Effective Ways of Mold Removal: Clean That Musty Wood!

They say every bad thing happens for a reason. Or at least they entail something good at one point or another. But what we have here is an entirely different case. Mold on wood is unsightly, disturbing, and disgusting. We don’t see any good coming from it, and you wouldn’t either.

It spreads quickly, causes harm to health and householder quickly. So any person would know better to get rid of it. Hence, we decided to tell you about some of the effective ways of mold removal from wood.

The Infestation

Wood does a great job of soaking up moisture and retaining water. The surface that results through this amiability is exactly the environment molds flourish in. For the record, molds feed off any organic surface that boasts a lack of sunlight and airflow and is exposed to moisture. Since they are good at spreading so fast, we suggest you move quickly for remediation.

Effective Ways of Mold Removal from Wood

Step-1: Protect Yourself:

Remember to wear protective gear before you start the processes that follow. Wear full sleeves on your shirt and full pants to prevent maximum exposure. Get yourself rubber gloves and goggles to finish the gear.

Don’t forget!–an air mask is equally important in all of these. You don’t want to inhale the spores. If bleach is present in your cleaning solution, don’t ruin your regular clothes and get yourself outerwear that can bear the mess.

Note: In case you are allergic to molds, don’t follow any of the steps listed below. Call a professional to handle things for you as some molds can be highly toxic and need identification.

Step-2: Identity:

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow anywhere if the place is damp. It thrives between 40-100 degrees Fahrenheit. The most frequent kind of mold dealt with homeowners is called mildew. This is visible as a collection of tiny black spots.

To test whether or not it is mildew that you are dealing with, dab a little amount of bleach solution to the area. If you see the dark color fade, it is mildew. If nothing happens, that is stubborn dirt.

Another kind of mold is the one that causes wood to rot. While handling the wood, poking, and dabbing it, if the piece crumbles and breaks, you probably have the rotting type infested.

Step-3: Vacuum:

Now that you know you have mold and not regular dirt, you will need to get off loose spores first. Get yourself a brush with soft bristles and clean the infested surface first. This will get the area clear of loose spores.

After that, you need to vacuum because these loose spores are now in the air along with other dust particles, and the last thing we want is you to deal with them all when you are cleaning. If you don’t vacuum the area, the spores could result in a future infestation.

Next, get ready and vacuum with a machine having the HEPA filter type. If you don’t have that, you can vacuum the area with the machine you own, finish work, and tightly seal the plastic bag with all that before leaving it outside your house.

Step-4: Clean:

For small areas:

If it is a super small area where you suspect mold, it is effortless to clean. Just probe it with the sharp end or a screwdriver or scissor and have it removed.

For medium-sized to large areas:

If the piece of wood is not for sustaining damages from screwdrivers or scissors or anything sharp for that matter, you will need to clean it with a solution.

The good news is that if your wood is stained or painted, the mold cannot penetrate the surface and so you will need to clean the surface only. For that, a mild cleansing solution with regular dishwashing soap and warm water would do. Get yourself a scrub with soft bristles and clean in circles instead of just going all-out crazy with rubbing.

If the moldy is firmly bound to the area and is not willing to come off with detergent, you will need a better solution. Try spraying vinegar to the area. Get yourself a spritz bottle and spray vinegar to it and let it sit for an hour or so. Now wipe the area and check if the results are satisfactory.

But what if your piece of wood wasn’t stained or painted? Chances are the mold penetrated deep into the wood. Now you will need to prepare a much stronger solution that can invade the surface. For that, mix detergent, bleach, and warm water in the ratio 1:10:20.

Then, apply it to the area with a brush and let it air dry there. After a couple of hours, cleanse the area with rubbing and wiping down the remaining solution with a clean damp cloth first and a dry cloth second. Note that bleach can cause wood discoloration. So do a little patch test before the final thing.

If the mold doesn’t go after all these, the only solution you are left with is using sandpaper. Work with it on the surface till you see no more mold, and lastly, varnish or have it stained to prevent future infestation.

Step-5: Prevent:

After effectively cleaning the wood piece, dry it in the sun. Please get rid of all the rags or cloths you used to prevent infestations from them. Before you bring the wood piece indoors, check for any remaining mold colony. If it persists, it is probably time to throw it away.

Also, for the future, control dampness. Make sure there is a proper drainage system at your home. Keep furniture away from walls to allow airflow, and don’t leave wet clothing on wooden surfaces. Dust and disinfect your home and the furniture. Also, once you are clean on molds, have your wood stained with the right product.

Conclusion:

This brings us to the end of our discussion regarding effective ways of mold removal from wood. The main idea remains to stop spread when you notice molds, clean pieces thoroughly, and use damp-proof measures to keep yourself and your house safe.

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