Reddit mentions: The best household mold & mildew removers

I have trouble standing and walking, but am fine when sitting, so most of my advice is from that viewpoint.

Swiffers for everything! Mop/sweeper, duster, dusting cloths, etc. They're really efficient and disposable so I don't have to deal with things like mop buckets, dirty mop heads, cleaning feather dusters, anything like that.

One of those extendable pincher things to help pick stuff up off the floor.

An extendable scrubber for the bathroom. The shape makes it really easy to get into corners.

A clothes folder makes it really easy to fold your clothes, and I can use this on my lap while sitting down in bed.

A walker with a seat makes it really easy to get around to do things and has a seat for when I need to sit down. The basket that most come with helps to carry supplies from one room to the next.

Stick vaccums are super lightweight and easy to maneuver even from a couch or bed.

A scrubbing attachment that goes on a power drill is so helpful when you don't have the strength or stamina to scrub by hand.

I swear by all of the Kaboom products. All of them are no-effort cleaning supplies. They have toilet cleaner, mold and mildew cleaner, and, of course, the famous shower foam.

An automatic vacuum like a roomba is great for most people, but I've never had one so I can't comment myself.

Soak your dishes. There are special products that help get dried on food off your dishes, but I've found that just soaking them in hot water for 20-30 minutes before trying to wash them gets most stuck on food off. For really tough, baked on gunk, add a dryer sheet to the water. Sounds weird, but it helps soften up the crusty blackened burnt on food and it comes off easily.

For food that's stuck on the inside of the microwave, take a cup of water, add some lemon juice, and microwave it on full power for 6 minutes. The food will wipe right off.

I might think of more things later. If I do I'll come back and edit this post.

So this is something I am very knowledgable on. I work in claims management specifically “cat” catastrophe claims. Water losses (such as water backup, pipe bursts/freezes) fall under us too. That being said mold is a very hot topic in insurance and legal realms so take this advice as you will and I’m not responsible for anything that happens.



Mold is very basic but if not addressed properly or left to its own devices it can become a serious issue. The first thing you need to do is address the environment in which the mold is in. Mold requires a damp, humid, and preferably dark environment to live in. Get a dehumidifier to lower relative humidity. A few of the squirrel cage air movers can also help. Next you need to check the moisture of the room. A cheap moisture meter will help you figure out if you have trapped moisture in your walls. I know you mentioned it’s a basement but is it a finished basement? If so you could have mold living in the walls and insulation. Some people may say to ignore it but it will eventually spread and become visible again. Also mold can lead to respiratory issues. If there is no mold beyond the walls pull up a section (like a corner) or carpet and pad and check there too. If all is clear then you need to move onto the second phase. Getting rid of the mold spores that already are there. You mentioned it was on cardboard boxes and such. You need to go through the boxes and clean anything your saving or bag and toss the other stuff. You have to decontaminate everything or the spores will stay and come back later. I recommend scanning and pictures or important documents or just buying a cheap laminator and laminating them. Anything plastic or metal or wood can be cleaned. Look for a anti-microbial cleaner. Throw out the old boxes and such. Now for the basement itself. Once the moisture levels are down you can start cleaning everything. Get one of those pump sprayers and mix bleach and water together. Consider a small mask due to bleach smelling terrible or brig in fresh air. Bleach will kill all the mold and it’s great for clean up. Then purchase more anti-microbial spray (usually you can get in one of those bottles with pump and sprayer). Spray everything - the walls, ceiling, floor, etc. to prevent future growth.


I know it sounds like a lot of work but it’s pretty simple. Check for mold, clean mold off contents and structure, spray anti microbial spray. Some useful tools you may consider is a pump sprayer ($10 Home Depot), moisture meter ($25 on Amazon), hygrometer ($20.00 on Amazon), mold test kit ($10-15 Amazon), bleach (cheap), anti-microbial spray ($30 Amazon link below)


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FLZZQVC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jidVAbY249VTB

I didn’t think Bleach was actually good for mold or at least it isn’t the best. I read white vinegar was. Sorry you have mold glad too.

I purchased this today but wonder how safe it is on like camping chairs and cases that get mold from the closet. May also be over spending cause white vinegar supposedly works and I live in walkable distance from the dollar tree.

EcoClean Solutions Mold, Mildew & Algae Remover | No-Scrub Stain Remover | Instant Results for All Surfaces (1 Gallon) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GRDSS54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_e3DoDbZRJ7XAD

Yeah, I agree. I’m hoping that this will help that problem if I wipe down any moldy areas I see, as well as the entirety of the bathroom. I’m definitely the over thinking type, and I’m also waiting for my spores. Once they get here, I’ll get to work!

