I was recently contacted by a reader who has had terrible problems with black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum). If you’ve never heard about this problem, let me tell you that it is BAD stuff. Not only does it smell gross, but it is actually toxic, and it will cause you, your family and even your pets to get exceptionally sick if you don’t deal with the problem.
Thankfully, there are a few ways that you can combat and kill black mold with regular essential oils. For starters, you can spray pure tea tree oil on any place that has mold and it will kill the mold and end any smelly issues you have. But since black mold easily spreads to other parts of your home and creeps into everything, you’ll want to take extra precautions.
Thieves oil (which you might remember I gave you a simple recipe for a while back) is actually fantastic for combating black mold in the air and throughout your home. But for this use, you would not mix in the carrier oil (jojoba, almond, etc) but just use the combined essential oils from the recipe. If you didn’t get the time to make it, you can also buy pre-blended four thieves oil, although ratios will vary slightly between brands.
Most of the time, black mold spreads so aggressively that people end up having to move. But if that is not an option or you only have a small development of mold so far, you can diffuse thieves oil in your home. Usually, you should start with a 24 hour shock treatment and then diffuse daily for 15-30 minutes or once a month for 8 hours.
And of course, you can also diffuse thieves oil in your home to fight off anything you might not have yet discovered and keep your home germ free. If you’re starting off without a large mold buildup, you can begin with an 8 hour diffusion and then follow with the 15-30 minute or 8 hour monthly treatments.
You’ll need to diffuse the oils on every floor of your home, and starting with a basement or bottom level (where mold often starts) and working your ways up usually works best.
Cold air diffusion is now said to be one of the most efficient ways to distribute the oils evenly in your home and also makes sure you don’t add any moisture to the room. You can find several examples of cold air diffusers on this website. I have no affiliation with them and don’t know if there prices are fair. I just found them via a google search and they had a lot of good information about diffusers so I think it’s a good place to get started if you are looking to buy one of these.
Another cheaper alternative would be to put 4-8 drops of thieves oil onto a cotton ball and place it on the air vents in your home. You can also put them on your return air vent so it will filter into your air system as well. To clean your dryer, add 2 drops to a wet washcloth and run your dryer for several minutes. You can also put a few drops into your washing machine and just run a rinse cycle.
Thieves oil will actually kill the mold in your home over time but you have to continue using it. You won’t likely want to be in the room when you’re diffusing because of the cinnamon and clove oils. They have a very “hot” feeling to them and can irritate the skin and mucus membranes. Children and pets should also definitely not be in the room because these types of oils in such small bodies is bound to cause irritations.
For the same reason, if you put the oil on your skin or ingest it, you’ll want to do a small test area first. If you apply it to your body (rubbing a small amount on your chest for example), you’ll probably want to dilute it with something like almond, jojoba or olive oil. Use 1 part of the essential oil mix to 4 parts carrier oil and only apply it in small amounts, especially at first. A little bit will go a long way.
Or you can also apply it “neat” to your feet (just a couple drops) without mixing it with any other oils. I do the latter and don’t notice any burning when I put it on…but I don’t touch the oils with my fingers and have pretty tough skin on my feet.
You can also dilute it 1 part thieves oil to15 parts carrier oil for massages but the smell of it may be too hard to handle. It’s very intense.
If you want to drink it, just add a couple drops to a full glass of water. You can do this several times throughout the day. And if you happen to have a headache, add a drop of thieves oil to your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth. I’ve even done the latter with migraines and it made my headaches almost unnoticeable.
One of the most important things to remember when dealing with toxic black mold is that it will grow in and on just about everything…and it is often very hard to get rid of. Glass, and wood metal surfaces can be cleaned with a solution of water and thieves oil (add a teaspoon to every gallon of water) or just tea tree oil. But skip the bleach, especially on wood, because it will not dry out quickly enough and the mold will start all over again. Anything with fabric (furniture, mattresses, clothing), paper or porous materials harbors mold spores so just diffusing could take a very long time to eliminate the problem. In fact, you’ll need to have these things professionally cleaned and/or dispose of them.
Great NEW information. I didn’t realize that burning oils in the home would combat mold in that manner. I am certainly going to look into this in more detail. Thank you.
Oils must be cold diffused. The diffuser I use is so pretty…shaped like a flower and lights up. I don’t burn candles or use artificial fragrances in my home any more, and everyone who visits comments on how good it smells!
