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Does Vinegar Kill Mold?

Yes, vinegar does kill mold. 

Vinegar is reported to be effective at killing eighty-two percent of mold spores when applied undiluted.

More Info: According to the Rhode Island Department of Health - Environmental Health Risk Assessment, vinegar is successful at killing eighty-two percent of mold spores that are present within a specified area. With the Environmental Protection Agency informing the public to stop using bleach as a routine practice during mold remediation, this makes vinegar a clear-cut environmental friendly alternative for homeowners everywhere.

The Department of Health in Rhode Island suggests that when vinegar is used to eliminate mold the following procedures should be followed.

• Using a spray bottle, pour in straight vinegar.
  
  
• Spray the entire area that is affected by mold.
  
  
• Leave the vinegar on the area without rinsing and allow the area to dry naturally.
  
  
• The smell from the vinegar will disappear over a short period.

Anyone who has health concerns, such as asthma or other respiratory conditions should not perform this type of clean up or be in the area when the mold is being treated. The Rhode Island Department of Health’s Environmental Health Risk Assessment Department has estimated that in fact no one else should be present when a mold clean up is underway because the mold spores that are in the air are between ten to one hundred percent higher than they are even prior to cleaning. The EPA suggests that whenever an area of mold is being cleaned, protective gear such as gloves and a breathing respirator should be worn to avoid accidental inhalation of the mold spores.