How to Get Rid of Mold [5 Steps]

June 10, 2025

Braden Norwood

Contributing Author

Know How to Get Rid of Mold Safely

Mold spores live everywhere – in fact, you inhale these spores with every single breath you take. At first, that might sound concerning, but rest assured, it’s perfectly normal. A larger problem arises when these spores colonize in specific areas and grow out of control. In that case, you’ll want to know how to get rid of mold. But understanding how to do that safely is vital to your health and long-term wellbeing.

Typically, one cubic meter of air contains between 200 and 500 mold spores. However, the presence of visible mold growth indicates a larger problem. If the spore count reaches higher numbers, or the affected area increases beyond 10 square feet, the situation could even require professional help. However, many instances of indoor mold growth can be handled yourself.

Before you ever begin the process of mold removal, you’ll want to ensure you have the right safety equipment. The chemicals necessary for eliminating mold can cause irritation or damage to your eyes, skin, and respiratory system if mishandled. So, ensure that you have the following gear:

Safety goggles without ventilation holes
N-95 respirator or face mask that covers your mouth and nose
Rubber gloves

Mold and harsh chemicals can both prove detrimental to your health. So, never begin the mold removal process without taking the correct safety precautions. Furthermore, never attempt to remove mold by mixing various chemicals such as ammonia and bleach, as this can create toxic gases. Mold is a common problem for many homes, but if you follow the right precautions, you can safely remove it.

Steps for Mold Cleanup

1. Mix Your Cleaning Solution

Most commonly, professionals recommend using a bleach or detergent solution to clean mold from surfaces. However, the product mixes differ depending on the severity of the mold and the surface it’s growing on. For example, for porous materials, mold doesn’t simply grow on the surface. It also infests the space between, so you will potentially have to throw them out entirely. This might include carpets, rugs, and other absorbent substances. However, for walls, floors, bathtubs, tiles, and other hard surfaces, a solution of bleach and water typically works well.

The CDC advises never to use more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. However, companies like Clorox recommend using even less, potentially only 1/3 a cup of disinfecting bleach to each gallon of water.

Alternatively, some sources recommend using a sprayable mixture of ammonia and water in a 50/50 ratio. However, if you choose to do this, make sure you do not mix it with any bleach solution. This will create dangerous fumes.

2. Preclean the Affected Area

Before applying the disinfecting solution to the affected area, you want to preclean it. Using a dry brush or cloth, scrub the top layer of mold from the surface. Doing so will help the actual disinfecting process work more effectively and efficiently.

For softer surfaces, such as drywall, you might opt to use a cloth instead of a hard-bristled brush to keep from damaging the material. However, for surfaces such as bathroom tile, showers and hard-material walls, heavy-duty scrubbing brushes can prove more beneficial.

3. Apply Your Disinfecting Solution

After precleaning the affected area, apply your disinfecting solution using a cloth or brush. For harder surfaces like tile, you should scrub away the mold as completely as possible with a brush. However, for walls, spread the solution with a cloth, ensuring you cover the entire area, then scrub gently until the visible mold is removed.

4. Rinse the Impacted Surface

After applying the bleach, ammonia, or vinegar mixture, make sure to rinse the area with water. Do not use the same cloth you used to preclean the area or apply the disinfecting solution. Always use clean water and materials to ensure complete removal.

Once you’ve rinsed the surface, use a microfiber cloth to carefully dry the area, making sure not to leave visible droplets of water.

5. Completely Dry the Area

Beyond using a microfiber cloth, you need to make sure to eliminate any unseen moisture from the affected area. Otherwise, you increase your chance of mold regrowth in the same space. Using a dehumidifier and a fan can help with this. That way, both the surface and the underlying area remains entirely free of moisture after disinfecting.

How to Prevent Mold

Mold grows where there’s moisture, and sometimes, it isn’t easy or even possible to eliminate condensation or other causes of dampness. However, if you have leaking pipes or other plumbing issues, you need to take care of them quickly. Not only can the become major catalysts for mold regrowth, they can have other damaging and long-lasting impacts on your home.

But for those areas which just can’t seem to stay moisture-free, whether because of humidity or some other cause, there’s a solution. SRFC Bio RS spray has been utilized in housing to prevent the growth of black mold for up to 6 months. Although this spray doesn’t kill mold the way bleach solutions do, use after cleaning effectively reduces spores’ ability to grow.

Essentially, RS spray creates a long-lasting barrier that not only prevents mold growth but also kills 99.9% of listed bacteria and viruses for 24 hours. That way, your surfaces get complete protection at the same time as mold prevention. All you have to do is spray and walk away – no wiping necessary, and no sticky residue like other disinfectants. So, if you’re looking to protect your home from mold, use SRFC Bio RS spray to keep it from ever becoming a problem.