How to get rid of mold and stop it from coming back

Someone cleaning mold from a surface with a red sponge and cleaner to demonstrate how to get rid of mold
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If you spot mold in your home, you'll need to know how to get rid of mold fast. If left untreated, these small black spots can spread and do some serious damage to your home, not to mention your health. This chore isn’t as simple as cleaning a glass shower door — you will need to take precautions and wear protective gear. Luckily, there are ways you can get rid of mold yourself. 

Mold spores can cause allergic reactions if breathed in or touched, which is why it’s imperative that you deal with it as soon as possible. It grows in areas with high levels of moisture, such as the bathroom or basement, and can be found on all kinds of surfaces, from carpet to paint to wallpaper. If you’ve noticed unsightly mold growing in your home, don’t worry. Follow these top tips on how you can get rid of mold and stop it from coming back.

In the meantime, check out these 9 ways to prevent mold in your home. Plus, avoid these 5 mistakes you’re making when removing mold.

How to get rid of mold 

What you'll need

Mask, gloves and goggles

Dish soap or

Bleach/White distilled vinegar/Mold and mildew cleaner/baking soda

Scubbing brush

Microfiber cloth

Towels

The best way to get rid of mold will depend on what surface you’re cleaning. 

Before you attempt any of the following methods though, you should first wear protective gloves, a mask and goggles. This is because the spores will travel through the air as you clean the mold. 

How to remove mold from the shower 

Mold in the grouting of tiles

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Bathroom tiles and grouting are one of the most common places you will find mold. That’s because this room is filled with moisture on a daily basis.

You can scrub the mold away using dish soap, warm water and a scrubbing brush such as the Amazer Scrub Brush ($7.99, Amazon), then rinse and dry afterwards with a microfiber cloth. You can alternatively use a dedicated mold and mildew cleaner such as Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover ($18.69, Amazon).

If you want a more sustainable remedy, you can also use white distilled vinegar, although bear in mind this method will take more elbow grease. 

How to remove mold from walls 

Mold being cleaned from the wall next to a window sill

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Mold can often be found on walls nearer to the ceiling or windows where a leak may have formed. If this is the case, you should get the potential leak assessed and repaired first, otherwise removing the mold will be counterproductive. 

If you’re cleaning mold from plaster, you will need to use a more gentle application. Stick to dish soap and water and apply using a sponge of microfiber cloth. Don’t scrub too hard, but work in the solution as best you can. Then rinse and leave to dry.

If this hasn’t done the trick, you can also dilute baking soda and water, before letting it sit for a few minutes before rinsing and drying. Simply mix one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda into a spray bottle of water before shaking the bottle to dissolve the baking soda. Then spray directly onto the moldy area before using a sponge or brush to scrub off the mold. 

Remember, if you plan to paint over with a fresh color, you will need to wait for the wall to dry completely to prevent peeling. And if you’ve spotted mold on any ceiling tiles, then you’re better off replacing these as the surface is too porous to clean. 

How to remove mold from wood 

A wooden plank with mold growing on it

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

If mold has made an appearance on your favorite piece of furniture, don’t throw it away just yet. First, using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner, vacuum any loose spores from the surface.

After this, you can potentially remove the mold with a simple combination of dish soap and water. Apply the solution using a microfiber cloth and a spray bottle, but try not to saturate the surface as you do. Dry as best you can with a towel and then leave to air dry. 

Diluted vinegar can also be an effective cleaner in this instance, although the wood may absorb the smell for a while. Apply using a microfiber cloth once again, then rinse with a damp cloth and leave to dry. 

Do not use bleach to remove mold from wood — it will struggle to penetrate the surface, so it won't clean effectively. 

How to remove mold from clothes 

Mold growing on clothing

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Yes, that’s right, mold can even make an ugly appearance on your clothes. It looks like small black or white spots and often crops up on wet laundry which has been forgotten about, such as damp towels.

