The Best Mould Removers For Walls And Ceilings
Sprays and gels that clear black mould from damp corners and sealant before it spreads.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best mould remover is the HG Mould Spray, because it cleared black growth from bathroom sealant and a badly affected wall corner with very little scrubbing. To stop the mould coming back, the Dryzone Mould Remover & Prevention Kit is the better choice, as its sanitiser goes on after cleaning to help hold off regrowth.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of HG Mould Spray
- Check price of Dryzone Mould Remover & Prevention Kit
Best Complete Kit
Dryzone Mould Remover & Prevention KitTreating mould and protecting the surface afterwards in one go
- Check price of Skylarlife Mould & Mildew Remover
- Check price of Furniture Clinic Mould Remover Spray
Best For Furniture
Furniture Clinic Mould Remover SprayMould on leather, fabric and wooden furniture
- Check price of Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover
- Check price of Pro-Kleen Mould & Mildew Remover
Where the mould is growing decides the product more than the brand on the bottle. Spreading patches on paintwork and ceilings want a spray that covers ground quickly, a black line of silicone round the bath needs a gel that stays put, and fabric, leather or wood needs a bleach-free formula. None of them fix the damp behind it, which is why our guide on how to get rid of mould starts with ventilation.
Mould is a regular job across the rentals and Airbnbs we look after. The six picks below cover bathrooms, walls, furniture and larger jobs.
How We Tested These Mould Removers
Most of the mould we find in our properties is in bathrooms and rooms where there isn't enough ventilation to clear the moisture from showers, cooking and drying clothes. Whatever the cause, a good mould remover makes the clean-up a fairly quick job.
The photo below is from a recent job on bathroom tiles and sealant using the HG Mould Spray. It got to work straight away, and some areas cleared without any scrubbing at all. HG labels it for bathrooms, but it works well on painted walls too, which we put to the test in our YouTube Short on this page.
Each remover was judged on how well it cleared the mould and staining, how easy it was to apply, how strong the fumes were and whether the mould came back quickly. We've used them in bathrooms, on plaster walls and ceilings and on a range of other surfaces.
The next two photos show a badly affected wall corner before and after the HG spray. The black mould has gone completely, leaving only some faint yellow marks on the paint, and a coat of stain block paint will cover those before redecorating.
Where we haven't used a product enough to judge a claim ourselves, such as how long it stops mould returning, we've attributed it to the brand.
Watch Our Test
Black Mould: Not Only Horrible To Look At But Also Harmful! We've Tested Multiple To Find The Best!
The Best Mould Removers We Recommend
Open a window and wear gloves with any of these. Never mix a mould remover with another cleaning product.
Best Overall
HG Mould Spray
Best for: Black mould on painted walls, ceilings, tiles and sealant
Check Price On AmazonWe've had plenty of experience with HG Mould Spray, and it's the one in our photos and video. HG says it removes the brown and black staining caused by mould, fungus and algae, and its strong bleaching action is what makes the difference on painted walls and white silicone.
You spray it straight onto the mould and leave it to work. On our bathroom job it got to work straight away, and on the wall corner in our photos it cleared the black growth completely. HG rates it for plaster walls, tiles and silicone seals, and says it helps control regrowth and carries TÜV approval. Be ready for two things, though. The 500ml bottles go quickly on a big patch, and in a small room the smell was strong enough that we wore a face mask.
What we like
- Strong bleaching action that clears black staining
- Works on plaster walls, tiles and silicone sealant
- Started working on contact in our testing
- Helps control mould regrowth
- TÜV approved according to HG
What to know
- We got through several bottles quickly on larger patches
- Strong smell meant wearing a face mask in a small room
Our verdict
HG Mould Spray tops our list because it does the hard work for you, lifting the black staining as well as the growth, so a wall needs a coat of stain block rather than an afternoon with a scrubbing brush. The bleaching action is strong, so keep it to walls, tiles and sealant. Have a couple of bottles in for a big job and open a window before you start.
