# does betadine (iodine) kill mold **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 17, 2013, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927 "2013-04-17T10:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/21 "2013-04-20T19:21:30Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > how often should I apply it? I’d say twice a week to start, then once a week until there’s no mold left. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/22 "2013-07-14T20:46:05Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I use a strong bleach solution to kill the mold/fungus that aggregates on my bathroom ceiling. Works for a while, then it recolonizes, 'cause my landlord won’t replace the loose bathtub surround that harbors the mother colony, and I can’t get bleach back there to kill it all. > > [Running water is what’s currently recommend for first aid for superficial wounds](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cuts/FA00042). No soap, no hydrogen peroxide or betadine or iodine, all of which can cause cellular damage and \*slow \*wound healing. Any wound that’s deep enough, open enough or irregular enough that you can’t easily clean it under the tap needs professional evaluation and a prescribed treatment plan. > > For longer term wound care, there are wound cleansing sprays and saline to clean and irrigate wounds. The one I use most ([Sea-Clens](http://www.amazon.com/Comfeel-SEA-CLENS-Wound-Cleanser-spray/dp/B000TLWWVK)) lists: _water, decyl glucoside, sodium chloride (USP), citric acid, diazolindyl urea, methyl paraben, tetrasodium EDTA_. It’s designed to soften and remove necrotic tissue. Again, no hydrogen peroxide or betadine or iodine. > > I sometimes use iodoform (iodine reacted with ethanol or acetone and sodium hydroxide) tape to pack infected abscesses, but that’s because killing the infection and removing necrotic tissue is important, and iodoform doesn’t do as much damage to healthy tissues as elemental iodine. Still, once it appears the infection is gone, we usually stop the iodoform tape and switch to a plain gauze (or hydrogel) packing material. > > The more we learn about wounds, the more we learn that our best treatment is often as little treatment as possible. Keep it clean, keep the wound bed moist and the skin around it dry, and don’t scratch! I just want to add that this approach adds to antibiotic resistance. Applying alcohol to a cut prevents infection and the need for antibiotic treatment. Another example of the doctors colluding with big pharma to sell more pills instead of something simple and cheap like rubbing alcohol. So what if it slows healing by a day or 2? It still heals. Infection would slow healing too. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/23 "2013-07-14T20:52:01Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I just want to add that this approach adds to antibiotic resistance. Applying alcohol to a cut prevents infection and the need for antibiotic treatment. Another example of the doctors colluding with big pharma to sell more pills instead of something simple and cheap like rubbing alcohol. So what if it slows healing by a day or 2? It still heals. Infection would slow healing too. You have no idea what you are talking about - how is NOT treating with anti-biotics going to add to “antibiotic resistance” ? Whynots approach is the simplest, most basic possible and doesnt even include alchohol - note that his ending paragraph is talking about treating an already infected wound. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/24 "2013-07-14T21:18:58Z")
> [@simster](#): > > You have no idea what you are talking about - how is NOT treating with anti-biotics going to add to “antibiotic resistance” ? Whynots approach is the simplest, most basic possible and doesnt even include alchohol - note that his ending paragraph is talking about treating an already infected wound. I agree. Alcohol is rarely used correctly, anyway. To use it correctly, one must scrub the wound with alcohol and let it dry completely, then do it again. All it does, even if used properly, is dry out the bacterial cells. There are other preparations that do the same and better that aren’t torture. As \*\* WhyNot\*\* said, the best defense against infection in minor injuries is cleanliness. Your own body will do the rest. **matt357** , how exactly does using water and water based cleansers add to antibiotic resistance? Anyway, to answer your original question, use baking soda. It kills most molds. It won’t remove the stains left by the mold. Soap and water might, but your best bet is dilute bleach. You could try Clorox Kitchen Cleaner. It’s just bleach and water. Of course, you could save a bundle by mixing your own. The only problem is bleach will eventually damage the spray mechanism. Mix a small amount and try it on a hidden part of the plastic, if it hurts it, dilute it more until you have the right mix. Also, don’t leave it on the plastic for more than a few minutes. Rinse it with clear water, if the stain fades, use it again. If it doesn’t, you could always paint it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/25 "2013-07-14T21:29:12Z")
When I was a kid in the 50s, iodine, in little brown bottle with skull and crossbones, was the standard antiseptic. If I cut or grazed myself, on it went. “If it doesn’t sting, it isn’t doing any good.” ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/26 "2013-07-14T21:35:15Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I just want to add that this approach adds to antibiotic resistance. Applying alcohol to a cut prevents infection and the need for antibiotic treatment. Another example of the doctors colluding with big pharma to sell more pills instead of something simple and cheap like rubbing alcohol. So what if it slows healing by a day or 2? It still heals. Infection would slow healing too. Applying alcohol to a cut does not prevent infection. At best, it might kill a few bacteria already present in the wound, but it does nothing to prevent colonization with airborne bacteria or bacteria on the patient’s own other intact skin that moves into the wound an hour, day or week later, which is where most wound infections come from. I see your logic, in that\* if we could \*prevent infection with alcohol (which kills in such a way that it doesn’t lead to antibiotic resistance) we wouldn’t need antibiotics later. But it’s an “if we could” that’s not borne out in reality. The best prevention for infection is to thoroughly clean with running water or saline for 5 minutes (which will flush all the bacteria currently in the wound out) and then to cover the area with the appropriate bandage to prevent new bacterial colonization - this works to remove bacteria without killing or damaging the cells that fight off future infection. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/27 "2013-07-14T22:39:48Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > I agree. Alcohol is rarely used correctly, anyway. To use it correctly, one must scrub the wound with alcohol and let it dry completely, then do it again. All it does, even if used properly, is dry out the bacterial cells. There are other preparations that do the same and better that aren’t torture. That is flat out untrue, All it does, if used properly is kill germs, very effectively I might add. If someone can’t stand a little stinging they are a baby. It is also less drying to the skin than soap and water. They could also use hydrogen peroxide or betadine. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/28 "2013-07-14T22:43:34Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > That is flat out untrue, All it does, if used properly is kill germs, very effectively I might add. If someone can’t stand a little stinging they are a baby. It is also less drying to the skin than soap and water. They could also use hydrogen peroxide or betadine. [Hydrogen Peroxide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_peroxide) > [@](#): > > At one time, the most common household use of hydrogen peroxide was to disinfect wounds, but it’s now thought not only to be ineffective, but to slow healing by damaging human tissue. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/29 "2013-07-14T22:53:02Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > That is flat out untrue, All it does, if used properly is kill germs, very effectively I might add. If someone can’t stand a little stinging they are a baby. It is also less drying to the skin than soap and water. They could also use hydrogen peroxide or betadine. Then perhaps you can find us some citations for your claims, seeing as we’re in General Questions and all. **picunurse** , see you at the next Big Pharma meeting? I can’t wait…this month I get my Evil Nurse Cahoots pin! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927/30 "2013-07-15T00:35:31Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I just want to add that this approach adds to antibiotic resistance. Applying alcohol to a cut prevents infection and the need for antibiotic treatment. Another example of the doctors colluding with big pharma to sell more pills instead of something simple and cheap like rubbing alcohol. So what if it slows healing by a day or 2? It still heals. Infection would slow healing too. **Moderator Warning** **matt357** , you have no idea what you are talking about. This is an official warning for violating my instructions not to post bullshit in General Questions in response to people who are providing factual information in response to your questions. Keep it up and you will find your posting privileges revoked. Colibri General Questions Moderator PS. This is closed (as will be any other thread where you continue this behavior). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-betadine-iodine-kill-mold/655927.md?page=1)