The short answer is—not really. But that doesn’t mean you should keep black mold as a pet.

Everyone has different levels of tolerance to allergens like mold spores, but that’s all black mold is—an allergen. Those with asthma, respiratory allergies, or immune suppression will feel the effects of black mold’s mycotoxins more than most folks.

As one source put it, “Previous reports of ‘toxic mold syndrome’ or ‘toxic black mold’ have been shown to be no more than media hype and mass hysteria.” 

But whether you feel black mold symptoms or not, it’s best to get rid of black mold as soon as you find it.

How to Use Borax to Kill Mold

Borax is a natural cleaning product with many advantages. While it is toxic if you swallow it, it does not emit chemicals or dangerous fumes like other mold killers. To remove mold, borax needs to be combined with with water. Borax is also a natural mold inhibitor.

1. Create a borax-water solution using a ratio of 1 cup of borax per gallon of water.
2. Vacuum loose mold with HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner to lessen the number of mold spores stirred up into the air during the cleaning process.
3. Use a scrub brush and the borax-water solution to scrub the mold off the surface.
4. Wipe up any extra moisture and excses mold particles to prevent them spreading into the air.
5. Do not rinse off the borax solution when finished.
6. Leave the surface to dry.

Removing  Black Mold with Ammonia

Similar to bleach, ammonia will kill mold on hard non-porous surfaces which include countertops, glass or tiles but it is not effective at killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood or drywall. Additionally, ammonia is a harsh, toxic chemical. While ammonia can kill surface mold, dead mold and dead mold spores are still allergenic so you would need to make sure to remove them as well.

1. Create a solution of 50% clear ammonia and 50% water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray the solution on the moldy areas.
3. Make sure the ammonia you use says “clear ammonia” on the label.
4. Leave the area for a few hours before wiping or rinsing.

How to Get Rid of Mold with Baking Soda

Baking soda is mild, harmless to your family and pets, and is a natural and safe household cleaner. It can also kill mold. Baking soda and vinegar are typically used together when dealing with a mold problem since they kill different species of mold.

1. Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda into a spray bottle of water.
2. Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water.
3. Spray the moldy area.
4. Use a sponge or scrubbing brush to remove all the mold from the surface.
5. Once the mold has been scrubbed away, rinse the surface with water to remove any residual mold.
6. Spray the area again and let the area air dry.