We have a busy home and are battling mold in our basement. I need a recipe to diffuse oils on both levels of our home with us and our pets being present. What oils do you use that are pleasant to smell and not irritating? Can I ask where you got your cold diffuser at? Thank you!!
Another name for cold diffusers is nebulizing diffusers. These can be found on amazon.com.
What brand of diffuser do you use ProudScresident?!
Can I use the diffuser with my cats around? I made the huge mistake of kissing my cats and petting them when I was using the essential oils and I got a huge vet bill because my cat was poisoned. So I don’t want that to happen again by diffusing unless it’s safe
No oils are completely safe for Cats. I have heard that Cats are attracted to Lavender because it is similar to catnip but essential oils are bad for them because they are so highly concentrated. Their systems can’t handle that. So diffuse the oil when your cats aren’t around.
Never ever ever burn the oils. That is not what she is suggesting. If you burn the oil you will ruin all of its healing properties. She is talking about cold diffusion
I don’t know if you visited this website- moldrx4u.com and if you haven’t been there, check it out. You can’t burn the oils, as it will change the molecular properties, and you need a nebulizing diffuser to really work. (The ultrasonic ones don’t get enough oil in the air.) The thieves blend does work, but you do have to use pure oils, not synthetic. Thanks for a great post on a non toxic solution!
When toxic mold dies, it leaves behind a casing which contains mold spores. These mold spores emit what are referred to as mycotoxins. When mycotoxins are inhaled or ingested, they are potentially deadly and are to be avoided if a person does not want to suffer toxic mold poisoning. Thieves oil DOES NOT treat or manage the spores or the mycotoxins. Thieves oil may kill the mold but it leaves behind the deadlier mold spores and mycotoxins that can be released and create vast biohazardous conditions. Our company has discovered a beneficial biological formulation that is 0’s on Material Safety Data Sheets and it consumes the mold, the mold spores and the mycotoxins leaving the property safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly.
There is actually research that indicates that thieves oil can and DOES kill mold spores. And that even after treatment has ended, spores continue to die. The case study information can be found here: http://www.naturesmoldrx.com/p/books-and-publications-by-edward-r.html
But as far as mycotoxins are concerned, I think tea tree oil is said take care of them. Which is why I recommend using both.
I think everyone who experiences black mold problems needs to research the available options and absolutely do testing to be certain that the mold is indeed dead and gone.
Dear Chrissy,
Could you please let me know what you have that kills mold that I can purchase. I have a Mold problem in my home in an area we are unable to get at, I have been using a cold air diffuser running Thieves oil in it at night to kill the mold…but didn’t realize about the Mycotoxin’s from the Dead Mold. I would GREATLY Appreciate any information You or anyone could Please give me!!! Thanks, Pam :o))
Did You Ever get The Answer About Mycotoxin’s From Dead Mold
Would you please e-mail me info about your rid-mold / mycotoxins product? Thank you.
i’m researching due to heavy mold presence…looking for environmentally friendly products that will work.
Hello Chrissy Mann,
Please what is this product that is “… a beneficial biological formulation that is 0′s on Material Safety Data Sheets and it consumes the mold, the mold spores and the mycotoxins leaving the property safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly.”
& where can it be purchased?…
Thank you.
Laura
Hi Laura,
The Mold Remedy product I had mentioned in the post is the product we use when we perform mold remediation services and unfortunately not for sale. We sold this formulation five years ago but found out after a lot of study that there is more to mold remediation than meets the eye. Our product consists of 100% naturally occuring probiotic microbes 18 families and over 125 species at a minimum are in the product. The mold is the microbes food source and mold and mold spores are consumed until there is nothing left. The product is very effective and we have treated everything from homes to 350,000 sq.ft.theatres in Branson, MO with 100% success. It does take a lot more than just spraying the Mold Remedy. A lot of people we were selling the product to were using unsafe methods in treating their own spaces like not using proper personal protection devices (masks, resperators, hazmat suits, gloves etc…)and we could not in good conscience allow this. After a lot of thought and study my husband Shane obtained several certifications (listed on our website http://www.moldremedy.biz)and continues his studies to this day. I welcome you to look over our website and our phone numbers are listed there if you would like to contact us with any questions you may have.
Thank You,
Chrissy Mann
And how do we know this is not just an attempt at getting people to look unfavorably on natural remedies in favor of spending their money with your company, for your services?
