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Although you can use bleach to clean many surfaces in your home, using it on walls can permanently damage the color or even remove paint and expose the paint or bare walls underneath. You’re better off using a light hand, some water, and a small amount of liquid dish soap or vinegar to clean walls with flat paint. If you have mold growth on your walls with flat paint, then a professional cleaner may use bleach, but you’ll almost certainly have to repaint your walls afterward.

To neutralize mildew smell, you can use natural deodorizers like baking soda or activated charcoal. Baking soda absorbs odors; sprinkle it liberally on the affected area, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. Activated charcoal, available in pouches, works similarly. Vinegar, with its natural acidic properties, can also neutralize odors. Mix equal parts water and vinegar, spray the affected area lightly, then blot it with a dry cloth. Enzymatic cleaners are effective too, breaking down odor-causing compounds.

While it is not recommended, you can mix Bon Ami with vinegar for a more powerful cleaning mixture. However, you should avoid mixing other types of powder cleaners, such as Comet and Ajax, with vinegar or with each other, as the reaction often creates a toxic gas that’s dangerous to the human body.

Yes, a bowl of vinegar can absorb smoke. If you want to use this method to reduce the smoke smell in your house, all you have to do is leave a bowl (or multiple bowls) of white vinegar out overnight. Alternatively, you can use bowls of baking soda, coffee grounds, or activated charcoal.