Photo: Anna Shvets

What kills mold in nature?

Baking Soda. Used with vinegar and water or alone with water, baking soda is effective at removing mold naturally. Dissolve baking soda into water or water-and-vinegar solution, and spray onto surface.

treehugger.com - 5 Ways to Kill Mold Naturally - Treehugger

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Mold and mildew are natural byproducts of a humid environment — but that doesn't mean you want to share your house with the spores. Rather than turning to harsh chemicals, such as bleach or borax, to banish mold, there are natural ways to kill mold at home that won't hurt your family, pets or the environment.

1. Vinegar

Treehugger / Christian Yonkers

Though you can dilute it with water to cut the pungent scent, vinegar works best as a mold-killer when it's sprayed straight up from a bottle onto the offending area. Leave on for a few hours, then scrub the mold with a brush. If the vinegar smell bothers you, add a few drops of essential oil, but otherwise, know that the powerful scent will be gone when you return from running errands or going to work. Studies have shown that white vinegar kills 82 percent of mold spores, as well as viruses and bacteria. Vinegar also can prevent mold if you spray it on surfaces and leave it to dry.

2. Tea Tree Oil Solution

Treehugger / Christian Yonkers

Tea tree oil, though effective as a natural mold remover, is more expensive than some other eco-friendly remedies, but just two teaspoons of tea tree oil mixed with two cups of water can last you a while. Spray the solution onto the mold spores but do not rinse. Tea tree oil also has a strong scent, which will dissipate within a few days.

3. Citrus Seed Extract and Water

Treehugger / Christian Yonkers

Unlike vinegar and tea tree oil, citrus seed extract (such as grapefruit) does not have an odor. Dilute about 20 drops of extract with 2 cups of water, mix in a spray bottle and spray onto the mold. As with the other solutions, do not rinse.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

Treehugger / Christian Yonkers

Spray three percent hydrogen peroxide from a bottle onto the moldy surface and leave on for about 10 minutes. Scrub clean, then wipe with a damp cloth to remove residual mold spores. You can also use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar together, and then store the bottle in a dark area (as light breaks down the potency of the hydrogen peroxide).

5. Baking Soda

Used with vinegar and water or alone with water, baking soda is effective at removing mold naturally. Dissolve baking soda into water or water-and-vinegar solution, and spray onto surface. Let it sit, then scrub and wipe with a damp cloth. Baking soda is a natural disinfectant and very mild, so this solution will clean mold without leaving behind a scent.

Mold Prevention

How do you prevent mold naturally? Wipe damp surfaces frequently, run a dehumidifier (or try these DIY approaches), spray vinegar onto damp surfaces such as showers when you’re through, and, above all, be vigilant about leaks. Mold is natural, but in the house, not so much.

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Can you hang a frame without a stud?

For hanging pictures on drywall with no stud, you can use drywall anchors (also called screw-in anchors.) Drywall anchors are ideal when you don't have access to a wooden stud and you need to screw directly into your drywall. The anchor will give your screw extra stability and will prevent it from coming loose.

ashanging.com - How to Hang a Heavy Picture - 5 tried and tested solutions

Weigh your picture

The first step is to figure out is how much your picture weighs. You can use a bathroom scale to do this. If your picture weighs less than 10 pounds, it is considered light and most hanging solutions should work. To avoid damaging your walls however, read our article on how to hang pictures without nails. For pictures that weigh more than 10 pounds, you'll need to use a wall stud, a rail track, or learn about the different hanging solutions below.

How heavy can a picture be to hang on drywall?

Interior walls are usually built using a wood structure with some type of covering. In older homes (especially before 1940) plaster-wall was often used. In modern homes, drywall is most often used, therefore you will probably be hanging heavy pictures on drywall. As a rule of thumb, pictures that weigh less than 5 pounds can be hung with hanging strips, adhesive wall hooks or mounting tape. For pictures that weigh between 5 and 20 pounds, a good option is plastic drywall anchors and for pictures between 20 and 50 pounds, you can use a metal wall anchor or make sure to use a wall stud. For anything heavier, or a good all around solution for hanging multiple pictures, use a rail cable hanging kit.