Does Ammonia Kill Mold: All Your Questions Answered!

When you spot mold in your home, you must remove it immediately. You just can’t co-exist with mold because it can cause serious health problems. Some common products can help kill mold on certain surfaces, but not all.

In this article, we’ll explain does ammonia kill mold, what surfaces it works on, and how to use it against mold properly. We’ll also share more potent alternatives so that you can eradicate mold from your home effectively.

Will Ammonia Kill Mold?

Ammonia is a very harsh and dangerous chemical that can cause skin and eye irritation. Additionally, swallowing ammonia or inhaling ammonia fumes can be fatal.

That’s why you should wear protective gear, such as glasses, gloves, and a respirator when handling ammonia. Also, make sure the room is well-ventilated.

WARNING: Never combine bleach and ammonia because together they create toxic fumes that can harm you.

With that out of the way, let’s learn more about ammonia and mold. In short, ammonia is a great mold killer. It’s also affordable, unlike most commercial cleaning products.

What may surprise you is that most professional cleaning solutions contain ammonia. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on all surfaces. You can use ammonia to remove mold from glass, tiles, and other non-porous surfaces.

However, if you need to kill mold on porous surfaces, such as wood, fabric, drywall, or sheetrock, we suggest using safer mold cleaners like baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. These alternatives can attack the root cause of mold, which ammonia can’t. They’re also natural, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly.

If you need a mold killer for non-porous surfaces, grab some ammonia and follow these steps:

1. First and foremost, protect yourself with glasses, gloves, and a respirator.
2. Open all the windows before cleaning to ensure the area is properly ventilated.
3. Make sure you have a spray bottle and a scrubber or a toothbrush on hand.
4. Mix equal parts of ammonia and water in the spray bottle.
5. Shake the bottle well and generously spray the mixture over the affected area.
6. Let it sit for about 1 hour before wiping and rinsing the area.
7. Use the scrubber or toothbrush for stubborn stains.
8. Repeat if necessary.
9. If ammonia doesn’t do the job, try vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, or purchase a commercial solution.
10.  Determine the cause of mold in your home and apply the necessary changes. Remember that prevention is the best cure.

If nothing helps, don’t fret! You can always call mold removal or remediation companies and get rid of the nasty mold in your home forever.

Does Ammonia Kill Black Mold?

Ammonia can kill mold, including black mold, but only on non-porous surfaces, and it’s not recommended for household cleaning purposes because it’s not safe. That’s why you must use it in a well-ventilated area and wear protective gear in the process.

If you try to use ammonia on porous surfaces, such as wood, it won’t deliver satisfactory results. The mold will likely reappear because ammonia can’t penetrate enough into the wood to kill the mold completely.

That said, if you’re dealing with surface black mold on tile, granite, tile, laminate flooring, ceramic, or acrylic, try ammonia. However, surfaces such as fabric, drywall, or wood will require other cleaning solutions.

Does Ammonia Kill Mold on Fabric?

Unfortunately, ammonia can’t kill mold on fabric because it can’t get deep enough in porous surfaces. Mold enters the fabric deeply, which makes the complete removal with ammonia impossible. Moreover, ammonia is a harsh chemical with fumes that cause health issues, especially if used in enclosed spaces.

To remove mold from fabric, use baking soda, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide. Vinegar can kill up to 82% of mold species and it’s fabric-safe. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water, spray the solution on the fabric, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, rinse it with hot water.

Does Ammonia Kill Mold on Wood?

Ammonia isn’t the best cleaning solution for mold on wood because wood just like fabric is a porous surface. Ammonia can’t penetrate deep enough to kill the mold permanently. Also, ammonia is a harsh chemical, which means it can damage the finish of the wood. This can result in discoloration and deterioration over time.

To kill mold on wood, spray the affected area with a mixture of vinegar and water, let it sit for about 1 hour, then wipe it clean with a damp cloth. If it’s a stubborn stain, you can use a soft-bristled brush to remove it without causing much damage.

Does Ammonia Kill Mold on Walls?

Ammonia can’t kill mold on your walls either because it’s only effective on hard surfaces like glass or tile. While you might notice immediate results, the mold will likely re-attack the surface of your walls because ammonia can’t enter deep enough to kill it completely.

A more effective solution is a combination of water and vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Both of these products can penetrate better than ammonia. If the mold is still there, call mold remediation professionals for help.

Does Ammonia Kill Mold in Carpet?

Will ammonia kill mold on the carpet? The answer is, temporarily because ammonia can’t reach the fibers of the carpet where mold spores may reside. Also, ammonia can ruin your carpet by damaging the fibers.

A more effective alternative is a combination of baking soda and vinegar. First, sprinkle baking soda over the moldy area and let it sit for several hours. Afterward, vacuum the baking soda and apply a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar to the affected area. Let the solution sit for about 30 minutes before blotting it dry with a clean cloth.

