Hypochlorous Acid For Mold and Mycotoxin Removal

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is an effective solution for removing mold and mycotoxins from surfaces. This is a game changer in the remediation and sanitization industry as mycotoxins are rarely addressed as part of a mold remediation. And by using hypochlorous acid products effectively, you can significantly reduce mold and mycotoxin levels in your home, creating a healthier environment for yourself and your family.

What Is Hypochlorous Acid?

Let’s start with a fun fact. Hypochlorous acid exists in your body. It’s created by white blood cells as a defense system against infection, bacteria, viruses, and other nasty invaders. HOCl attacks invading pathogens, breaking down the cell walls before destroying unhealthy invaders.

As a sanitizing agent, it’s a weak acid that forms when chlorine dissolves in water and partially dissociates. Its chemical formula is HOCl (hydrogen, oxygen, and chlorine).

So how does it end up being mass-produced for mold and mycotoxins removal? Well, chemists long ago cracked the code to make HOCl by using electrolysis to break down a simple saltwater solution. More recently, however, manufacturing advancements allowed HOCl to be made in larger quantities with longer shelf life – a key to more widespread use.

How Does Hypochlorous Acid Kill Mold?

Let’s take a closer look at how HOCl attacks mold spores.

1. It penetrates cell walls
   • HOCl is a neutrally charged molecule, so it easily passes through the protective walls of mold spores and hyphae (the root-like structures) without being repelled (something that happens with many other mold removers).
2. It destroys vital cell components
   • Once inside, HOCl oxidizes (burns up) critical parts of the mold:
     • Proteins – denaturing them (breaks down their structure)
     • Lipids -damaging cell membranes
     • Nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) – stops mold from reproducing
   • This process stops mold cells from growing, replicating or surviving.
3. HOCl kills spores and active mold
   • Hypochlorous acid can attack both mold spores (the “seeds” that spread mold) and actively growing mold.
   • Rapid cell death occurs. Because HOCl disrupts multiple systems at once, the mold cells die very quickly — usually within seconds to minutes after contact, depending on concentration and thickness of the mold colony.
4. Biofilm Breaking
   • Some molds produce slimy protective layers called biofilms. HOCl can break through biofilms better than bleach and other mold removers because of its tiny molecular size and its ability to disrupt proteins inside the film.

How Does Hypochlorous Acid Remove Mycotoxins?

Just like it does with mold, hypochlorous acid can degrade or neutralize mycotoxins through oxidation, breaking down their toxic molecular structures. Here’s how it works:

1. HOCl attacks electron-rich sites in molecules—like double bonds and aromatic rings, which are common in mycotoxins.

2. It has a threefold mechanism of action.

• Electrophilic Attack: HOCl targets nucleophilic (electron-rich) centers in the toxin, such as enol or alkene groups.
• Halogenation: It can chlorinate double bonds or aromatic rings, disrupting the toxin’s structure and function.
• Ring Cleavage: In some cases, it opens up ring structures, especially in complex toxins like aflatoxins, rendering them non-toxic.

3. The effectiveness of hypochlorous acid on mycotoxins depends on several conditions:

• pH: HOCl is most active between pH 6.5–7.
• Contact Time: Longer exposure increases degradation.
• Concentration: Higher HOCl concentrations result in more extensive breakdown.
• Type of Mycotoxin: Some, like aflatoxins, are more susceptible than others (e.g., trichothecenes).

How Hypochlorous Acid is Made

HOCl is made by a process called electrolysis. At a basic level, you need:

• Water (H₂O)
• Salt (NaCl)
• Electricity

When you apply electricity to salty water using special electrodes, you break the saltwater into different chemical products — including hypochlorous acid.

There are various ways to increase or decrease the PPMs per batch of HOCl.

Change the salt amount	More salt = more available chlorine = higher ppm
Change the electrolysis time	Longer time = more HOCl generation (to a point)
Adjust water volume	Less water = more concentrated solution

So in short, more salt and/or more electrolysis time → higher ppm HOCl. Less salt or shorter time → lower ppm HOCl. pH still matters greatly! Keeping it around pH 5–7.0 ensures most of the chlorine exists as HOCl, not hypochlorite ion (OCl⁻).