Best Complete Kit
Dryzone Mould Remover & Prevention Kit
Best for: Treating mould and protecting the surface afterwards in one go
Check Price On AmazonDryzone's kit is a two-part system, built for people who want to remove mould and stop it coming back without buying separate products. Inside the box are two mould eliminator sprays, a sanitiser spray to apply once the area is clean, a pair of protective gloves and a microfibre cloth.
The eliminator is bleach-based and suits a wide range of surfaces. Dryzone says it shows results in three minutes with little or no scrubbing, and it wipes clean easily. The sanitiser then leaves a protective layer that helps keep mould and mildew from returning. It's the most expensive option here, but once you count the two sprays, the sanitiser and the extras, it isn't bad value for a room with a recurring problem.
What we like
- Two eliminator sprays plus a preventative sanitiser
- Results in three minutes according to Dryzone
- Little or no scrubbing needed
- Gloves and a microfibre cloth included
- Bleach-based formula for a wide range of surfaces
What to know
- The most expensive option in our roundup
- Bleach-based, so not for coloured fabrics
Our verdict
Mould that keeps coming back to the same corner is the problem this kit is built for, because the sanitiser goes on after the clean to help hold off regrowth. It costs the most in our list, so for a one-off patch, the HG Mould Spray is the cheaper way to clear the growth.
Best Gel
Skylarlife Mould & Mildew Remover
Best for: Black mould on bath, shower and window sealant
Check Price On AmazonSkylarlife's remover is a gel rather than a spray, and that makes it far better suited to silicone sealant, where a spray runs straight off. You squeeze a thin line of gel along the mouldy seal and it stays exactly where you put it, so it can work on the black spots without dripping into the bath or tray.
It also works on tiles, window frames, baths and basins. The gel is most effective left for up to eight hours, so it's a job to start before bed and rinse off in the morning. There's no scrubbing involved, and it comes in a 150g tube, with multipacks if you've got several bathrooms to treat. For mould that's grown deep into old sealant, cutting out the silicone and resealing is the only real fix, and our guide on removing old bathroom sealant shows how.
What we like
- Gel stays in place on vertical sealant
- Suits tiles, window frames, baths and basins
- No scrubbing required
- Precise application from a 150g tube
- Available in multipacks
What to know
- Needs several hours to work, so it isn't a quick fix
- Too slow and fiddly for large patches on walls
Our verdict
Pick the Skylarlife gel when the mould is on silicone sealant around a bath, shower or window, where its precise application and long contact time do the best job. For mould spreading over a painted wall or ceiling, a spray such as HG or Cillit Bang covers the area far more quickly.
Best For Furniture
Furniture Clinic Mould Remover Spray
Best for: Mould on leather, fabric and wooden furniture
Check Price On AmazonBleach-based mould removers will ruin a fabric chair or a leather sofa, which is where Furniture Clinic's spray comes in. The brand is best known for its leather sofa cleaners, and this mould remover is made for leather, fabric and wood.
Furniture Clinic says it kills spores on contact and gets rid of the musty smell that comes with mould, which is a common problem on furniture that's been stored in a damp garage or spare room. It works within 15 minutes and wipes clear with a slightly damp cloth. The brand also says it helps prevent mould returning, though moving the furniture somewhere drier matters just as much.
What we like
- Made for leather, fabric and wood
- Kills spores on contact according to Furniture Clinic
- Removes musty mould odours
- Works within 15 minutes
- Wipes clear with a damp cloth
What to know
- Costs more per bottle than a general mould spray such as HG
Our verdict
The Furniture Clinic Mould Remover is the one to use on leather, fabric and wooden furniture, where bleach-based sprays would cause damage. For walls, tiles and sealant, it isn't the best value, so use the HG Mould Spray or Cillit Bang there instead.