Melissa I know the company that sells the same microbes.. If you want you can content me @ [email protected] ..
I talked to them and yes they want you to use them for the business
Hi, I was exposed to black mold in April, I was scrapping it off the wall and pretty much from there I’ve had lung issues , difficulty in swallowing,, and my airways tightening up. Please any help with natural remedies are appreciated. God bless )
Hi Dario, I too have issues from being exposed to mold and toxins. In researching for remedies safe and free of harsh chemicals for my home and improving my health, I came across impressive testimonies supporting the use of Young Livings Thieves essential oil and Thieves Household Cleaner. I’ve made personal contact with several who have successfully used these products and others to support their health and return to wellness. I’d be happy to share this info with you. I am an independent distributor with Young Living and can help you on your journey to support your health and wellness, with a 24% discount on your purchases. Please feel free to contact me via email:
[email protected]
Or via Call/Text:
361-798-0253
Looking forward to chatting with you!
Have a blessed day!
MK Zappe
Yes, I would like to know what the product is or where I can buy it that Chrissy Mann is talking about! Please e-mail me & give me the information on where to buy this biological formulation that is 0′s on Material Safety Data Sheets. Thanks so much, Pam
Pam I also purchased these Microbes from the SAME outfit …. and wondered IF you had any Luck after using them ? I Have gallons of these Microbes here and have not as of yet tried them… they are very inexpensive when Purchased from the Company in Texas !!
Heartland Microbes , out of Texas. SAME products used …
can you let me know more of the products and did they work.So how do your kill black mold and spores in your house/basement everything effectively without have to move or spend a fortune because I have it everywhere in my house? I can’t afford professional remediate as I’m disables living on disabilty income I can get no help or loans please provide ingredients and how to do with presice instructions what oils don’t just say carrier oils because that doesn’t tell me anyting I keep hearing carrier oils but no one says what they are n specfically the names to use. I also need to know the brands n how much to use with each floor especially the basement its the worst my snks have it my granite countertops bathroom cabinets so on .
I am interested in the product you mentioned that kills mold. Could you email me? [email protected]
what is your company you are not clear and presice? So how do your kill black mold and spores in your house/basement everything effectively without have to move or spend a fortune because I have it everywhere in my house? I can’t afford professional remediate as I’m disables living on disabilty income I can get no help or loans please provide ingredients and how to do with presice instructions what oils don’t just say carrier oils because that doesn’t tell me anyting I keep hearing carrier oils but no one says what they are n specfically the names to use. I also need to know the brands n how much to use with each floor especially the basement its the worst my snks have it my granite countertops bathroom cabinets so on .
Chrissy,
What is the product you sell, and is a speck sheet available. I have Asprilliguis Penicillium spores in moderation,after an air quality mold text was done,caused by water damage in my crawlspace.
Please tell me where i get this for my home
Have you tried it
They found very high levels of stachy in my blood work about 10 months ago. We hired a professional mold testing company to come in to test. They only found a very small amount of chaetomium in our front guest bathroom which I hardly ever go in to. My doctor says for level to be so high in my blood, it has to be somewhere else. Moving has not been an option so we have lived in it trying to find solutions. I just ordered some Thieves oils yesterday then found this site when I woke up at 4 because I can’t seem to sleep very much even though I am totally exhausted!
When you talk about cold air diffusers, is that an ultrasonic diffuser or what should I actually look for? I’m seeing cold air but they are not waterless. Thank you
Oh my GOSH !! I read your reply about having high levels of mold in your blood work. I have mold in my home and I have been sick so much for an entire year. What type of test do I asked the doctor for to see if I have mold in my blood? Thanks Gina Gregg.
PLEASE email me
[email protected]
Chrissy Mann can you please provide a website for your company?! Thank you!
I contacted Heartland Microbes, but found their number had changed. The old 2914 # is still on many sights on the web. The new # I finally found is:
7856357058
$77 a gallon, plus shipping.
Can you tell me what product you are talking about?
What is your company?
What product is this?
Hi
I like the idea, well done!
my wife diane is so hypersensitive to the black mold the smallest contact with it her blood pressures go sky high i have remediated almost the whole house but we feel there is still some there, do u think the thieves will help Thanks, Wally
I would recommend testing out in an isolated space first using a diffuser and then going from there. It sounds like you’ve already killed & gotten rid of any traces of mold in your house, but the thieves should keep it from coming back as well as eradicate anything you can’t see. Thieves oil can be very aggravating to the mucus membranes so you do want to test it out in the air first.
