Pine sol is a popular and powerful all-purpose household cleaning solution for disinfecting multiple surfaces, including countertops, kitchen sinks, shower stalls, bathtubs, and more. Pine sol’s active formula and ingredients clean grime, dirt, grease, and other stubborn stains.
Mold and mildew, on the other hand, are pale and degenerate fungi that thrive in damp or humid environments. Found indoors and outdoors, mold/mildew can cause damage to buildings and structures if not addressed appropriately.
Nowadays, homeowners use different commercial products to kill mold and mildew. But does pine soil also help to kill mold and mildew? This guide looks at how pine sol deals with persistent and allergic mold at home. Continue reading to know more.
What are Mold and Mildew?
Mold and mildew are fungi that thrive in damp/humid environments and plague indoor and outdoor surfaces. In addition, both have their significant differences & similarities. Mold grows on walls, floors, and ceilings, whereas mildew grows on surfaces exposed to moisture, like bathroom tiles.
Most people confuse mold and mildew because of their similar physical characteristics. But here is a detailed explanation of the two puffy fungi.
Apart from growing on furniture and other indoor surfaces, mold can be whitish, yellow, green, blue, or pale colours and has a slimy or fuzzy texture. It thrives better with abundant moisture and oxygen composition and grows taller than mildew.
Mildew, conversely, is a particularly unpleasant mold with a whitish or greyish appearance. In other words, mildew is a general word for mold growth. Furthermore, it has a fluffy, dry, or powdery texture, often grows flat on a surface, and can also be dangerous to human and animal health.
Both mold and mildew are dangerous to humans or animals when inhaled. These fungi can cause health and respiratory-related infections to allergic people and damage to property if ignored/uncontrolled.
As a property owner, always address mold and mildew growth to prevent risk and unavoidable dangers.
Does Pine Sol Kill Mold and Mildew?
Pine sol is an effective home cleaning & disinfection solution often used on indoor surfaces. It keeps surfaces clean and free from dirt or grime. While not a specialized product that actively kills mold, using it will help remove slight mold and mildew growth from multiple surfaces.
Pine sol is a product containing surfactants/surface-active agents that actively help to dilute and lift dirt or grime from multiple surfaces. Also, pine soil contains disinfectants which kill bacteria and viruses. So, you can use it to remove mold on surfaces, but it will not prevent more mold growth.
Remember that mold and mildew thrive in humid environments. So, you must also improve the ventilation in your indoor space after using pine sol to clean the mold. Alternatively, you can use pine sol to remove the mold from surfaces, then use any effective mold-resistant cleaning agent to prevent the spread of more fungus.
What Kills Mold Permanently?
Commercial mold-killing products and mixtures can help to deal with mold infestation permanently. Fixing leaks and improving indoor ventilation are two practical approaches that solve the problem permanently. Nonetheless, it is necessary to identify the extent level or damage caused by the mold to know how to address the issue appropriately.
Using the correct preventive approach will ensure permanent control of mold at home. Here is the most common method you can use to address the issue.
Mold-resistant products guarantee a permanent solution to controlling mold infestation. Today, you can use commercial products to help solve the problem. However, you must purchase the correct product to avoid mold re-infestation.
Note that mold-resistant products contain powerful formulas that effectively kill mold. At home, you can apply the solution to all moist or areas prone to moisture. These include the bathroom, basement, or kitchen.
Mold-resistant products come in different forms. However, the most common include mold-resistant drywall, paint, and sealant.
Tip: It is necessary to improve your home’s overall hygiene to prevent mold from reappearing on the walls or other surfaces. Clean and disinfect all moist-prone areas regularly to guarantee no growth of mold.
What Can You Use Pine Sol for?
Pine sol is a versatile household cleaning and disinfecting solution that leaves surfaces free from dirt and grime. Using it will also reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses in your home. According to instructions, you can use pine sol on hard and non-porous surfaces.
Here are the most common places you can use pine sol around the home. But remember that you must use the precise pine sol variation to avoid damaging household surfaces.