Best All-Rounder
Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover
Best for: Mould on walls, grout, window frames and sealant
Check Price On AmazonCillit Bang's Black Mould Remover is a widely available spray that handles most of the places mould turns up in a house. Cillit Bang says it removes black mould without scrubbing, and all you need to do is spray it on and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing.
It's made for walls, grout, windows and sealant, and it also lifts mildew and stubborn dirt. The brand says it's been tested to EN 14476, the European standard for virus-killing disinfectants. It comes in 750ml spray bottles that can be recycled, with multipacks available. The smell is strong, though, and like the HG spray, we wore face masks while using it.
What we like
- Clears mould, mildew and stubborn dirt
- Suits walls, grout, windows and sealant
- Tested to EN 14476 according to Cillit Bang
- Large 750ml recyclable bottles
- Multipacks available for bigger jobs
What to know
- Strong fumes meant we wore face masks in testing
- Needs a full 15 minutes to work
Our verdict
Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover is a dependable all-rounder for mould on walls, windows and bathroom surfaces, and the 750ml bottle helps on larger jobs. If you want a faster result on a painted wall, the HG Mould Spray worked on contact for us, and for sealant, the Skylarlife gel is more precise.
Best Value
Pro-Kleen Mould & Mildew Remover
Best for: Landlords and large areas of mould across several rooms
Check Price On AmazonPro-Kleen sells its mould and mildew remover in a 5 litre container with a 750ml spray bottle, which makes it a good fit for anyone with a lot of mould to treat or several properties to look after. You fill the spray from the container as you go and keep the rest for the next job.
Pro-Kleen says it removes all black and brown staining caused by mould, needs no scrubbing and takes 10 to 20 minutes to work. The brand also says it prevents regrowth for up to six months, which helps between cleans in a bathroom that struggles with condensation. Because it's only sold in the bulk size, the upfront cost is higher than a single spray bottle, but the cost per litre is far lower.
What we like
- Removes black and brown mould staining
- No scrubbing needed
- Prevents regrowth for up to six months according to Pro-Kleen
- Works in 10 to 20 minutes
- 5 litre container with a refillable 750ml spray
What to know
- Only sold in the 5 litre bulk size
Our verdict
Pro-Kleen is the best value mould remover if you've got a lot of mould to treat or several rooms to cover. For a single patch, the HG Mould Spray is a more sensible size, and the Dryzone kit is the better choice if you want a separate preventative sanitiser.
What To Look For In A Mould Remover
Every mould remover kills mould, but they differ in how they're applied, what surfaces they suit and how strong the fumes are. These are the points worth checking before you treat a room.
Spray Or Gel
Sprays cover large areas of wall and ceiling quickly and are the right choice for mould spreading across paintwork or tiles. Gels stay put on vertical surfaces and narrow lines, so they work better on silicone sealant around baths, showers and windows, where a spray runs off before it has time to work. For a ceiling, pick a spray with an adjustable nozzle so you can mist it on without drips falling back on you.
Bleach-Based Or Bleach-Free
Bleach-based removers such as HG and Dryzone clear the black staining as well as killing the mould, which is what you want on white paint, tiles and sealant. They'll also bleach anything coloured, so keep them off fabrics, carpets and wood. For furniture and soft furnishings, use a bleach-free formula made for the material, such as the Furniture Clinic spray. If you're unsure how a painted or coloured surface will react, try the remover on a small hidden patch first and check it after it's dried.
Fumes And Safety
Mould removers give off strong fumes, especially in small bathrooms, and we wore face masks with both the HG and Cillit Bang sprays. Open the windows, run the extractor fan, wear rubber gloves and protect your eyes when spraying a ceiling. Never mix a bleach-based remover with another cleaner, particularly anything acidic or containing ammonia, as it can release harmful gas.
