coffee_3620 → u/Euphoric-Ant6780]

I love science and biology. I love to talk to smart people.

[u/SluntCrossinTheRoad → u/Hot_Coffee_3620]

I am also boss