There is more information about treating your home with thieves here: http://www.thieves-secret.com/black-mold.htm
hello,
i just ran across your very helpful site. we have a mold issue in our home and are undergoing renovations to correct it. in addition, i want to use thieves oil for diffusion and cleaning. i, too, have migraines and am interested in your suggestion below. i ran across another sentence in your information that seems to contradict ingesting it. would just like to clear this up?
“If you want to drink it, just add a couple drops to a full glass of water. You can do this several times throughout the day. And if you happen to have a headache, add a drop of thieves oil to your tongue and press it to the roof of your mouth. I’ve even done the latter with migraines and it made my headaches almost unnoticeable.
“But be very cautious about anything that suggests putting thieves’ oil in your mouth or otherwise ingesting the ingredients.”
thank you!
I have been ingesting thieves oil for about a year now and never had any adverse reactions. But that does not mean that everyone is the same. These are extremely powerful oils that can burn the skin when applied topically. So I must caution anyone who decides to use them internally to do so with extreme caution until they know they will not have any problems. I put undiluted TO in my mouth to combat the migraines and also put it on my toothbrush daily to help keep my teeth and gums healthier.
Sorry for the confusion, but basically I guess I should have said “try this at your own risk” instead. 🙂
Best of luck with the Thieves!
Could you please help me? I have toxic mold illness and Thieves was suggested to me to take internally, rub on and diffuse. No one can tell me how OR how much to ingest to get me started! One website suggested putting 8-10 drops into a gel capsule…I would appreciate ANY information at all in this regard! Thank you!
Have you read TOXIC BY Neil Nathan MD? If not, you will want to do that ASSP.
Thieves Oil is in YL Toothpaste… and I put it on my toothbrush w/ carrier oil almost every day/week for years!! It is pretty strong on gums, tongue, roof of mouth w/o a carrier oil… but not nearly as strong as clove or oregano oil!
YL have 2 type of thieves oil correct one is topical only and the vitality you can consume. I read that on YL site
Yes, YL sells Thieves in 2 different bottles/lines. However, it is the same oil. The “Vitality” line of oils are the same oils as the “regular” oils but are also labeled differently with white labels due to FDA regulations. Any of the EO’s that are safe to ingest are in the “Vitality” line… It is easier at a glance to see what is regarded as safe to ingest versus what is not. But they ARE the same oils.
gotcha, thank you…i’m game to try it. do you have a source for larger quantities of the ingredient oils for thieves? it’s REALLY expensive to buy it all in those little bottles.
thank you!
http://www.essentialwholesale.com is pretty great for oils or http://www.newdirectionsaromatics.com/. Both are reasonable in their pricing and should have all the oils you need.
excellent, thank you so much!
Hi
There is so much focus on where and how the oils are sourced from; and there are so many companies selling essential oils now. how do you know which ones are worth buying from? where do you buy your oils from? I am especially nervous because we are dealing with such a critically important situation – mold. Is it worth buying the Thieves from Young Living?
I purchase my oils at Essential Wholesale online most of the time and have been very pleased with the quality.
Mold is not easy to treat or deal with, and the best remedy is often to remove as much as you can — especially as more often tends to be lurking inside walls many times.
Hi Anju,
In reference to your question “Is it worth buying the Thieves from Young Living?”… I would have to say YES!!!! Quality DOES matter! And not just if you are going to use ingest the oils as a dietary supplement! ANYTHING you apply topicality or breath in, WILL go into your body! So if you’re using essential oils that contains contaminates in the form of fertilizer, pesticides, chemicals used to extract the oils or to stretch/dilute them, then those potentially harmful substances are going in your body as well. Young Living goes to great lengths to ensure that their oils and oil infused products are of the purest and highest quality! This is definitely one of those cases where you get what you pay for! I’d be happy to share some testimonies with you from people who have used YL’s Thieves to support their health due to mold poisoning. Please feel free to contact me via email:
[email protected]
Or via Call/Text:
361-798-0253
Looking forward to chatting with you!
Have a blessed day!
MKZappe
Theives Oli
Can u please tell me is it known under a different name in the UK to USA? My herberlist hadn’t heard of this oil. She checked her book but still no luck.
