If you've got mould, you'll want to get rid of it as soon as possible. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also be dangerous to your health.

It's no surprise that people are feeling panicked about mould right now. With the east coast of Australia experiencing its wettest season on record, mould has become a real problem for many Aussie households.

One popular solution that people have been turning to are ‘mould killer’ sprays. However, it seems that these products are now becoming increasingly difficult to find, with many stores selling out completely.

While some people may be surprised by this, it's actually a sign of the times. With more and more people becoming aware of the dangers of mould, it's no wonder that these kinds of products are in such high demand.

Mould sprays have been flying off the shelves in the past few weeks since the east coast of Australia experienced its wettest season on record, prompting massive mould growth in homes. Credit: Reddit/@incendiary_bandit.​

One customer said: "In this day and age you have to be one step ahead of the panic buyers."

"After all this rain everyone will be after that midgie and mosquito killing spray again but I bought one in advance last week."

However, professional cleaners and scientists advised against the use of harsh chemicals in eliminating moulds as bleach and other sprays only "mask" the black spores.

Mycolab CEO and principal mycologist Heike Neumeister-Kemp said that using chemicals for removing mould is "one of the worst" methods as it does not specifically "kill" the fungi.

She said: "The fungi contain melanin and the bleach just takes the colour out, but the fungi are still there, you are just masking it."

"Six weeks later it appears to come back but it was never gone."

Experts advised against the use of harsh chemicals for eliminating mould. Credit: Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov.​

Professional cleaners suggested the use of simple ingredients such as vinegar and essential oils as a better alternative for removing them.

One cleaner recommended: "I have been using vinegar and eucalyptus oil, it is working well."

Another claimed that she mixes vinegar with clove oil 'like grandma used to' and always ends up with the best results.

Others advised using a DIY solution of vinegar, eucalyptus and bi-carb soda.

"So it actually, via osmosis, penetrates into the structure and explodes it, so you actually kill the fungi," Ms Neumeister-Kemp explained.

Meanwhile, cleaning company Big Red Carpet Cleaning suggested that one should keep the air-conditioning on at a cool temperature while cleaning the mould.

The company representative said: "Keep your air conditioning on and set at 21-22 degrees to prevent the humidity from spreading more mould."

Experts suggested using DIY sprays with vinegar and essential oils to get rid of mould as they can kill the fungi, preventing it from growing back. Credit: Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov.​

They also recommended vacuuming the mould, noting: "Vacuum over the mould with a hepa vacuum to remove mould spores growing in the area."

The experts also reminded cleaners to wear gloves and face masks for their safety.

Ricky from Sydney-based cleaning company Ricky's Cleaning Services explained: "You need to wear gloves and a face mask to remove it."

"If any room has extreme mould it's better to scrub it off instead of spraying chemicals to treat it. If it's mild mould you can spray Exit Mould onto the area and brush it away."

So, there you have it, folks! For more tips and tricks to keep your home mould-free we recommend checking out this article. We also previously shared some expert tips on how you can prevent mould growth in your home.

Keep safe out there!

 

[Ricci]

While I may have many problems in my life just now, luckily mould isn't one of them.

 

[leanneh]

I've always used vinegar, eucalyptus oil and oil of cloves to kill mould but a recent search for these items found them all completely sold out in all my local shopping places : Coles, Woolies and Aldie. I did manage to get vinegar at IGA and eucalyptus oil at the chemist. If the wet weather keeps up it will be impossible to get all the traditional, chemical free, mould killers too.