To remove mold from clothes, bleach is your best bet. If the item is machine-washable, wash the item on the highest temperature allowed with regular detergent. You can also add a cup of vinegar or bleach once the machine is filled with water for more cleaning power. But, never combine vinegar with bleach because it releases a lethal chlorine gas. Once the cycle is finished, leave the items to dry outside in the Sun. Alternatively, transfer to your dryer.

If the item is not machine-washable, you can also hand wash or use the dry cleaners to remove mold. For extreme cases, you can leave the item to soak in hot water mixed with a cup of bleach for a couple of hours prior to machine-washing.   

How to prevent mold 

  • Repair any leaks to stop the mold from growing back.
  • Keep areas which see a lot of moisture well-ventilated by opening doors and windows. Condensation can easily lead to mold. Here are 9 ways to get rid of condensation inside your windows.
  • Invest in one of the best dehumidifiers to help keep the moisture levels down.
  • Clean out and repair any gutters.
  • If you’re planning to apply a fresh coat of paint, add mold inhibitors to the paint to deter it in the future.

For more cleaning tips, tricks, and how-tos, check out our guides on how to clean a glass stove, how to clean painted walls and how to clean a washing machine

Also check out the 5 houseplants that will help prevent mold in your home and how to use cat litter to reduce condensation.


Katie Mortram
Homes Editor

Katie Mortram used to be a Homes Editor for Tom's Guide, where she oversaw everything from kitchen appliances to gardening tools, as well as smart home tech. Specializing in providing expert advice for cleaning and home manintenance, she now works as Household Advice Editor for Good Housekeeping. 

Read more
Woman cleaning dirty wall with cleaning products
Mold vs. dust: How to tell the difference and remove both from your home
Image shows a person vacuuming a white mattress before cleaning mold off of it
How to remove mold from a mattress: 3 pro tips from a cleaning expert
A shower curtain
I recommend these 5 easy tips to keep your shower curtain mold-free
White bottle of bleach with cleaning products in blue box
How to get rid of bleach smell in your home — 5 quick tips to do now
large bathroom
I found 3 bathroom cleaning gadgets that make your home feel like a spa — you'll want these now
A woman scrubbing the surface of a mattress with a blue sponge with a Sleep Week 2025 logo in the corner
5 DIY mattress cleaning jobs you should do now — avoid mold, bed bugs, allergies, and dust mites
Latest in Home
a photograph of the dreame h12 pro wet and dry vacuum cleaner cleaning up spilled cheerios on a hardwood floor with an amazon spring sales deals badge
I loathe spring cleaning — but these awesome Amazon Big Spring Sale vacuum deals might make me change my mind
Corsori 9-in-1 air fryer
I use this air fryer every day — and it's 25% off now for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Shark HydroVac MessMaster floor cleaner
My favorite Shark wet and dry vacuum just crashed in price for Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
Person using the Command Clear Hooks to organize cables
I use these Command sticky wall strips to hang pictures and organize cables — and they're 34% off right now in Amazon's Big Spring Sale
EcoSmart Universal Select lightbulb, Home Depot sign and Traeger Woodridge Pro pellet smoker
I just got a sneak peek of hundreds of new Home Depot products for spring — here’s the 5 I’d buy
A mosquito resting on a plant
Experts predict a spring surge in these 9 pest populations — here's what's forecast for your area
Latest in How To
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
Gmail logo on iPhone
I used Google Gemini to declutter my Gmail account — here's how you can do it too
An Amazon Echo speaker with ChatGPT logo next to it
I replaced Alexa with ChatGPT on my Amazon Echo — here's how you can do it too
AirPods Pro 2 in hand
Your earbuds are disgusting — here's the right way to clean them
ChatGPT logo on a smartphone screen being held outside
7 biggest ChatGPT mistakes — and how to fix them
a photo of a woman looking at her fitness tracker
Forget the treadmill — I boosted my metabolism and walked 2,000 steps with this 15-minute workout