Bathroom mold alternative cleaners

Joenali

So DH and I have made the switch to vinegar, water and baking soda to do most of our cleaning. We tend to have some icky bathroom mold. We have a fan that gets turned on when the light is swtiched on. However, it just doesn't work. I hate to use bleach but it honestly it does a great job. I used it the other day and there isn't any mold in our bathroom. Is straight up vinegar powerful enough to zap mold? What else is there?

ksdk

I use straight vinegar in a spray bottle to zap mold/mildew from grout on the tile walls in the shower, works amazingly well. But one of our bathrooms is in very bad shape and is prone to mold on the ceiling and painted portion of the walls, and I use bleach. The vinegar doesn't do as well on the old plaster ceilings and walls, doesn't get the mold out.

Alisha_A

I use vinegar for mold/mildew. Vinegar should kill any fungi.

hollyfp

ksdk:

I use straight vinegar in a spray bottle to zap mold/mildew from grout on the tile walls in the shower, works amazingly well. But one of our bathrooms is in very bad shape and is prone to mold on the ceiling and painted portion of the walls, and I use bleach. The vinegar doesn't do as well on the old plaster ceilings and walls, doesn't get the mold out.

This.  Vinegar is fine for our newer bath, but doesn't cut it for the older one.  I figure we already own the bleach anyway...hopefully by the time we run out that bath will have been demolished  

Pescalita

First - prevention. Keep the bathroom as aired out as possible, and if you're really motivated, squeagy the walls after the last shower of the day. Do you have a window in there? We try to keep ours open whenever we shower.

Also, keep up on cleaning. I'm terrible about this, but it's much easier to combat if you get it when it's just visible. 

I've had good luck with 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 salt, a finger with a good nail and a rag you don't mind getting gross. Rub the salt/vinegar on the grout (the salt should not dissolve, it's acting as an abrasive), let sit for 10 minutes or so, and go back and scrub the grout using the salt.

That's pretty tough on the fingers & nails though, so this time I tried Bon Ami with an old toothbrush, and a little spray of diluted Dr.Bs (with a bit of tea tree oil, which inhibits mold) to moisten. The toothbrush made the whole thing a lot easier, and the Bon Ami worked great.

Do make sure to rinse down the tile after using vinegar, as the acid will etch the glaze. This is partly why I'm trying to switch my method. I'm not positive the Bon Ami is great for the glaze either, but it works so well I didn't want to find out

There are still a few spots that aren't perfectly white, mainly the caulking. I think I may spot bleach those spots. I've tried following up with oxygen bleach or hydrogen peroxide before, and neither were particularly effective. 

jennyk213

If the vinegar doesn't work, you could spray tea tree oil on the areas.  The stain might stay but you'll kill the mold. 

hawaiibride04

The only two things that work on the mold/mildew problem in our shower are a horrible commercial cleaner from Home Depot that makes me feel like I'm going to pass out, and tea tree oil.  Obviously, I use the tea tree oil!  It works better than vinegar or any other natural product I've tried.  

I mix 2 tsp with 2 cups water in a spray bottle, and spray generously a couple times a week.  No rinsing needed.

pixieprincss

I just wrote a blog entry on dealing with mold with homemade cleaners. The entry focses on our basement, but it is the same blend I've long used in our bathroom. See recipe in step 3.

Tambcat

I really haven't found anything else that works... hell, bleach doesn't even get all of it all the time. I hate mold.

CDMay2006

I would think better ventilation would be your best bet.  It's quick and inexpensive to replace the fan (even if you hired an electrician).  You can also increase ventilation by leaving the fan on for a bit after showering and making sure the bathroom door is left open.

CDMay2006

Also, seventh generation has a peroxide spray; perhaps that would work.

Temp663997437501443

Tambcat:

I really haven't found anything else that works... hell, bleach doesn't even get all of it all the time. I hate mold.

This.  We have an older apartment bathroom with plaster walls and ancient (Pepto pink) tile.  We keep the window open at all times and have a de-humidifier but still have issues with mildewy yuckiness.  I have tried everything natural: BS, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, TTO, Bon Ami, Dr Bronners, combos of these, commercial cleaners.  Nothing worked except bleach.  Unfortunately, I can't argue with that.  I use a mild bleach solution in between some other more friendly methods (maybe once a month).  It's the best that I can do.