I’d be really grateful if you are able to advise me
Many Thanks
Marion
http://www.woodlandbotanicals.com/4-Thieves-PLAGUE-Oil.html
Can anyone tell me where I can purchase Theives Oil. My local herbalist has never heard of it. Is there a web site best for buying this oil? I’m desperate to try it. I live in Cornwall United Kingdom.
Look forward to any suggestions. Thanks
Hi Marion,
I have seen it on amazon.com, sold by various people. Can you buy from there?
Sue
It can be purchased through anyone selling Young Living essential oils.
You can go here – https://www.youngliving.org/oilsjustforyou to purchase it and all products like it.
Calling it “Thieves” oil is an insult to those who invented it. The Roma or what most people think of as “gypsies”. It’s very racist and rude. So they helped stop the bubonic plague only to have their product sold by others with such a horrible name. RENAME IT!
I actually didn’t come up with the name of the product. There’s another company online that markets it under this name — and if one renames it at this point, there will be a lot of people that no longer know what anyone is talking about.
But I actually think the oil came about during times of the plague when people were dying in droves…and the thieves and burglars in the area began using this combination to outlive others. Hence that is where the name came from. Whether those thieves were Roma or not, I really don’t know.
Just as she stated in the above post is where the name came from. Has nothing to do with Gypsies.
It does take a lot more than just spraying the Mold inspection
Does anyone know if Thieves oil can be used to fight respiratory infections?
Yes, my neighbor swears by Thieves, so I tried it…2 days of diffusing in the bedroom and my sinusitis has practically cleared.
I need someone who is really informed about its dosages – as I have mold toxicity issues and need to take internally, as well as rub and diffusing! ANYONE out there who can provide how and how much you can take daily? Thank you!
I don’t know if you monitor this any more, but if you do, we are about to use thieves in our bedroom for mold. We are closing it off for intense diffusing. My question is, do I need to remove the books and photos and tv? Will the oil diffused intensely in there damage them?
In my experience, the oil shouldn’t cause any damage to things in the room. It should be a very low moisture process (you don’t want to feed the mold spores) so there shouldn’t be much risk to anything else in the room.
Do not remove the books. They are a major feeding source for mold and must be treated.
The oil will do no damage to anything if it’s the youn living brand of pure essential oil.
from talking to the environmental health consultant at my doctors office it is best to get rid of all paper and cardboard; mold spores love those materials and will stay on it. if the books have a hard cover with plastic coating and hasn’t been opened a lot in the house you might be able to just wipe the covers and keep it but other wise it’s not worth taking the risk. same goes for unfinished wood surfaces; we sprayed all wood surfaces with mold cleaner and sealed it with polyurethane.
I use Thieves oil, spray, cleaner, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, and hand sanitizer. I’ve been studying and using the oils for over a year now, and I’ve not had a single sick visit to the doctor! I find them amazing! I diffuse Thieves oil in my house to keep down mold and germs. When I was on vacation this past week, I took my diffuser with me to detox the condo.
I will say that there is nothing short of fire that can get rid of some of the bad mycotoxins. They are not able to be cleaned period. Besides that, mold puts off dangerous endotoxins (bacterial) that can make you sick too. Genetics play a big role in mold poisoning. Not to knock anyone’s products, but remediation cannot “kill” or “destroy” most mycotoxins period.
I am not a doctor and none of this is to be construed in any way as medical advice. This is simply information that I have gathered over the course of a five year battle for my son from mycotoxin poisoning and having been to over 20 specialists and had 20K in lab work.
The only people I can find saying this ^^ are people who haven’t tried Thieves. I’ve been looking for several years now & haven’t found a single report of someone who had mold toxicity/MCS/EI, etc that used Thieves for remediation and found it unhelpful or worse. I’ve seen numerous people make the same claims as Jack, up there, and I’ve heard people say they are afraid to try it, and that since *nothing* (at least as they understand it) can get rid of the mold, *and* any toxins it leaves behind, it simply won’t work. Ed Close’s research says otherwise, and there *are* reports from people who have had mold illness, years later being exposed to mold, cleaning it up with Thieves, and having no reactions or issues at all. My challenge to those saying it won’t work is just to *try* it. It is incredibly inexpensive as far as treatment or remediation goes. I would also challenge those who have no firsthand experience with this product to refrain from making statements such as those.
