7 Natural Ways to Remove Mould & Mildew Without Harsh Chemicals

Mould and mildew aren’t just cosmetic — they can trigger allergies, musty odours and ongoing maintenance headaches if you only “bleach and forget”. The good news is you don’t have to choose between strong fumes and stubborn spores. With the right mix of natural acids, essential oils and oxygen-based cleaners, you can tackle mould in a way that’s kinder to your home, your lungs and the environment. In this guide, you’ll learn how ingredients like tea tree, clove oil, vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide actually work, when DIY is enough and when a ready-made eco cleaner makes life easier. You’ll also discover how to help stop mould coming back, so you’re not scrubbing the same patch again every winter.

Mould and mildew love the same conditions many Australian homes provide: cooler rooms, condensation on windows, steamy bathrooms and poorly ventilated laundries. Once they take hold, those dark spots can spread quickly along grout, ceilings, silicone and even soft furnishings. For many households, the default response is to reach for a strong bleach-based spray. It looks impressive at first, but what you’re often seeing is whitening of the stain — not true removal of the spores behind it.

Bleach-heavy products can also be harsh on lungs, skin and waterways, especially in small bathrooms or for people with asthma, allergies or chemical sensitivities. If you share your home with children, pets or anyone with respiratory issues, it’s understandable to want options that are gentler but still genuinely effective. That’s where naturally derived ingredients like organic acids, essential oils and oxygen-based cleaners come into their own.

In this guide, we explore seven tried-and-tested natural approaches to mould and mildew control, plus how to combine them with modern eco-certified cleaners for a practical, step-by-step routine. You’ll learn which methods are best for tiled showers, which to avoid on painted walls or delicate fabrics, and how to reduce the chances of mould returning in the first place. Throughout, we’ll highlight some of Eco Traders’ favourite mould solutions so you can build a simple, low-tox toolkit that suits your home.

1. Tea tree oil spray

Tea tree oil is one of the best-known natural mould helpers, prized for its antifungal and antibacterial activity. Its strong, medicinal aroma isn’t just cosmetic — it comes from active compounds such as terpinen-4-ol that help disrupt mould growth on hard, non-porous surfaces.

Tea tree oil works well on bathroom tiles, shower screens and silicone seals where mould is visible on the surface. It’s less suitable for large, porous areas (like plasterboard) where moisture has penetrated deeper into the material.

How to use

• Mix 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle.
• Shake well and spray directly onto the mouldy area until lightly saturated.
• Leave for at least an hour — or ideally overnight — before wiping clean.
• Repeat weekly in high-risk spots (like shower corners) as a preventative step.

Try this: Tri Nature Mould Cleaner 500ml — enriched with essential oils including tea tree and eucalyptus for a ready-made, low-tox option.

2. White vinegar solution

White vinegar is a household staple that punches far above its weight when it comes to mould. Its mild acidity helps create an environment that’s less hospitable to fungal growth, and it can be especially helpful on glass, tiles and some painted surfaces.

Vinegar is ideal for lighter mould patches, condensation-prone windowsills and as a follow-up after mechanical scrubbing. It’s also inexpensive and simple to keep on hand, making it an easy first step in most mould routines.

How to use

• Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle.
• Spray generously onto affected surfaces, focusing on grout lines and corners.
• Leave for at least an hour before scrubbing with a brush and rinsing.
• For stubborn areas, repeat the process or alternate with a baking soda scrub (see below).

Eco tip: Add a few drops of lemon or eucalyptus essential oil for a fresher scent, but avoid raw timber or sensitive surfaces unless tested first.

3. Baking soda paste

Baking soda is mildly abrasive, odour-neutralising and gentle enough for regular use. Rather than bleaching stains, it physically helps lift mould and grime from the surface while absorbing some of the musty smell that often lingers in damp bathrooms and laundries.

This method shines on grout, silicone and textured tiles where mould grips into tiny crevices. It’s also a useful intermediate step before applying a more targeted mould spray.

How to use

• Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to form a thick paste.
• Apply directly to mouldy grout, tiles, or silicone using a cloth or old toothbrush.
• Allow it to sit for 10–15 minutes, then scrub thoroughly.
• Rinse well with warm water, then dry the area with a towel or squeegee.

Pair with: Simply Clean Simply No Mould Spray 500ml as a finishing spray to help inhibit regrowth after you’ve scrubbed and rinsed.