Stopping The Mould Coming Back
A mould remover treats the result, not the cause. Mould grows where moisture settles on cold surfaces, so cutting down condensation is what keeps it away. A bathroom extractor fan that clears steam properly and a dehumidifier for damp rooms make the biggest difference. Persistent damp patches, rather than condensation, can point to a leak or penetrating damp that needs fixing first.
Redecorating After Treatment
Once the wall is clean and fully dry, any marks left behind can bleed through fresh emulsion. A coat of stain block paint for damp and mould marks seals them in, and finishing with an anti-mould paint for bathrooms and kitchens helps stop new growth on the surface.
Black Mould Questions We Get Asked
Does mould remover stop mould coming back?
A mould remover kills the mould that's there and some, such as Dryzone and Pro-Kleen, add protection against regrowth, but none will stop mould returning if the room stays damp. Mould grows wherever condensation settles, so improving ventilation, running an extractor fan and using a dehumidifier are what keep it away for good.
Can you paint over black mould?
You shouldn't paint over black mould, as it will carry on growing under the new paint and soon show through. Treat the area with a mould remover first, rinse and let the wall dry completely. Seal any remaining stains with a stain block paint, then finish with an anti-mould emulsion to help prevent new growth.
Is it safe to remove black mould yourself?
Small areas of black mould, such as patches in a bathroom or a ceiling corner, are safe to remove yourself with a mould spray, rubber gloves, eye protection and a face mask, with the windows open. The NHS notes that people with asthma, allergies or breathing problems are more affected by mould, so they're better leaving the clean-up to someone else. Large areas, or mould caused by a leak, need a professional.
How long should you leave mould spray on?
How long you leave a mould spray on depends on the product, so follow the label. Some, like HG, start working on contact, Dryzone quotes three minutes, Cillit Bang 15 minutes and Pro-Kleen 10 to 20 minutes. Gels such as Skylarlife work best left for several hours. Rinse or wipe the area afterwards as the instructions say.
Do I need a face mask with HG Mould Spray and Cillit Bang?
Yes, we wore a face mask with both sprays, as the smell builds up fast in a small bathroom. Keep a window open and the extractor fan running, and wear rubber gloves and eye protection if you're spraying overhead. Never mix either spray with another cleaner, particularly anything acidic or containing ammonia, as it can release harmful gas.
What's the best mould remover for sealant around a bath or shower?
Skylarlife Mould and Mildew Remover is the one we'd pick, because it's a gel that stays exactly where you put it on vertical silicone, where a spray runs straight off. It works best left for up to eight hours, so apply it before bed and rinse in the morning. Mould that's grown deep into old sealant means cutting out the silicone and resealing.
Is the Dryzone kit worth paying more for than HG Mould Spray?
Only if mould keeps returning to the same corner. The Dryzone Mould Remover and Prevention Kit is the most expensive option in our roundup, but it includes a sanitiser that goes on after the clean to help hold off regrowth. For a one-off patch, HG Mould Spray is the cheaper way to clear the growth.
What should I use on mould on a leather sofa or fabric chair?
Use Furniture Clinic Mould Remover Spray, which is made for leather, fabric and wood. Bleach-based removers such as HG and Dryzone will ruin a fabric chair or leather sofa, so keep them to walls, tiles and sealant. Furniture Clinic says its spray works within 15 minutes and wipes clear with a slightly damp cloth.
Our Top Mould Remover Picks
HG Mould Spray is the mould remover we'd reach for first, as it starts working the moment it goes on and lifts the black staining along with the growth. The Dryzone kit is the better choice when you want a preventative sanitiser in the same box, and the Skylarlife gel is best for mouldy sealant.
Mould can affect your health if it's left untreated, so it's worth dealing with as soon as you spot it. Once it's gone, look at why it appeared, as better ventilation is what stops it coming back.
Richard has spent years renovating properties and turning them into rentals and Airbnbs. Like a lot of people he started out as a beginner, and these days there isn't much DIY he won't take on.