Cleaning the kitchen: Pine sol can disinfect kitchen appliances, floors, and countertops.
Bathroom: Pine sol is effective in removing dirt and grime on sink surfaces, showers, and toilets.
Floor: Pine soil is an all-purpose solution that disinfects different flooring materials like linoleum, tile, or hardwood.
Laundry: Pine sol pre-treated laundry detergent can be used on laundry to remove grease, dirt, and oil.
Carpet & Upholstery: You can use pine sol on carpet and upholstery to eliminate foul pet odour, leaving the living room fresh.
Overall, pine sol is an essential household solution used for general-purpose cleaning. However, you must follow the instructions guide on the label to use it correctly and improve its effectiveness.
What Should You Not Use Pine-Sol on?
Even with its multi-purpose household disinfecting use, there are several places, materials, and surfaces you cannot use pine sol on. As a homeowner, you need to understand how to use pine sol after reading the instructions on the label.
Here are some of the most common places you cannot use pine sol on.
- Marble and granite: Pine sol can etch or damage marble and granite surfaces. So, use alternative cleaning solutions to eliminate mold growth.
- Aluminium: The active chemicals in pine sol can discolour or damage aluminium surfaces. So, avoid using it on an aluminium sink or countertop.
- Copper and brass: Pine sol can also cause discolouration on copper and brass surfaces.
- Unsealed or unfinished wood: Several products, including pine sol and other household cleaning agents, can slowly penetrate unfinished wood, causing damage and rot.
- Waxed, oiled or visibly worn wood: Like unsealed wood, pine sol can also cause discolouration on waxed and oiled wood. So, avoid using any of its variations on such types of wood.
Tip: Always test the pine sol in an inconspicuous area before applying large quantities to tell if it can cause significant physical damage.
Ways to Kill Mold Naturally
There are different approaches to killing mold naturally and avoiding re-infestation. But, the most common natural techniques include improving the ventilation around the home and replacing extensively damaged items with new ones.
You must deal with the cause of the problem appropriately to address mold infestation permanently. Here are the most common techniques used.
Using home remedies
There are several natural home remedies that kill mold, and deal with infestation.
Mix water and vinegar/hydrogen peroxide in a spray can to effectively kill mold in the affected area. Afterwards, use a medium-density or hard brush and thoroughly scrub the mold from the surface.
Fix the cause of the problem
Identify and address the cause of the problem to deal with the situation permanently.
Mostly, you must reduce the humidity levels inside the house and fix all leaks. Also, improve the interior ventilation to prevent mold growth.
You can use a mold-resistant wall paint on the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and other areas prone to mold growth to prevent re-infestation.
Instal mold-resistant flooring in the basement, kitchen, or bathroom to discourage mold formation. Typically, mold-resistant flooring materials include, tile, porcelain, vinyl, and linoleum.
The basement is another room prone to mold formation. However, you can install mold-resistant sealant along the windows or doors to prevent mold from spreading.
Improving ventilation
Mold thrives better in damp and humid environments. So, improving the ventilation in your home is another approach to reducing mold growth. You can use dehumidifiers and exhaust fans or keep the windows open longer to improve air circulation.
With proper ventilation and improved indoor air quality, damp surfaces will dry out naturally, preventing the further spread of mold on other surfaces.
Replacing all extensively damaged items
If the above techniques do not guarantee effective outcomes, replace all extensively damaged items with new ones. This will eliminate the mold in your home and deal with the situation permanently.
Conclusion
Pine sol is a multi-purpose home cleaning solution that eliminates viruses, bacteria, and foul odours. Unfortunately, it lacks mold-resistant properties, and you might have to use other products to deal with mold infestation.
Mold & mildew, on the contrary, are toxic fungi that are dangerous to humans and should be addressed immediately.
At home, use pine sol to clean surfaces, then add a reliable mold/mildew-killing product to prevent future mold formation on the surface. If you have a significant mold or mildew problem, it is best to consult with a professional mold remediation specialist.