How Do You Kill Mold & Fungus With Light?
Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are built into many air conditioners and air filters to kill airborne mold, a common type of fungus in households. Their usefulness is limited, however, since mold can pass through an air duct quickly. UV lamps can also be purchased separately and placed in front of mold stains. This approach allows for continuous long-term exposure and particularly helps in the case of irregular surfaces that are difficult to clean fully with disinfectants. Of course, eye protection should be worn whenever you are in a room with a UV lamp. Purchase a UV lamp that emits in the UV-C range (220 to 280 nanometers). Any longer wavelength may not be effective at damaging the mold’s DNA. A common short-wave emission for UV lamps is 254nm, which falls in the right range. UV lamps may be available in your local hardware store; otherwise, see the Resources section below for online purchases. Put on goggles that are opaque to UV light before turning the lamp on. The type that they give out
