How To Clean Mold On Wood Floor

If this is the type of mold on your floor joists address the source of moisture in the area the joists are located.

How to clean mold on wood floor.

Wipe the area clean with a damp towel and allow the wood to air dry. If the hardwood floor is properly sealed you can just wipe up the mildew with vinegar soap and water dilute bleach or some other common cleaning solution. Cleaning the mold off as soon as you discover it is the best way to prevent future problems. Mold and mildew are some of the main threats to wood beams.

Use a soft bristled brush to scrub down the surface. When you ve finished allow the wood to dry completely. If the mold has been on the floor for a long time it will have penetrated the wood deeply. Scrub away the mold leaving the borax solution in the wood.

As the wood decays it darkens and shrinks and then cracks form. Eventually the wood becomes powdery. To kill mold with vinegar pour undiluted vinegar into a spray bottle and spray the moldy area directly. Remove surface area of mold from wood floor.

Try wiping up the mold. Https ir library oregonstate edu xmlui handle 1957 25595 show full steps to safely remove mold from wood. Mold and mildew break down the fibers in the structure causing the beams to become weak and eventually collapse as they rot. Combine a tablespoon of borax with a cup of water then apply this solution to the mold with a soft bristled brush.

If you discover there is mold on the subflooring you will want to remove it carefully. After the mold is completely dry use 100 grit sandpaper to scrape in circular motions to remove the surface mold. You want as much of the solution in the wood as possible to prevent future growth. Because wood is a mold favorite it can get on the subflooring and floor joists spreading under the surface.

The smell of vinegar will linger on the wood for several hours but will dissipate naturally. Allow the vinegar to sit for up to one hour. If the moisture in the wood is lowered to below 20 percent the fungi stops growing because there is no water to feed it. Borax is an inexpensive non toxic mineral that not only kills mold on wood but prevents it from returning.

There are a few mixtures that you can spray onto the mold to kill and remove it such as measured doses of borax and water. Do not use bleach as it is ineffective at killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood. In our case most of the mold cleaned up easily but some had gotten into the grain of the wood. Then use 200 grit to scrape away the fungus that has penetrated deeper within the wood.

You will need to use a power washer on the floor to remove the mold. Only apply a small amount of the water mixture at a time and use a shop vac to remove the water immediately.