More line than you think you need. Double the line. You can never have enough line.

Waterproof, powerful flashlight my recommendation

Plastic bag with a lanyard for valuables/wallets/phones/licenses. Alternatively, a pelican case.

A pair of vice grip pliers ("The wrong tool to get every job done right")

A knife, as others said. I work professionally on the water as well as boating recreationally. The Myerchin Rigging Knife is the best all purpose knife to have on board. It might be a little overkill, but when you need a line cut fifteen seconds ago, you'll be glad you have it.

A VHF handheld radio and a knowledge of what channels are monitored by the USCG (13, 16, 22A), Commercial traffic (13/16) and local police/fire departments

Spare fuses, bulbs, plugs

A Towboat US membership

A bigger, heavier anchor if you're anywhere with a decent amount of current (rivers, oceans). I'm very much a proponent of overkill when it comes to anchoring. I use an anchor way bigger than my 20' pontoon needs, and it's a tad pricey, but once I drop it and pay out the scope, I rarely worry about dragging.

Bag of cleaning supplies. Rags, paper towels, and the holy trinity of vinyl care: melamine pads, CLR Mold & Mildew, and 303 protectant

Most important item of all: A bleach bottle with the bottom cut off

if it's been there a while, get something like this, take it and the chair to a diy car wash. spray it with the cleaner and the pressure sprayer should take care of the rest cheaply. if it's a new issue a regular hose and some bleach might be good enough.

http://www.amazon.com/Kaboom-StainBuster-Mildew-Stain-Remover/dp/B003VSVNFY/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1376868970&sr=8-10&keywords=kaboom

Go in there, with a mask, spray every little corner down and let it sit.

Do this 3 to four times.

I was amazed how well this worked, honestly. Make sure to get that specific one exactly though, I tried again with the oxyclean and foam stuff and it did nothing.

I used this stuff over a year ago and it worked just great. Its very heavy duty stuff so wear safety goggles and gloves etc.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12949413
or
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019KSUG6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Piggybacking to say this stuff gets dye stains/etc out of everything. I once forgot black hair dye in a shower for 3 days, used this stuff, and it was like it never happened. Do not use on pure white fabric, as it will turn it to a dingy, yellowish white.

Maybe look into something like this?

There is a product called Wet and Forget which is intended for removing moss from asphalt shingled roofs. You spray it on and the moss dies in a week or two. After that you can clean it off with a stiff brush.

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https://www.amazon.com/Forget-10587-Gallon-Mildew-Remover/dp/B0019KSUG6/ref=sr_1_3?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI86D7s5D84wIVyODICh2cZQqGEAAYASAAEgKdTfD_BwE&hvadid=295256781038&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9001696&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12003339133195892382&hvtargid=kwd-569407853241&hydadcr=24661_10400816&keywords=wet-and-forget&qid=1565571528&s=gateway&sr=8-3

My brick house, patio, and fence has mold that I routinely pressure wash. I wanted to know if this stuff works, so I looked it up on Amazon. I just bought some. Good salesmanship, op.

I get that crap all over my place and spray it with a Wet & Forget solution. Works good lasts a long time.

Clorox Tilex has worked very well for a similar problem I have had outside my house.

Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover 16 fl oz (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P6NYX54/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_GJc1CbSADY9R2

I'll try to make this a short story... I noticed a mildew smell coming from our big bay-window in the front of our house. It's one of those custom jobs that was built in the 60s--non standard sizes panes of glass. I pulled up some of the sill and that's where it was coming from. I pulled out the drywall below it. I did the bleach/bleach & water, vinegar, etc. thing to clean it out. Then I found a product called Boracare w/MoldCare. It's used to treat/prevent mold and pests in new or existing structures. I only used a little (comes as a concentrate that makes 4-5 gallons). Once dry, it's supposed to be relatively safe for kids/pets. It's expensive (around $120 for the jug of concentrate), but I haven't had any issues since I sprayed it into the area under the bay window. It's also supposed to penetrate and kill anything that the bleach missed. I highly recommend it. You can spray it yourself, so you save on the contractor fees.

In your case, you're probably going to have to go down to bare studs, remediate that and put moisture-resistant drywall up. But you can spray the Boracare into the void before you put the wall board back up. I would guess any insulation you have in the walls is probably contaminated too.

I've done the same thing after packing it before a flight. Bleach may ruin the material

To kill it


To remove the stains took a bit of scrubbing and sitting over night before rinsing.

Edit: there are cheaper sources like Home Depot.