Killing Mushrooms with Bleach in 5 Easy Steps
Anyone with a yard or garden knows that mushrooms are a nuisance to deal with. No matter how many times you dig them up, they somehow always seem to come back. One suggested remedy to get rid of them for good is killing mushrooms with bleach, but does this actually work?
To kill mushrooms with bleach, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water into a bottle. Thoroughly spray the mushrooms in the bleach solution, allowing them to sit for 10 to 15 minutes. If the surrounding grass was not effected, spray the remaining mushrooms with the bleach solution.
If you’re having problems with mushrooms growing in places they shouldn’t, it’s time to finally do something about it. In this blog post, we’re going to show you how you can kill mushrooms with bleach in 5 really simple and easy steps.
Can I Use Bleach To Kill Mushrooms?
Mushrooms are seldom harmful when you leave them alone to grow. If you have a penchant for magical things like a fairy garden, mushrooms can be a natural addition to the scenery.
Mushrooms growing in your yard usually indicate you have healthy soil. However, they come in different species and most of them are toxic. Since you most likely can’t immediately identify the type of mushroom you have in your garden, the best thing to do is to remove them, especially if they spread like wildfire and you have children or pets.
Inside your home is another story, as mushrooms can grow in floorboards or in your bathroom. You may be surprised but this is a common occurrence and is a usual indicator of molds.
Bleach has also been used to kill mushrooms on the spot, but the question now is, is it effective? Does bleach kill mushrooms?
Will Bleach Kill Mushrooms?
The quickest way to get rid of mushrooms in your garden or inside your home is to pick the mushroom. If you are not sure of the species, you should put on protective gear like a pair of gloves. While picking mushrooms may be common practice, it may not be so effective.
People have resorted to other solutions such as applying vinegar, dish soap, and even baking soda to get rid of their mushroom problem. Spraying bleach on mushrooms is also another alternative because many have tried and can verify it helps. However, bleach can only control mushroom growth to a certain extent.
Bleach has been used for weed management and has been seen to be effective at killing or stopping the spread of mushrooms on your lawn. When used the right way, bleach can be safe for your plants. In contrast, careless application might mean sacrificing the beauty of your lawn.
The only thing to note about bleach used as a fungicide is that it will not help solve root rot, which results if fungus under your soil is not controlled.
How Long Does It Take To Kill Mushrooms With Bleach?
Bleach can kill mushrooms soon after spraying the chemical. But this does not guarantee that the mushrooms will not come back. The most effective way of attacking mushrooms is by going after the mycelium, or the vegetative part of the fungus.
Note that the mushrooms are the budding fruits and picking them or killing them will not completely eliminate them. Instead, dig deep into your soil and you will discover thin thread-like branches, which are the mycelia.
Does Bleach Kill Fungus?
Meanwhile, fungus, mold, or mildew can grow in your home and may bear fruit – which are the mushrooms. Uncontrolled fungus growth becomes a real concern if it starts staining then damaging your walls.
More importantly, they can be a health hazard especially for people who are allergic to molds. When fungus proliferates in your home, you need to take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage and health problems.
Bleach can be a solution that provides results in just a day. Plus, the chemical can stop the fungus from coming back. Other than treating the problem at hand, it’s also important to take measures to prevent a fungal infestation in the first place.
How Do I Get Rid Of Mushrooms In My Yard With Bleach?
Getting rid of mushrooms in your yard using bleach may require you to sacrifice a portion of your lawn. You may spray the bleach but expect that the surrounding grass will be affected. However, that is a much better option just so you can preserve the beauty of your entire yard.
What Type Of Bleach Should I Use To Kill Mushrooms?
As bleach has been popularly used by homeowners and gardeners as a way to effectively control mushroom growth, you might wonder what kind of bleach to use. Before you grab the household bleach like the Clorox you have at home, note that there is a certain concentration of the liquid to make it an effective fungicide.
You can’t just pour it straight from the bottle. Instead, bleach is diluted with water before spraying. In some instances, vinegar is also added for that added power to eliminate mushrooms.
Killing Mushrooms With Bleach Step By Step
Since bleach is a strong chemical that may cause irritation, always remember to use gloves before using. A household cleaning gloves, such as Mr. Siga cleaning gloves, will suffice.
In addition, put on clothes that you don’t mind bleaching or staining. Other important protective gear include goggles, especially if you know you’re sensitive to chemicals.
Below are five easy steps in killing mushrooms in your yard with bleach:
Step One
Get your spray bottle ready and mix in one part bleach with 10 parts water. This will serve as your strong cleaning agent. If you wish to amp it up a bit, add two to three tablespoons of white vinegar.
Step Two
Gently shake or swirl the bottle to ensure the liquids are mixed.
Step Three
Spray the affected part of your garden, especially the visible fungus, also known as the mushrooms.
Step Four
Saturate the mushrooms thoroughly and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes.
Step Five
Observe if the surrounding grass is not affected, then you may continue spraying other mushrooms in your garden.
An alternative to the steps above is outlined below.
- Pick mushrooms from the ground. As you do this, a small hole will be made.
- Carefully pour the bleach solution into the hole. You should be able to see an underlying mass in the soil.
The aforementioned method is said to be also effective since the bleached area doesn’t inhibit the growth of new patches of grass. In addition, this method is said to be less damaging to the surrounding grass since only the area where the shrooms are has contact with bleach.
While this method may have worked for some people, it’s not guaranteed to work in your garden so always exercise caution and do it at your own risk. Otherwise, you might find dead grass all over.
Using Bleach To Kill Mushroom Indoors
For killing mushrooms growing inside your home, follow the same five steps above. However, it’s worth noting that bleach may be ineffective if you use it on porous surfaces, such as wooden floors. It is, however, effective at removing mushrooms and even molds in impermeable surfaces such as tiles or your tub.
While bleach can kill the visible mushrooms on porous surfaces, it doesn’t prevent its regrowth. This is because the fungus buries deep into these surfaces. You may have cleared your floors of mushrooms, but expect them to return in just a short amount of time.
What To Remember About Mushrooms
A better way to deal with mushrooms is to understand how mushrooms grow in the first place. Mushrooms thrive in wet, acidic soil so generally, promoting lawn health can keep fungal growth at bay. Regularly check your soil’s pH with a pH test kit or bring a sample of your soil for testing. A good find is Luster Leaf rapid pH test kit.
Fertilizing your lawn with nitrogen not only helps keep your garden healthier but also controls fungus growth. And if mushroom growth is not prolific or there is only a small area where mushrooms grow, then the best thing you can do is to dig out that soil and reseed with grass.
Conclusion
Bleach has been a popular remedy against mushrooms and many can attest that killing mushrooms with bleach works. However, for bleach to be effective at its job, make sure it is used and applied properly.
Proper application of bleach as a fungicide for your garden requires making a solution with the right ratio of water to bleach, which is 10:1. When dealing with bleach, always remember to put on protective gear as this chemical can be irritating.
In addition, bleach may kill off vegetation, including your grass. When you use this method, expect that your lawn will have brown patches from bleach contact. If you’re willing to make this sacrifice, then bleach should be an effective solution against mushrooms.
If you don’t mind picking mushrooms one after another, then this would be a much safer alternative that will not affect your grass.
