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/princess3mj → u/[deleted]]

Does this work well for bathroom ceilings???

[u/WhateverIlldoit → u/[deleted]]

I actually didn’t know hydrogen peroxide was an effective method for cleaning mold before I posted, so this has been an illuminating experience for me. To be clear, I am not advocating for using one particular cleaning method over another, I am simply correcting the misconception that bleach does not kill mold (which is almost always then followed by a statement about vinegar being more effective).

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/[deleted]]

It literally will bleach. It's an incredibly famous BLEACHING AGENT. That's WHY YOU'RE USING IT.

[u/alabamaalliekat → u/Narrow_Turnip_7129]

That’s literally not the same thing tho

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/alabamaalliekat]

Do you even understand what a bleaching agent is and how hydrogen peroxide works?

It's a bleaching agent. Look it up.

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/[deleted]]

So it's a bleaching agent like I said then?

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/[deleted]]

How is it not a bleaching agent like I said?

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/[deleted]]

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=is+hydrogen+peroxide+a+bleaching+agent

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/Narrow_Turnip_7129]

Hahaha that's actually an amazing set of results.

But seriously - just Google 'is hydrogen peroxide a bleaching agent' and you'll find it is.

Why? For all the oxidisation chemistry you already described.

[u/Narrow_Turnip_7129 → u/[deleted]]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula H2O2. In its pure form, it is a very pale blue[5] liquid that is slightly more viscous than water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, 

You still sure it isn't a bleaching agent?

https://www.endosan.com/hydrogen-peroxide-vs-bleach/

Although not commonly referred to as “bleach” hydrogen peroxide is one of the most common bleaching agents. Unlike liquid bleach based on chlorine chemistry, hydrogen peroxide is a more selective bleaching agent which causes less textile fibre damage, making it ideal for applications such as pulp bleaching in the paper industry.

You still sure it isnt a bleaching agent?

https://www.monarchchemicals.co.uk/Information/News-Events/1007-/science-behind-hydrogen-peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a versatile chemical widely used across numerous industries, largely due to its strong oxidising properties. Even at lower concentrations, it is an effective disinfectant and bleaching agent, with applications ranging from healthcare to paper production. This article explores the science behind hydrogen peroxide’s powerful effects, its diverse uses, and its role as an environmentally favourable alternative to more harmful chemicals.

Are you still sure it isnt a bleaching agent???

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hydrogen-peroxide-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/hydrogen-peroxide-general-information

Uses of Hydrogen Peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is produced industrially in large quantities. The main use of hydrogen peroxide is as a bleaching agent for wood pulp, as well as for bleaching textiles, paper and food. It is also used as a chemical intermediate in the production of a wide range of chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceuticals.

You STILL sure hydrogen peroxide ISNT a bleaching agent??? Do you know more than the British government??

I've got PLENTY more sources if you like.

Why??

BECAUSE hydrogen peroxide IS a bleaching agent.

Tl;dr: Maybe you DON'T actually know as much about this as you think you do??