I have firsthand experience having become ill due to mold exposure. I experienced dizziness, palpitations, and generalized fatigue/malaise. After simply diffusing, my symptoms gradually improved until they completely disappeared. 2 years after the issue was discovered in our home we still hadn’t actually removed any of the mold (carpet/building materials, etc). All we had done was spray affected surfaces with Thieves cleaner, and continued to diffuse Thieves oil off & on. My symptoms never returned. That is clearly my own anecdote, but it certainly made me a believer.
I have been using essential oils for years, including Thieves and Tea Tree oils. I go to a doctor who, although an MD, respects my approach to treat myself naturally. In 2014, I moved into a duplex (where I never actually lived), and moved out a few days later after getting extremely ill within hours. Apparently the landlord had painted over Aspergillus and Stachybotrys, based on my ensuing illness and lab reports. And based on the fact that the neighboring duplex had a wall covered in black mold, which I saw just before moving out. He mentioned something about using paint that *kills* mold. (Google it, it’s out there.)
The problem is that while it may have killed the mold, when mold dies, it releases spores as a defense mechanism. Within these spores are non-living byproducts called mycotoxins. They require 2-5 years to be deactivated, and can retain their structure at over 500 F. Mycotoxins are widely used in biological warfare, and as for toxic molds such as Pennicillium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys, their mycotoxins possess the ability to cause severe biological and neurological damage. These are chemical agents with a lipophilic head, so they are drawn to fat tissue; they are so small that they cannot be filtered (like a gas). Thus, you breathe them in, up to the brain (fatty tissue) they go, where they do their damage and are not easily removed.
I am still sick with about a dozen autoimmune symptoms, and new symptoms randomly popping up when least expected. Neurological, metabolical, respiratory, difficulty finding words, vision, vertigo, nosebleeds, all surfaced after this. I have an interdisciplinary science degree, and decided to try to find out why my symptoms (early on in the illness) persisted. I nebulized, used silver, thieves, garlic, ginger. But nothing worked. I was religious about it. Religious.
I have used thieves, tea tree, silver, garlic, etc. religiously. I don’t doubt that it can kill the mold/fungus–in fact, I use it in cleaning. But one must realize that, like snake venom, this is a non-living toxin coming from a living thing. The mold/fungus releases spores to help grow again, and the tiny mycotoxins released from spores are meant to fight off competition. Mold loves decaying matter, so why not kill your host first?
Furthermore, not all humans are genetically identical. Just like a person might not be able to metabolize a certain food, about 25% of the population has a gene that prevents them from metabolizing and excreting mycotoxins, so one person may be just fine while the other is suffering miserably. The reality is that even though I believe in essential oils to kill living things, it cannot “kill” something that is not alive. And it does not, from my experience, help as far as eliminating mycotoxins in structures or bodies. If essential oils could remedy the problem of mycotoxins, much biological warfare would be an afterthought. (For more info, there’s a good book called Mold: The War Within, and also Doug Kaufman is helpful with mold/fungus in the diet).
Just moving things into and out of my apartment got me sick. So while oils may kill molds, I agree that professional remediators with the proper equipment should be called in to do the job. I think that the person who mentioned the probiotic material that they place on the walls in remediation (I thinks that what she said), has an excellent formula of killing and consuming the mold and its toxins as a natural approach, and then removing it with the proper equipment, because it seems pretty darn natural, but also deals with the real problem–the mycotoxins. Which cannot be killed. That being said, it is possible that those who have have been successful in using oils may have been dealing with a mold that does not put off mycotoxins (indeed, there are many molds that do not), but do put off other toxins that are biological (alive), and thus oils could help to eliminate symptoms brought on by the living toxins because these can be killed. Because everybody is different, and the mycotoxin gene is just one of many variables in sickness, it is best to test the mold before risking your health so that you can determine what will and what will not work.
Honestly, when it comes to toxic mold, I say tear down the building. I think that remediation can work, but good remediation for toxic mold will probably require rebuilding from what I have read (and encountered), and you will likely still have active mycotoxins for a few years, which can be significant if you are extremely ill. I have read Ed Close’s studies, and do not recall any effectiveness in destroying mycotoxins, but I could be mistaken. Also, as far as structures go, I would be cautious in just cleaning up the mold as mold can break down wood (eg. support beams), and a remediation expert might be able to advise on this. So even if the mold has died from the oil, does not mean that it is safe.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Lee, and so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. Mold is really terrible and I fear you’re just about right when it comes to tearing down the building. This treatment is meant for small instances — and when it comes to mold in the walls, there’s really no discussion aside from ripping out the drywall and starting over. If you don’t remove it, you will continue to have all sorts of problems!