Is Hypocholorous Acid Safe?

Absolutely! In lower concentrations it can be used for various skin issues. When used as an everyday cleaner, it leaves absolutely no toxic residue either. HOCl breaks down into salt (NaCl) and water, leaving no harsh chemicals behind. My cat loves to roll around in the HOCl when I spray my countertops and mop the floor with it. I guard his health and wellbeing with my life! So this speaks volumes as to the safety of HOCl.

Is Hypochlorous Acid The Same As Bleach?

No. Not at all. Let’s compare the two in a side by side chart.

	Hypochlorous Acid	Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)
Chemical Form	HOCl	NaOCl
Strength (Disinfection)	Very strong at low concentrations (even 50–200 ppm is effective in some cases)	Strong, but requires higher concentrations (500–5,000 ppm for surfaces)
pH Range	Best around pH 6-7.5	Highly alkaline, usually pH 11–13
Irritation Risk	Very low — safe on skin, eyes, wounds	High — can irritate skin, eyes, and lungs
Smell	Mild or no smell	Strong “bleach” smell
Stability	Less stable but when made correctly, can have a 12 month shelf life.	More stable in concentrated form, but degrades over time
Use in Healthcare	Used directly on wounds, skin, surgical areas	Used mainly for hard surface disinfection only
Mode of Action	Penetrates microbial cell walls easily and oxidizes vital components	Similar action but less efficient because of pH and charge issues
Environmental Impact	Breaks down into harmless substances (water and salt)	Can produce more harmful byproducts if misused

Are All Hypochlorous Acid Brands The Same?

Definitely not. While there are a few decent brands as well as HOCl generators where you can make your own, they all lack one key component which makes them effective against mycotoxins. HE. Yes, you read that right. HE.

Superstratum is the ONLY brand of hypochlorous acid that I personally use, trust and recommend to my clients. This is because Superstratum developed a product that goes beyond standard hypochlorous acid. The created HE-HOCl™.

HE-HOCl™ (Hypotonic Electrolytic Hypochlorous Acid) is a next-generation oxidizer created through a proprietary electrolysis process. It delivers a pure, stabilized solution with:

• Neutral pH (6.5–7.0)
• Low, controlled oxidation-reduction potential (ORP)
• Ultra-low total dissolved solids (TDS), just 2–4 parts per thousand

Mycotoxins require a precise strike in order to truly render them inert. Too little oxidation, and the bonds don’t break. Too much, and you risk damaging materials or causing inflammatory reactions. Unlike typical HOCl solutions, which often contain impurities or lose potency quickly, HE-HOCl™ is engineered through a precise electrolytic process in a hypotonic environment, resulting in an ultra-pure, highly stable solution with maximum effectiveness.

It is a tricky balance and one that other manufacturers do not take into account. Superstratum does! They know how mycotoxins work and what they needed to formulate to target them at the molecular level. And so they did. HE-HOCl™ was born.

To validate its effectiveness, Superstratum submitted HE-HOCl™ (Superstratum Building Cleaner) for testing by Real-Time Laboratories and Wonder Makers Environmental. Test panels were treated after intentional contamination with four common indoor mycotoxins:

• Gliotoxin
• Trichothecenes (Group D)
• Ochratoxin A
• Zearalenone

Results:

• 100% removal of Gliotoxin, Ochratoxin A, and Zearalenone
• 77–81% reduction in Trichothecenes
• 94–95% overall mycotoxin reduction

This isn’t just cleaning. This is molecular disarmament. I am NOT putting my clients’ homes or health in the hands of an inferior technology.

To learn more about Superstratum, please visit their informative website. I use the Everyday Cleaner on literally everything in my own home. I also am very fond of their new Everyday Cleaner wipes! It makes cleaning a breeze and I know that I am safeguarding my home against rogue mycotoxins! If you are interested in ordering Superstratum, please use coupon code JENNIFERNITRIO for a discount off your total order! If you aren’t sure what to order, I am happy to help you figure out what you need for your remediation/sanitization project or for general cleaning.