Does Vinegar Kill Mold?

The evidence is thin. A 2015 peer-reviewed study found vinegar with 4.0 to 4.2 percent acetic acid inhibited the growth of only one of the two molds it tested, Penicillium chrysogenum, while 70 percent ethanol had no inhibitory effect on either. Its authors wrote that vinegar may be warranted as a mold remediation agent, but that its lack of persistence on surfaces may limit its use to removing mold from non-porous materials and preventing future growth, and that antifungal agents should also be tested on contaminated surfaces such as building materials.

Extension services recommend it. Iowa State University Extension says vinegar can be used to kill mold, as can 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, and that baking soda can be used to scrub and remove odor. Oregon State University Extension advises spraying black and white mold with a solution of half water and half vinegar, which keeps the spores from spreading through the air, then scrubbing until the mold is gone, and says the solution both cleans the area and kills the mold.

Whatever you use, the EPA says the key to mold control is moisture control, and that if mold is a problem in your home, you should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem. It says dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is not enough to simply kill the mold, it must also be removed.