Michelle, do you know what kind of molds you had?
I have severe mold toxicity illness and am desperate to find info about how / how much Thieves to ingest safely. I also rub and diffuse.
I cannot afford a naturopath and my functional medicine doctor doesn’t have a clue after running the test and telling me I have this!
Anyone, please?!
Please stop scaring people. We need hope not fear
Hi Tiffany, Thanks for listening 🙂
I should be happy that I will probably be able to continue to live in my apartment thanks to mold remediation and all the things I have done so far to get rid of the residual effects – mainly, mold spores. I could not have lived in the apt. for awhile the air was so bad. I left and then I was asked to live out until remediation was complete about 2 1/2 weeks ago.
Since returning, I have run a friend’s ozone machine which I think has helped but while my friend had thought it would take care of my residual mold problems, it has not. I also washed almost all my walls with a mixture of Rosemary oil and an acidic water (I have a Kangen machine which makes 2.5 water works well for this). But my clothing is contaminated and upholstered furniture – not healthy – can’t wear it (especially closet clothes I notice are bad), sit on it, sleep on it otherwise I cough. I didn’t even want to touch the clothes in the closet. And I took them all to the laundromat (I live in L.A.) and it did nothing. I had no idea how useless that was. My clothes are still toxic. And I knew it when I brought them back! I wonder if I have contaminated my car. What a mess.
Right now I’m sleeping on a borrowed air mattress until Thieves products come – and I will treat the rooms with that. I had been researching on the internet and found the protocol for cleaning mold spores “from the air” using the diffuser and essential oil by Young Living but wanted to know whether I can save my fabrics and furniture. I have found unwelcome answers (one post by you suggests to get rid of it) – the answer I get: if it is doused with mold spores, don’t even try to fix it. Get rid of the stuff – the clothes, the upholstered furniture, the bedding.
That is a lot of expense. I have a lot of clothes I like and they weren’t cheap. My question is whether the Dr. Close protocol will fix the clothes/furniture problem, especially since there is a lot of air to circulate the essential oils around threads and padding. (You suggest this will take a long time) OR if there is a natural recipe for clothing at least to remedy it? (Like wash it with something and then hang the clothes outside in the sun) OR If it can be bleached, can it then be saved?
So otherwise, why wait until the essential oil and diffuser arrives to get rid of the stuff? I might need to hire someone to just haul the stuff away. (I myself will have to get a better quality mask just to handle the clothes). If I buy something new I just end up contaminating it with the old. So seems like starting from scratch is better. Any suggestions???? Thank you Thank you!!
Likes Healthy Living ~~~ Ellen
I totally understand and sympathize with what you are dealing with. we are going through a similar situation; my daughter and I got very sick; the doctor after looking t the tests said we couldn’t go back to the house; so we checked into a hotel and started looking for a new place.
we just moved! from talking to several mold remediation and environmental health specialists it is impossible to get the mold spores out of upholstered /leather furniture and mattresses so we replaced it. slept on air mattresses, borrowed a couch and got some folding chairs from walmart.
Recommended by doctors office:
http://www.citrisafe.com/
http://www.natlallergy.com/citrisafe-hypoallergenic-laundry-detergent-32-oz-bottle.html
this was also recommended:
EC3 Mold Solution Concentrate $29.99
EC3 Laundry Additive $19.99
bought Citrisafe cleaners and detergent that actually kills the spores and washed all clothing – we just bagged everything that we were going to keep, piled it in the garage at the new place and washed one bag at a time before we brought it into the house. have a huge pile to take to dry cleaners too.
we wiped down each and every item that we brought into the house.
even though we have been extremely careful I am sure we have tracked some mold spores into the house and that’s why I am looking into diffusing EO’s.
you can email me if you would like more info. [email protected]
Good Luck! And God Bless!
I read somewhere that you have to bag up your shoes or clothing, or anything else you want to save, using large plastic bags, putting each bag in the freezer, to freeze the mold, then throw bag with articles into the dryer. Going from the freezer to the hot dryer supposedly kills the mold.
It’s worth trying. Not sure how the plastic bag holds up in the dryer, due to the high heat!!
Reviews on Amazon for Thieves – many people put thieves in the washing machine and swear that it kills the mold…also, cotton balls saturated with Thieves for the air-conditioning ducts throughout the house…
Kill black mold with vinegar by applying the vinegar directly to the mold. Also, mix vinegar with other cleaning products to remove the mold, if necessary.