For severe mold infestations, we suggest calling professional carpet cleaners.

How Long Does it Take Ammonia to Kill Mold?

In short, it depends on the type of surface and mold. Ammonia can remove mold from certain surfaces, like tiles, glass, laminate flooring, and other non-porous surfaces within 1-2 hours. The chemical only works on surface-level mold and is not effective on porous surfaces like wood, fabric, or drywall, where mold spores can penetrate deeply.

What Kills Mold Permanently?

Studies suggest that you should clean the mold off and stop it from coming back by finding out the source of it. Mold grows in places with, moisture, organic materials like plaster or wood, and oxygen. The worst part? It also spreads through spores in the air, which can make you sick. If you’re dealing with mold currently, follow these steps:

Remove the mold:

• Clean mold from surfaces: First, clean the visible mold from walls or other surfaces. Wear protective gear like gloves, goggles, and a mask to avoid breathing in mold spores. Use soapy water (a mild detergent like dish soap) and gently wipe the mold. Don’t scrub hard, as this can spread spores into the air. After cleaning, dry the area with a cloth to remove extra moisture.
• Get rid of moldy items: It’s often hard to clean soft items like fabric, carpets, or toys that have mold, so it’s best to throw them away or get them professionally cleaned. Seal them in plastic bags before discarding them to prevent spores from spreading in your home.
• Clean the whole area: After cleaning visible mold, clean the entire room to remove any leftover spores. Wipe down surfaces with a wet cloth or vacuum to catch spores that may be floating around.

Prevent the Mold from Coming Back:

• Fix leaks: Mold often grows because of leaky pipes, damaged roofs, or broken gutters. Regularly check your home for leaks and fix them quickly to avoid moisture buildup.
• Control humidity: Mold loves humid places, so keeping the air dry is important. Use a moisture meter to ensure humidity levels are between 30-60%. If it’s too high, in order to prevent mold from coming back, you’ll need to use a dehumidifier to lower the moisture in the air.
• Improve airflow: Poor airflow traps moisture in areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. Open windows regularly to let fresh air in and use exhaust fans when showering or cooking. Keep doors inside your home open to improve air circulation.
• Dry wet areas quickly: Don’t leave water sitting on surfaces. After showers, baths, or spills, dry walls and floors right away. Also, avoid drying clothes indoors, as this adds moisture to the air.
• Reduce condensation: Condensation happens when cold surfaces like windows or walls collect moisture. To reduce this, make sure your home is well-insulated and ventilated. Using window sealants or double-paned windows can also help prevent moisture buildup.
• Move furniture away from walls: Furniture pushed against walls can trap moisture behind it, giving mold a place to grow. Leave a small gap between furniture and walls to let air circulate and keep things dry.

If mold keeps coming back even after cleaning and fixing moisture problems, it may be a bigger issue, which might require professional help.

Conclusion

All in all, you can remove mold using ammonia, but only if a non-porous material is affected. If you need something more effective and less dangerous that works on both porous and non-porous surfaces, consider hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or baking soda.

If the mold persists or you just don’t have the time to deal with it at the moment, contact mold remediation companies that can help you get rid of it for good. 

FAQs

What kills mold better, vinegar or ammonia?

When comparing vinegar and ammonia for killing mold, we prefer vinegar because it’s a safer and more versatile option. It’s a natural, non-toxic solution that removes mold from both porous and non-porous surfaces.

Vinegar is also more effective than ammonia, especially on porous surfaces, like wood, drywall, and fabric because it can reach deep where mold spores hide. Studies suggest that vinegar can kill over 80% of mold species and prevent future mold growth.

And on top of all of that, it’s eco-friendly, cheap, and doesn’t release harmful fumes like ammonia does. You can use it directly from the bottle or dilute it slightly with water.

Ammonia, on the other hand, works only on non-porous surfaces and isn’t effective on porous materials. In fact, it only kills surface mold and doesn’t penetrate deeply enough to remove mold spores.

Additionally, ammonia fumes can be dangerous, causing respiratory irritation and other health problems, especially in enclosed spaces.

Does ammonia kill mildew?

Ammonia can kill mildew but only temporarily, especially on porous surfaces. That’s why most people prefer hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or baking soda. You can also remove mildew using commercial cleaning products or hiring professionals. They use special products and methods that will successfully eradicate the mold from your home forever.

Does ammonia kill fungus?

Ammonia can kill some types of fungi but not all. It’s not effective at removing fungi with deeper roots or those living in drywall, fabric, wood, and other porous surfaces. If you’re dealing with stubborn or widespread fungal growth, we suggest using fungicides or specialized cleaning solutions. Or hire professionals who can do the heavy lifting for you.