23 Mar Does Sunlight Kill Mold?
There’s also lots of research showing the overall health benefits sunlight provides to people and animals. Without sunlight, plants do not grow and seasons do not change. However, there are a few organisms that dislike the sun, and one of them is mold. Does sunlight kill mold? Let’s take a look at how sunlight kills mold and helps prevent future mold growth.
How does sunlight kill mold?
Natural sunlight is made up of three parts: visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet (UV) light. Ultraviolet light stimulates the production of vitamin D in humans, making it important to your overall health. UV light also kills bacteria, viruses, and other germs, so it can be used as a disinfectant.
Ultraviolet light actually emits a type of radiation that takes away a germ’s ability to make copies of itself and grow. This ultimately causes bacteria and viruses to die. Because of UV light’s disinfection capabilities, it is also able to kill mold, including harmful black mold and mildew.
But that’s not all! Sunlight also helps kill mold by:
- Illuminating dark areas where mold loves to hide
- Raising the temperature of surfaces, making it harder for mold to grow
- Evaporating the moisture mold and mildew need to stick around
How can I use natural light to stop mold from growing in my home?
Sunlight can certainly help deter mold from growing inside your home. Here are a few ways to get more UV into mold-prone interior spaces.
Keep Windows Open
When it’s sunny outside, try to keep blinds, shades, and curtains open as much as possible. The more natural sunlight you allow into your home, the more helpful it will be in stopping mold from growing, especially in rooms with lots of humidity, like the kitchen and bathroom.
Open Cabinets
If mold likes to grow inside your cabinets, try keeping the doors open on very sunny days. Not only does this allow natural light to get inside, it can also help dry out any lingering moisture, especially in cabinets underneath sinks.
Consider UV Lights
For windowless rooms, closets, and spaces like basements that don’t get much sunlight, try installing UV light bulbs. These light bulbs mimic the UV light naturally occuring in the sun and can help minimize mold growth in darker areas of your home.
Free Home Mold Inspection in New Bedford, Massachusetts
Does sunlight kill black mold and mildew? The surprising answer is yes! While there’s no denying that sunlight kills mold, it cannot eliminate all mold inside your home. Sunlight can have a hard time reaching mold that’s hidden behind walls, underneath carpets, and in your attic or basement.
To fully remove mold from your home, you need assistance from a certified mold remediation company. Call Pure Maintenance NE today at 401-205-3825 to schedule a free mold inspection.
Photo by Adeolu Eletu on Unsplash
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