Using Essential Oils are Natural Mold Inhibitors
The potency of pure essential oils reveals a non-toxic and natural method of fighting mold. Numerous studies showing that essential oils are natural mold inhibitors and are effective at reducing mold. Certain essential oils aid recovery from toxic exposure by supporting immune function.
The oils listed below are some of the most useful oils in dealing with small infestations of mold, especially air-born spores. Always remember that to successfully prevent mold from returning, any leaks or humidity issues must be resolved. Mold on porous material, such as drywall, must be cut out and replaced. Please consider hiring a professional mold remediator to remove mold, especially if the area affected is greater than 10 square feet and if anyone living in the residence has a compromised immune system or health concerns.
Eucalyptus – Helpful with respiratory infections
Eucalyptus oil is the distilled oil that comes from dried eucalyptus leaves, and is a colorless liquid with a strong, sweet, woody smell. Diluted eucalyptus oil may be helpful in addressing coughs, bronchitis, and sinus and respiratory infections. It can also act as an insect repellent and may help treat wounds, burns and ulcers. It is known to possess antiseptic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Oregano – Cleaning and immune support
Oregano essential oil is one of the most potent essential oils. This oil has been used for centuries for cleansing and immune-enhancing benefits. Oregano essential oil, along with cinnamon, thyme, and cumin oils inhibited the production of aflatoxin by aspergillus fungus. Oregano oil is a wonderful purifying agent and immune booster.
Thyme – Killing airborne mold
Thyme essential oil is one of the primary oils suggested for mold. Thyme has been used for everything from Candida albicans to people struggling with mold infections. Thyme is a powerhouse of an oil. This oil can also have a cleansing and purifying effect for the skin.
Other Essential Oils that Might Help with Mold
Cinnamon – Inhibiting mold on food
Cinnamon oil has been shown to be one of the strongest oils for use in battling mold. In a test done on four essential oils, cinnamon showed the best inhibitory effect against mold growing on food. Wax papers with a 6% solution of cinnamon oil used on breads constrained mold growth by 96%. Another study by the International Journal of Food Microbiology showed that a combination of essential oils, including cinnamon oil, suppressed bacterial growth for 60 days. The study suggests that cinnamon oil could be considered an alternative to other food preservatives. This essential oil contains strong cleansing and immune enhancing properties as well.
Clove – Controlling yeast, immune support and pain killer
Clove essential oil is great for dealing with fungal growth. Clove is a powerful antioxidant that can help ward off free radicals and maintain a healthy immune system. Cloves are derived from an evergreen tree native to Indonesia. The flower buds are often used as a spice. The essential oil of clove has been used medicinally in Chinese and Indian medicine and herbalism as a painkiller for dentistry.
The famous Aspergillus niger (also known as black mold) is especially sensitive to clove oil. This suggests promising effectiveness in cleaning molds on hard (non-porous) surfaces. Cloves have been shown to put an end to Candida growth in the mouth and intestine. A study found that clove “had a fast killing effect on yeast cells.”
Tea Tree – Treating mold on surfaces
Another helpful essential oil, this oil can be an effective source for naturally treating small mold issues on surfaces and fabrics. Tea tree essential oil is a powerful natural anti-fungal that is often used in nontoxic cleaning solutions, and can also be beneficial in dealing with mold and mildew smells.
If you need to kill mold or mildew on clothing, or to eliminate a musty odor, simply add a few drops of tea tree oil to the wash cycle. This will also help kill mildew buildup in the washer and can be used to rinse and refresh clothing that was left in the machine too long.
If you have a small mold area to clean you can mix 1 tsp tea tree oil with 1 cup of water and put in a spray bottle. Once you have determined that the mold contamination is safe to clean yourself, you can spray this formula on the problem area, let it soak for awhile, and then carefully wipe clean. If you are cleaning a porous surface you may not want to dilute with water as this may feed the mold growth. Test a small area to make sure it does not damage the item. This should kill most spores and prevent the mold from returning. If you have a water issue or leak, you will want to make sure to get it fixed so that you do not have the same issue return.
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