4. Hydrogen peroxide (food grade)

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxygen-based cleaner that helps lift stains and break down organic residue while targeting mould. When it contacts a mouldy surface, it bubbles as it releases oxygen — this can help “lift” grime from tight areas that are hard to reach with a brush alone.

It’s especially useful where staining is a problem, such as light-coloured grout, silicone or some plastics. However, because it can have a gentle bleaching effect, it always needs a patch test before broader use.

How to use

• Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a spray bottle.
• Spray generously over mould-affected areas until damp but not dripping.
• Allow it to bubble for around 10 minutes before scrubbing.
• Rinse well and ventilate the area until fully dry.

Caution: Always patch test on coloured grout, fabrics and painted surfaces, and avoid mixing hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or other cleaners in the same container.

5. Eucalyptus oil cleaner

Eucalyptus oil is an Australian classic for cutting through grease, soap scum and odours. Its fresh scent makes bathrooms feel cleaner, and its naturally derived compounds offer mild antifungal and antibacterial support when used as part of a broader routine.

On its own, eucalyptus oil won’t remove heavy mould infestations, but in a well-formulated cleaner it can be a great everyday partner to prevent patches from returning once you’ve done a deeper treatment.

How to use

• For DIY: mix 2 teaspoons eucalyptus oil with 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and shake well.
• Use on tiles, glass and non-porous surfaces after showering, then wipe or squeegee dry.
• As part of a ready-made formula, follow label directions for routine bathroom cleaning.

Try this: Koala Eco Multi-Purpose Kitchen Cleaner 500ml — formulated with eucalyptus and mandarin oils and suitable for a wide range of hard surfaces.

6. Clove oil treatment

Clove oil is famous in natural cleaning circles because it doesn’t just fade the appearance of mould; it helps target the spores that cause it to return. It’s extremely concentrated, so a little goes a long way — and correct dilution is essential for safe, effective use.

Clove oil is best suited to hard surfaces in small, targeted areas, such as window frames, tiles and silicone. It’s not appropriate for every surface, and large structural mould problems still need professional assessment.

How to use

• Mix 1/4 teaspoon clove oil with 1 litre of water in a spray bottle.
• Lightly mist the affected surface and leave for several hours or overnight.
• Wipe away loosened mould residue using a cloth you can wash in hot water.
• Ventilate the area well and avoid breathing in concentrated vapour while spraying.

Pro tip: Avoid soaking porous materials with clove oil solution, and be mindful that overuse can stain light walls, curtains or grout.

7. Natural anti-mould products

DIY solutions are excellent, but there are times when a ready-made product is faster, more consistent and easier for busy households. Natural mould sprays combine ingredients like organic acids, plant-based surfactants and essential oils in ratios that are tested for both performance and safety.

These products can save time when you’re treating multiple rooms, caring for a rental where you want predictable results, or simply prefer a labelled, eco-certified option over mixing your own concentrates.

Best sellers at Eco Traders include:

• Tri Nature Mould Cleaner 500ml — a plant-based mould cleaner ideal for bathrooms and laundries.
• Simply Clean Simply No Mould 500ml — low-tox, Australian-made and designed for regular use.
• OurEco Clean Mould Spray 500ml — a great option if you want essential-oil-powered cleaning with a fresh scent.

Final thoughts: building your natural mould routine

The most effective mould plan is rarely one single “hero” product. Instead, it’s a simple routine that combines three pillars: removing visible growth, addressing moisture and ventilation, and using the right follow-up products so the problem doesn’t keep returning. Natural cleaners fit beautifully into this approach because they can be used more regularly, without the heavy fumes and irritation that many people experience from conventional bleach-based sprays.

In practice, that might look like this: scrub problem areas with a baking soda paste, follow with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide for deeper cleaning, then rotate in tea tree or clove oil solutions on hard surfaces where mould loves to reappear. Between deep cleans, switch to an eco-certified mould spray or eucalyptus-based cleaner for weekly maintenance, and make a habit of opening windows, using extraction fans and drying wet surfaces after use.

If your home is in a high-humidity region, consider pairing natural mould cleaners with air purifiers or dehumidifiers in key rooms. These tools don’t replace cleaning, but they do reduce the conditions mould needs to thrive. Over time, that means less scrubbing and fewer surprises when winter sets in. Whatever your starting point, Eco Traders makes it easier to build a low-tox, mould-aware home care kit so every clean supports both your home and your health.