how much bleach?

[klf73]

I bought an old shed for my chicken coop. The inside walls are moldy. I want to kill all that mold before we insulate. What solution of bleach should I use? I didn't think 10% would cut it, but didn't want to use too much because the run off will be in the ground

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Thanks
Krista

 

[Omran]

Quote:
I would use a pressure washer if I can before using any bleach.it works great,or you can use deck cleaner too.

 

[Jarhead]

FWIW Chlorine in bleach is dissipated very quickly when exposed to the elements, especially when exposed to UV light. Toxicity would be almost nil once dry.

 

[Chickenfiend]

Jarhead is right. Bleach quickly changes forms and becomes non toxic once it is mixed with other bases.

 

[Chickenfiend]

Jarhead is right. Bleach quickly changes forms and becomes non toxic once it is mixed with other bases.

 

[Dustoff79]

Bleach will not really kill the mold it will knock it back but unless you correct the conditions (dampness and poor air flow) it will come back. First thing I would do is use a pressure washer to the area, it will get deeper mold roots and surface mold. you can use many products to clean the mold areas from laundry detergent with borax, oxi-clean (produces hydrogen peroxide) or straight hydrogen peroxide, and yes you can use bleach solution (just be careful using it). All these methods will require you to scrub the area well, drench the area, scrub again and drench and let sit then rinse off. a friend recommended a product called sporiclean {www.greenmoldcleaner.com} some folks swear by it, I have not used it.

once you thoroughly clean the area make sure it is completely dry, prime with a mold inhibitor like Kilz, and paint.

bottom line is you need to clean the mold off, dry the wood thoroughly, fix any moisture problems (or it will come back even through paint), increase airflow

 

[needmorechickens!]

I'm not much help here, but I do know mold is hard to kill and often comes back. Is there anyway you could replace the moldy parts or is it just too much of it?

~Rebecca

 

[Jarhead]

You may have the issues repeat no matter what you do. If you live in a humid climate, it will return. I am pretty sure the outside of my home gets really good ventilation (it's exposed to sun and air all day long). Guess what I still have to pressure wash it often. Humidity here is pretty much always high. It is just a fact of life some areas.

 

[contadinaintoscana]

Can I offer a suggestion? You can omit the bleach and use straight white vinegar. It kills mold. It really works. You can clean rust off of metal with white vinegar so it is not surprising that it works. When I want to clean up my coop and kill mold it is what I use. It is also environmentally friendly and the fumes won't hurt the chickens which is a bonus. If it seeps into the ground, it won't cause any damage either. Since your shed doesn't house chickens yet you can spray it down and let it sit on the wood before washing off. I use a dog house in my coop and when it is sunny, I spray the whole thing and let it dry out. The mites don't like it either. I also spray my coop with a peppermint and oregano oil mixture that I make which keeps it fresh. I try not to use any chemicals around the chickens and feed them lots of garlic and apple cider vinegar in the water. They are pretty healthy and it keeps everything clean. It is also a lot cheaper for me. Just some ideas. I hope it helps.

 

[Mahonri]

Vinegar is good, then I paint with Kilz.