Tip On How To Get Rid Of Mold On Wood Using Bleach
In extreme cases or the case of untreated wood, mold can penetrate the wood and make itself at home. If it penetrates, you will need a stronger cleaner something more than just soap and water to clean outdoor wood furniture.
You can make up as much or as little of this powerful cleaning solution as you would like, as long as you keep the parts the same. In a big bucket mix together all three ingredients. Apply the bleach solution to the wood using a stiff-bristled brush or a scrubbing sponge. After scrubbing the wood, allow it to air-dry.
Use dehumidifiers and fans to help speed up the drying process, but allow the wood to dry for at least three days. Inspect the wood for any signs of mold, and look and smell the wood. If mold is still present, your best mold remediation is to clean with the bleach solution again.
Once you know its is no longer present, seal the wood with a primer or pigmented shellac from your local hardware stores. If mold is still present or you notice mold stains, your only other option is to sand the wood. Using sandpaper to sand down the wood allows you to reach the mold or stains that are deep inside.
You dont want to do a quick sanding instead, slowly sand the wood until either the mold or the mold stains are gone. Once gone, you should stain, paint, or treat the wood to help prevent future problems.
How Do You Get Rid Of Mold With Vinegar
You should assess the intensity of the mold growth before attempting any cleaning. Substantial growth will call for cleaners to get rid of the mold. However, for a small mold problem, you may consider it as a simple DIY task using white vinegar.
- Step 1: Protect yourselfEnsure that you have white vinegar in your home. Wear protective clothing to cover your hands to avoid prolonged exposure to vinegar. Cover your mouth, eyes, and nose as well to avoid breathing in the mold spores.
- Step 2: Fill a Spray Bottle with VinegarFind a spray bottle and fill it up with the white vinegar. Use concentrated vinegar as mold can be a resisting force. Also, ensure that you have an adequate amount of white vinegar to spray on the surface that requires cleaning.
- Step 3: Spray the Vinegar on Affected AreasSpray the affected area thoroughly with vinegar. Ensure that the area is well covered with vinegar. If you dont have a spray bottle, you can use a wet cloth soaked in vinegar to scrub the affected area.
- Step 4: Allow the Vinegar to SoakIt takes a little time for the vinegar to absorb and break the mold. Thus, you can let it sit for about an hour before you begin scrubbing.
- Step 5: Scrub the Mold AwayUse a brush with warm water to scrub off the mold. The scrub brush will make it easier to break the mold. Use an appropriate brush size to clean the area. Rinse and wipe the affected area with warm water. If the mold persists, you can repeat the processes or hire a professional.
Bleach Is Not An Effective Mold Removal Solution
One of the problems with the mold remediation industry is the lack of regulation. Because of this, there are many contractors that believe they can offer mold removal services without the proper training or experience.
This is particularly true when you encounter mold removal contractors that recommend that mold can be simply killed. The problem with this approach is that it is not a permanent solution to a mold problem. In short, there is no quick fix for mold contamination situations. As a consumer, you need to be cautious about hiring contractors that offer magical solutions that involve just spraying a chemical to kill the mold dead.
As stated by Michael Pinto, CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental:
Killing mold, but leaving the residue in place, is not acceptable. Since many health impacts can be triggered by exposure to both live and dead mold spores, the source and secondary contamination must be removed.
Flood Response is a full service restoration contractor serving Palm Springs and other surrounding areas
We are mold removal experts and would never recommend or use bleach to try to kill mold because we know it does not work. Yes, you will find many sites on the internet that recommend the use of bleach to kill mold. The problem with this advice, however, is that dead mold spores can also cause health issues.
The purpose of this article is to briefly explain why mold grows and explain in detail why bleach is not a viable solution.