Use a spray bottle to spray undiluted vinegar directly on the mold. Allow the vinegar to sit on the mold for about an hour, then wipe away. You may need to scrub stubborn mold with a rag or scrubbing pad. If desired, rinse the area with clean water and wipe dry. For mold-prone areas, such as in the bathroom or basements, do not rise as the residual vinegar helps to repel future mold.
For moldy areas where spraying vinegar isn’t feasible, soak a clean cloth in undiluted white vinegar and apply to the mold. Scrub the area with the cloth, and allow the vinegar to sit on the surface for up to an hour. Rinse if desired.
Use vinegar with baking soda to increase its mold killing capacity. For tough black mold, apply a solution of baking soda dissolved in water and scrub the surface. Wipe the solution away, then spray with straight vinegar. Let the vinegar soak in, then rinse. Spray the baking soda solution again and let it dry on the surface to kill any remaining mold and prevent future mold growth.
Any advice would be well received. I recently bought a diffuser & used it for a few weeks before noticing black mold in the pumping unit! I’m going to get a new unit but will I have been pumping mold through the house & myself?! Should I start diffusing thieves/OnGuard to remedy? Thanks.
definitely! My neighbor is having to renovate his rental property and he diffused Thieves in every room and the air-ducts in the house for 2 weeks and they have no more mold.
Regularly cleaning your home with vinegar helps to prevent mold growing.
You can mop your floor with vinegar each week. Regularly rinsing your bathroom walls with vinegar is also good. Vinegar is also effective for cleaning the kitchen.
If you have a spray bottle of vinegar in the bathroom you can prevent mold by using it every now and again after a shower. Spray the shower curtain, walls, tiles, basin and bathtub after you finish showering.
Tea tree oil is an essential oil which is harmless to people and pets. Tea tree oil is antifungal, capable of killing all types of molds. Tea tree oil is antibacterial as well.You can buy tea tree oil for about $10 for a small bottle from most natural food stores. Make sure the tea tree oil you buy is derived from the Melaleuca Alternifolia, which is the technical name for tea tree, as not all brands always are.
It’s not completely harmless. I managed to really mess up my gut biome by ingesting a tiny amount of tea tree oil (I found a page where a woman suggested it, saying she’d used it safely and I was desperate).
I have since managed to repair it with lots of expensive diverse probiotics, but it took a while.
Always check for the effect on gut biome. It’s a serious issue.
Inhaling should be ok as that’s in your lungs not your stomach, and far less concentration.
There are many things that nobody ever wants to find inside their house and mold is at the top of the list. Not only is it unsightly and nasty, many types of it are toxic and extremely harmful for human health. It can also end up causing extensive damages to a home which are hard and costly to fix. That’s why it’s vitally important to keep your home mold-free.
There are many types of commercially available products that promise to eradicate mold, but they are often filled with harsh chemicals that are just as toxic as some molds are. Rather than purchasing those harmful and expensive products, try this all-natural tea tree oil based treatment instead.
I need to use the Thieves or other formula in a diffuser to kill mold while I am in the space. I live in a 700 square foot apartment with an open plan.
Is there an alternative formula to Thieves that I could use to do this? What about substituting pine oil, and possibly tea tree oil, for the clove and cinnamon oil in the recipe below, reproduced from this site.
Any other ideas for essential oils?
Or other airborne treatments that can kill mold while I am in the space?
Thank you.
Thieves Oil Recipe
1 tablespoon clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum a.k.a. Eugenia aromaticum or Eugenia caryophyllata)
1 tablespoon lemon oil (Citrus limon)
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum verum a.k.a Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
2 teaspoons rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
2 teaspoons eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus radiata)
Hi Sandra,
I believe it is the strength of the clove and cinnamon oils that make it effective – but of course also makes it more potent to people as well. The best method to get rid of mold in drywall is to remove the affected drywall. It will not simply retreat.
what is the unit for testing for mold? How does it work for a very large areas
as a high school or government buildings. Presently my web site down for repairs
My most helpful guides are these: TOXIC, by Neil Nathan, MD and Nature’sMold RX, by Edward R. Close. The first is a guide to healing your body and the second, a guide to removing mold from your home or workplace. Invaluable to me!
Have you done this to get rid of black mold forever?