If you are considering mold removal the question of does bleach kill mold has probably come up. Many homeowners and contractors use bleach throughout the home to address mold and mold staining.
The effectiveness of bleach at disinfecting mold is still a hot topic among mold professionals and homeowners.
Is Bleach an Effective Mold Disinfectant?
I find the kill mold directions put forth by bleach manufacturers to be confusing. Maybe it’s just me, but I always thought water encouraged mold growth. But the application direction label says to mix warm water with the bleach before applying. Keep in mind most bleach is already 90% water, so adding more water (3/4 cup of bleach per gallon of water) will dilute the chlorine. Won’t this also cause it to be less effective?
Bleach is Very Corrosive
Again the to kill mold with bleach, directions says to not use a garden sprayer or spray bottle when applying bleach. This is for two reasons, the first is that bleach will most likely enter your lungs, eyes, and mouth or splash on your skin and clothes. But, the main reason, put forth by the manufacturer, is it will corrode the metal parts of the trigger assembly and make it less effective. I think the first reason should be the main reason.
Does Bleach Destroy Wood?
Our corporate headquarters is located near the Great Smokie Mountains, and we have lots of log home cabins in the area. It seems many people clean their log cabins with bleach before applying finishes. This is a big no no according to Perma-Chink® Systems, Inc. the maker of a product called Lifeline™. Here is what they say about how to kill mold with bleach and its effect on lignin.
“Chlorine bleach destroys lignin, a component of wood that hardens and strengthens the cell walls. Once the surface cellular structure loses its integrity, film-forming finishes like Lifeline™ have no sound wood to bond to, and can peel off.” Read article.
If bleach can do that to log cabins, I imagine spraying bleach on the wood in your crawl space is not good. The destruction of lignin will weaken your joists and subfloors and can lead to the need for replacement.
Call Crawl Space Ninja to Professionally Clean Your Crawl Space!
Do you need help with mold removal, crawl space encapsulation, crawl space insulation, vapor barrier, waterproofing, or controlling humidity in your crawl space and you live in Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, or Kentucky? If so, please contact us to schedule your assessment.
Contact us if you need help fixing your crawl space or yard drainage by clicking here.