You May Like: How To Remove Mold From Car Exterior
How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Carpet
Be very careful dealing with mold, advises Dean Carter, a carpet-cleaning expert. Silk and wool carpet should always be professionally cleaned. Likewise, only a certified mold expert should remove any substantial amount of mold from carpet. However, if its a very small area, and its safe to use chlorine bleach on the carpet, you can try this.
This story was originally published Jan. 24, 2018.
Tips To Keep Mold From Growing
Since mold prefers a dark, humid environment, opening your windows daily to circulate fresh air is an easy way to discourage mold growth. If someone in your family has allergies, do this very early in the morning or late in the afternoon times when pollen counts are at their lowest. If opening your windows isnt possible, at least open your curtains during daylight hours.
You May Like: Who Do You Call About Mold In Your Apartment
Formula Using Borax To Remove Mildew From Canvas
To remove mildew using the Borax formula, mix 1/2 cup of borax with 2 cups of water. I prefer to use warm water, but use what you have. Use a soft scrub brush that will not damage the fabric.
Gently scrub the borax formula into the canvas and loosen up the mildew. Allow the formula to soak into the canvas so it can get deep into the fibers.
Then after the solution soaks on the canvas for at least15 minutes or longer, rinse the canvas thoroughly to remove all of the borax solution. If the mildew is still present is may require a second treatment to fully remove the mildew.
| The Borax Formula: |
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Mold In Home
How Does Bleach Kill Mold
Bleach can kill mold, but only on certain surfaces. It only works effectively on nonporous surfaces, like tiles and sinks. This means that any mold growing on wood or drywall cannot be managed and maintained with bleach. The reason is that mold spreads deep under the surface of porous materials, meaning that it will continue to grow even when attacked on the surface by bleach. In these cases, you need to go to the source to eliminate mold growth.
Also Check: How Do You Kill Mold With Vinegar
How To Effective Remove Mold In Your Home Or Business
There are several products that can be utilized to kill and remove mold. Some effective products that kill mold are:
- Grapefruit seed extract
While these types of products can be effective in killing mold, they are only efficient when you recognize the first signs of mold growth and manage to prevent its development. In addition to eliminating the mold you see, you must also eliminate the source of the moisture that allowed its appearance in the first place. For many people, while doing it yourself may be an option to remove the mold it is often done incompletely providing only a temporary solution to your mold problem.
It is always best to hire a professional mold remediation company when you see mold but, if the mold in your home is not toxic and the area of mold growth is small then you can try to perform the mold remediation on your own.
Why Does Bleach Not Kill Mold On Porous Material
Bleach is effective in some cases, but not when it comes to porous surfaces. Not only does bleach fail to kill mold on a porous surface, but it can also make matters worse.
Porous areas have tiny openings in which the mold grows. The water component of the bleach will penetrate these pores and can increase mold growth.
At first glance, you would think that youve killed the mold, but on the contrary, youre essentially feeding it. The correct way to kill mold in porous materials such as wood and drywall is to use distilled white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.
Also Check: How To Disinfect Black Mold
Can You Mix Bleach And Vinegar To Kill Mold
If you have just spotted mold growing in your home, you are probably searching for a quick way to get rid of it before the spread gets worse.
Lucky for you, many easy-to-use home remedies can quickly clear up small mold infestations in no time at all.
One of the more commonly used mold infestation solutions is a combination of bleach and mold in the affected area. Read whether our expert team at All Dry USA thinks this concoction works!
Get Rid Of Mold Using Ammonia
Ammonia can be used to create a more eco-friendly solution for mold removal than other chemical-based products. However, they can be toxic to humans similar to bleach so caution is absolutely necessary during use. And like bleach, ammonia cannot penetrate a porous surface but is excellent for tiles, glass, and countertops. The ammonia solution should contain 50% clear ammonia and 50% water. It is best to use a spray bottle instead of applying it directly using a rag. Spray onto the affected surface and let it sit for a few hours before you start scrubing. For safety, throw away the clothes you use to clear out to mold.
