How to Get Rid of Mold And Mildew

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How to get rid of mold and mildew

I started by tossing the mats and fabric shower curtains and cotton shower curtain liner in the washing machine and hanging them out on the line, where the sunshine emerged to do its mold-killing magic. If your curtain is a bit musty, you may want to give it a presoak for a few hours, or even overnight, in a bucket of water with a cup of white vinegar added before tossing it into the washer.

Then, I tackled the grout. No matter how diligent you are at giving your bathroom its weekly once-over (and I am very not diligent), the joints where one material meets another are prone to dirt buildup and mildew. A number of natural cleaners are equal to the challenge, but the type and condition of your grout, tile, and other surfaces need to be taken into consideration when you select one so you don’t damage them. Also, steer clear of scrubby pads if you have materials that could be scratched (my surfaces are tough and were marred long before I owned them, so I don’t sweat a little more scrubbing once in a while to get rid of mold. If yours can also take the abuse, you can even use epsom salt to scrub grout).

(Here are two easy ways to clean a cast iron pan!)

A good basic cleaner to start with is baking soda dissolved in water for spraying or sponging (1/8 cup per quart of water), sprinkled dry on a damp sponge, or made into a paste with a little water for tough areas. Baking soda has been found to kill certain types of mildew, and for the types it can't kill, its mild abrasiveness allows you to scrub the stuff away. It's safe for most surfaces, but you might want to test a small area first if you have any doubts. Apply the baking soda, either in spray or paste form, leave it alone for an hour or so, and then scrub with a soft brush (a retired toothbrush is my favorite). Wipe and rinse well when finished. (Here are 9 more surprising uses for baking soda.)

White vinegar or lemon juice (full strength or mixed with half water) are also good for cleaning mildew-stained grout, but they are acidic and can start to eat away at grout as well as certain hard-surface finishes, so be sure to rinse completely; neither is a good choice for natural marble. To use, sponge on, scrub with a soft brush, and rinse. If you can’t get your grout clean with either of these cleaners, you may want to consider looking for a company that offers professional steam cleaning, which is nontoxic and very effective. Just make sure the company is clear that you don’t want toxic chemicals used.

Related: What's The Better Mold Cleaner—Lemon Juice Or Bleach?

In areas where mildew is a chronic problem, you can keep it from growing by applying citrus or tee-tree oil regularly. Put 10 drops of lemon, orange, grapefruit, or tea tree oil and a few drops of dish soap into an empty quart spray bottle, add warm water almost to the top, and slosh to mix. Spray down areas that are prone to mildew once a week or so. (Here are more essential ingredients for making all of your own cleaning products.)

Related: 6 Times You Should Never Use Essential Oils

How to get rid of hard water stains

Depending on the dissolved minerals in your water, you too may get white, gray, or even rusty stains on bathroom surfaces. If I had a magic bullet that would get rid of hard water stains with no effort, I’d be a millionaire, but I don't. However, with a little trial and error and even more elbow grease, you can take care of soap scum and mineral deposits as effectively with natural products as you could with the latest toxic panacea being pushed on TV (which probably isn’t nearly as effective as they want you to believe it is anyway).

Related: The Only 10 Things You Need To Buy To Make All Your Own Natural Cleaning Products

As with grout, baking soda is a good basic cleaner to start with: Use it dissolved in water for spraying or sponging, sprinkled as is on a damp sponge, or as a paste for tough areas. Apply baking soda to your surface, let it sit for an hour or so, and then remove it with a soft cloth or brush.

Related: How To Wash Your Car Without Nasty Chemicals Or Wasting Water

If baking soda isn’t up to your challenges, vinegar is quite effective at dissolving soap scum and removing hard water stains. Sponge it on full strength (or mixed half and half with water), wipe with a sponge or soft cloth, and then rinse well. To remove hard-water buildup from showerheads, remove the showerhead and let it soak in undiluted vinegar for a few hours while you're cleaning. Vinegar works because it is acidic, but for the same reason it can also eat into grout or damage the finish of marble, tile, and other surfaces. Check with the manufacturer for advice or test it in an inconspicuous area. (Here are 9 times you should never use vinegar around the house.)

Should both of those fail, a good next step is a product called Bar Keepers Friend (the dry, powdered type). Its active ingredient is oxalic acid, a natural chemical found in rhubarb leaves and various other plants. It is very good at dissolving mineral deposits, even rust stains, without a lot of scrubbing. Just remember that even though it is natural, it can still hurt you if you ingest it, or get in on your skin or in your eyes, so be sure to follow the simple label cautions. (Here are 12 more household toxins you should banish from your home.)

A few other alternatives are Bon Ami cleanser,powdered pumice or a pumice stone, or even very fine wet/dry sandpaper. But as with any other cleaning method, test a small area first to make sure they won't damage surfaces.