Mold can be a pesky thing. Fortunately, it doesn’t do too well in either heat or cold. At What Temperature Does Mold Die? Find out in this article.
Mold needs three things to grow – Moisture, Food, and optimum temperature. This fungus gets moisture from leaky pipes and flooded tiles, as well as excess moisture in the kitchen and laundry rooms. These are prime areas for mold growth. A humidity level of 50% or higher is conducive to mold growth.
Mold derives its food from moist food items, as well as other materials like cotton, wood, leather, and paper products. Once mold fungus gets into a porous object or thing, it becomes almost impossible to get rid of it.
Finally, and this is the tricky bit – mold grows in natural temperatures ranging from 0C to 50C (32 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit). The chances for mold growth skyrocket in these temperature ranges. Mold doesn’t die at lower temperatures; it just lies there dormant. So at what temperature does mold die? And what can you do at the individual level to rid it from your indoors?
What Can You Do?
There then exist two alternatives for eliminating mold growth – freeze it out, or heat it off. Let us see what proven methods you can apply to eradicate mold growth on objects in your home.
Method 1 – Heat
Place the mold-covered object in the dryer (for fabric-based items). If not fabric, place the item in a dishwasher and set it to “Dry.”
If the object is wooden or stone, you could place it in the oven on the lowest heat setting. Some spores need temperatures of about 130C to die down.
Once placed, leave the item to dry for about 20 minutes.
Finally, take the item and give it a thorough cleaning with water and dishwashing soap. For fabric, place the item in the washing machine and give it a good cleaning.
Method 2 – Cold
Freeze the mold-covered object in a ziplock bag in the freezer for a good couple of hours. After a few hours, see if the mold shows to be ‘frozen.’
Remove the item from the freezer and wash it with a mild detergent and cold water. Again, if the article is fabric, give it a good tussle in the washing machine.
Repeat the procedure if mold still sticks to the item.
However, this method isn’t a surefire way to kill mold – it just hibernates them until temperatures are more favorable for the spores to thaw out.
Conclusion
If you need to get rid of mold on your items, it’s best to use the heat treatment method as compared to cold freezing, as the spores only lay dormant until warmth thaws them back out again.
However, if the mold growth on your items is wide-spread, it is best to call in professional mold cleaning services.