Ultraviolet light is an electromagnetic radiation whose main source is the sun.
This is around everyone, only the eyes do not have the ability to detect it. Our body uses this light to produce Vitamin D, so specialists recommend going outside regularly. Although this is essential, prolonged exposure to UV rays has contraindications because it can cause burns and skin cancer.
While prolonged exposure can be harmful, UV rays have numerous benefits and are used in many areas including:
- It is used to detect various biological materials at the scene of a crime;
- This light is able to destroy viruses and bacteria without the need for other harmful chemicals, which is why it is commonly used to sterilize biological research facilities and medical facilities;
- When used correctly, UV light can also kill mold.
What is mold?
Mold is a fungus made up of small organisms that can be found practically everywhere.
When mold forms, it can be many different colors, such as orange, white, black, green and purple.
Even if mold is harmful when it is inside a house or space, it plays a useful role in nature, because it helps to decompose trees, leaves and dead plants.
Molds are known to form in large concentrations in areas where there is a significant amount of moisture. While small amounts of mold are basically harmless, when mold spores touch moist surfaces and grow, it can become very damaging. Later, the spores will enter the air, and can be inhaled by humans and animals.
A large exposure to mold can cause a number of serious health problems.
Although mold is dangerous, it can be treated in various ways. Once the mold has formed on the surfaces, you will probably need to throw away some of the items that are affected by the mold if the concentrations are too high.
However, it is possible to wash mold off the surface using a bleach and water cleaning solution or special solutions for this problem.
Another modern method is ultraviolet light, which has proven to be very effective in killing mold spores without the need to use chemicals. When this light comes into contact with the mold, the spores should dissipate.
Will UV light effectively kill mold?
When you use UVC light correctly, it will kill mold, including a number of additional pathogens.
UVC light is often used by many industries to eliminate mold, its main application being microbial decontamination, air purification, water treatment and is also used for medical purposes.
The most common way companies use UVC light is to kill mold in air conditioning units.
It is very important to remember that the overall effectiveness of UVC lights for killing mold depends on the length of time the mold is exposed to the light, as well as the intensity of the light you use.
Higher intensity UVC lamps (254 nm) will usually be more effective at killing mold than less intense lights.
How does UVC light eliminate mold?
UV light is able to effectively destroy mold, because the electromagnetic radiation it produces can work as a disinfectant and can penetrate organisms.
When this light is placed in a lamp and sent in short wavelengths, these wavelengths will kill most of the mold cells, while ensuring that the rest of the cells cannot reproduce. Because of how quickly mold spreads, the use of ultraviolet light is effective in preventing the spread and killing mold spores at the same time.
Manual removal of mold is ineffective, because if there is a single missed spot of mold, it can reproduce and cause the mold to spread at the same rate as before cleaning the area. When using ultraviolet light, the entire area on which the light is spread should get rid of mold in a short period of time. When ultraviolet rays meet mold cells, they damage the nucleic acids that are part of the mold.
How do we use UVC light to get rid of mold?
- The first step to killing mold with UV light is to get a UV-C lamp
- After you have bought a UV-C lamp, the next step is to identify all the surfaces that are currently infested with mold fungus. Any surface you leave out could allow mold to live and continue to spread in your home, office, space.
- After you have determined which surfaces have mold on them, you should keep the UV-C lamp approximately two centimeters away from the mold in question. Any other light source in the room will have to be turned off for the UV light to get rid of the mold. This includes any door and window that might let in small amounts of light. Leave the room for a period of 1-2 hours, after which the mold should be removed. Repeat this process for any surfaces where mold was found.
Make sure you avoid looking directly at the light after it is on. There are special UV glasses that will protect your eyes, but your vision can be damaged if you wear classic sunglasses or eyeglasses.
The main advantages of using UV light to kill mold include:
- Can kill mold faster than other methods
- It is usually more effective than the alternatives
- Allows you to avoid the use of chemicals
- Should eliminate 99.9% of mold cells
The main disadvantages of using a UV light to kill mold include:
- These UVC rays will have to be applied to every surface on which there is mold
- The UV lamp must be placed at the right distance (as close as possible) so that the mold cells can be destroyed
The bottom line about using UVC to kill mold is that it should kill all mold without having to use harmful chemicals or install expensive equipment.
Since the light penetrates the mold, it is very effective in eliminating the mold. A great aspect of using UV light to destroy mold is that UV-C lamps can be used in many different applications, which include air purification, food disinfection, furniture disinfection and air drying.
If you want to use a UV light to kill mold, all you have to do is purchase a UVC lamp and there are many types available on our website. By placing the light directly in front of the mold, you should be able to get rid of the mold in just a few hours.