Does hydrogen peroxide kill mold?
Quick Answer
Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as a DIY treatment to kill mold. It's a strong oxidizer and is listed as a popular mold treatment by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It's not known which, if any, species of mold are resistant to hydrogen peroxide.
Continue Reading
Full Answer
Hydrogen peroxide's disinfecting properties come from its reactivity. The chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide is H2O2. The two oxygen atoms readily bond with and split other molecules. For biological entities such as mold, this means their surface layers are attacked, which leads to more oxygen attacking the inside of the organism and eventual death.
Humans can experience similar effects if concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are high enough. Even solutions of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide are corrosive to humans. Most household solutions of hydrogen peroxide are very dilute, yet they're still effective at killing fungus and bacteria. Molds are a variety of fungus, and general antifungal treatments should also be effective against them.
Learn more about Cleaning ProductsRelated Questions
-
Q:
What are some good hydrogen peroxide cleaners?
A: As of July 2015, good hydrogen peroxide cleaners are Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Power & Free Multi-Purpose Cl... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are some household uses of hydrogen peroxide?
A: Hydrogen peroxide can act as a stain remover, a disinfectant or a whitener, according to Natural Living Ideas. However, exercise caution when using the sol... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Does Lysol kill mold?
A: According to the Lysol website, Lysol Disinfectant Spray kills 99.9 percent of mold and mildew. It also kills most odor-causing bacteria, bacteria on surfa... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Does ammonia kill mold?
A: Ammonia does kill mold on nonporous surfaces like glass. However, it will not kill mold that has accumulated on surfaces that are porous and absorb liquids... Full Answer >Filed Under:
