Monday, June 11, 2012

Essential Oils That Kill Mold

Essential oils can defeat mold.


Mold and mildew in the home can cause a variety of health difficulties, like allergic and irritant symptoms, flu- and cold-type symptoms, toxicity symptoms, and infections, according to BlackMold.com. BlackMold.com also states that there are 16 species of mold that are known as toxic, because they emit chemicals called mycotoxins, which are highly toxic. Essential oils are oil essences that are extracted into an oil called a "carrier." Essential oils are used for their aromatic and medicinal qualities. There are several essential oils that you can utilize when trying to kill mold.


Tea Tree Oil


Tea tree oil (botanical name: melaleuca alternifolia) is a highly medicinal essential oil with a wide range of uses. You can dilute this essential oil with water (1 tsp. in 2 cups of water), and use a spray bottle to apply it to affected areas. Tea tree oil has a strong odor, but it subsides within a couple days.


Grapefruit Seed Extract


Grapefruit seed oil has a high citric acid content that is aggressive against mold spores. Placing 20 drops inside of 2 cups of water makes an essentially odorless alternative for killing mold in the home. You can use it as a spray to saturate the mold; wipe it off after you allow the solution some time to dry.


Eucalyptus








This medicinal essential oil has a fresh aroma and also has many uses. When using eucalyptus to defeat mold, you should pair it with methylated spirits (a mixture that is 95 percent ethyl alcohol and 5 percent methyl alcohol). Place 1 tbsp. of each in 2 cups of water to make a solution for mold. You can spray the solution on the mold, and leave it to dry.

Tags: cups water, Essential oils, defeat mold, essential with, medicinal essential, solution mold