You spot a couple of black patches on your wall and identify the spots as mold. Now you need a way to get rid of it and wonder – does vinegar kill mold on drywall?
Yes, vinegar kills mold on drywall. Vinegar contains acetic acid, which is capable of killing some types of common household mold.
Vinegar is better than bleach for treating drywall and other porous surfaces since it can kill the mold at its source rather than only at the surface like bleach does.
Here’s what else you need to know.
How Do You Remove Mold From Drywall With Vinegar?
Removing mold from your drywall is pretty easy as long as it’s not a severe case. Start by putting on gloves and a mask.
Then, you can follow these steps:
- Fill a spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar
- Spray all of the mold with the vinegar
- Wait one hour
- Use a soft-bristled scrub brush or rough sponge to gently scrub all of the mold growth off the wall*
- Wipe with a fresh, wet rag and then dry with a new cloth
After removing the green or black mold, lightly spray the area with vinegar and allow it to dry. This will help kill any remaining mold spores.
*If you don’t have a scrub brush, you can use a regular cleaning rag with a little bit of baking soda. The baking soda is slightly abrasive, so it will help remove the mold growth without damaging the wall.
How Much Vinegar Should I Use To Kill Mold On Drywall?
You don’t need a ton of vinegar to kill the mold on your drywall – simply saturate the moldy spots and surrounding areas. Then, allow the vinegar to sit for an hour before scrubbing the wall.
After cleaning, you can follow up with a very light spray of vinegar to kill any remaining spores. You don’t need to rinse this coating off.
Be sure to use undiluted white distilled vinegar. If you dilute the vinegar, it won’t be strong enough to be effective.
How Long Does It Take For Vinegar To Kill Mold?
It takes vinegar approximately one hour to kill mold. If you’re dealing with very heavy mold, wait longer than an hour or treat the area twice.
Conclusion
If you’ve found mold on your drywall, you’ll be happy to know that white distilled vinegar is a proven method for killing it. However, vinegar doesn’t kill all types of mold, so if you see mold growth in the area you treated, you may need to call in professionals.
Also, if you’re dealing with a moldy area of more than 10 square feet, the EPA recommends calling in a professional mold removal crew.