Read Also: Does Color Safe Bleach Kill Mold
Other Mold Removal Options
Removing mold from fabric and wood can be particularly tough. For fabric, if using household ingredients to remove mold stains doesn’t work, consider using special mold and mildew removers for fabric.
The team at Family Handyman explains that liquid chlorine bleach can remove mold from fabric, but it can damage the fabric and cause color loss. The writers recommend an odor-free, gentle stain remover that is made to clean most fabrics, like Engleside Restoration Fabric Cleaner. Just be sure to read and follow the label directions when laundering.
If there is mold on your wood, you can first try vacuuming it with a HEPA filter vacuum attachment. When the mold has not penetrated into the wood, this could solve the problem and may be the best mold killer for wood that doesn’t involve chemicals. Otherwise, you’ll need a more robust cleaner to get down into the wood and kill the mold spores. Look for mold and mildew removers that do not require scrubbing, since this can damage the wood.
Vinegar And Borax Are Safer
Two common household items can do the same job as bleach with less potential for adverse health effects are borax and vinegar. Borax is a mineral generally considered safe unless ingested, and vinegar is completely safe. Vinegar’s odor is unpleasant to some people, but the smell disperses quickly. You can use these cleaners separately.
Mix a cup of borax with a gallon of water and spray it on the mold, followed by a spray application of full-strength vinegar. You can also make a one-step spray solution by mixing 2 tablespoons of borax in a 1/4 cup of vinegar and adding 2 cups of warm water. Wait an hour after application, then wipe the walls down again with a clean damp cloth.
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Mold In Basement Drywall
In The Rest Of Your Home
Inspect your interior hoses. You should replace flexible hoses on washing machines and kitchen sink sprayers immediately if you see a leak or condensation, and every five years, even if you dont spot problems. If you dont replace them on time, your homeowners or renters insurance wont pay if they burst and cause water damage. Inspect your roof after storms. Look for loose shingles or other damage that could allow water to enter your attic or home. Keep your foundation clear. Dont stack firewood or other items against your homes foundation, or youll encourage water collection there that will seep into your basement walls.
Fix cracks promptly. Whether you find cracks in your foundation or siding, fix them immediately to keep water out of your home. Clean your gutters in the Spring and Fall. Clogged gutters lead to water pooling near your foundation or along your walls, and that leads to water damage that causes mold.
Remember, mold wont go away on its own. If you find signs of it growing on your walls, you need to take prompt action to get rid of it with these easy homemade mold-killing sprays. Then keep it from coming back by controlling your homes humidity levels, promoting good air circulation, and regularly cleaning to remove mold spores.
More How-Tos:
When And How Should You Use Bleach To Kill Mold
While bleach can seem like an effective way to kill mold, it should not be used in every situation.
The EPA does not recommend using bleach as a routine practice to clean up mold. We also discussed this in our article Does Bleach Kill Mold & When Is It Recommended?
The truth is that bleach is a relatively accessible and convenient way to get rid of household mold if used properly under the right circumstances. In this article, well define what the right circumstances means and how you can use bleach to kill mold.
Read Also: What Will Kill Mold Spores
The Effects Of Using Bleach On Porous Surfaces
But just in case you need more convincing, here are some other facts for you to consider:
- OSHA has stated that bleach should not be used in mold remediation.
- Using bleach on wood can actually drive the mold deeper inside the fibers causing more problems for you later.
- Bleach used on drywall can emit chlorine gas for a week or more.
- Because bleach is mostly water, you can actually feed the mold root with what it needs to grow moisture.
- Bleach is toxic.
To simply sum it up, using bleach on a surface like wood or drywall is going to cause more harm than good.
How To Kill Mold With Baking Soda
You May Like: How To Get Mold Off Grout
Also Check: How To Get Mold Out Of Walls
Bleach Is Ineffective In The Long Run
In the long run, bleach only helps you mask the mold for a short period. After you have applied bleach to a porous surface, the molds dark green color is removed, and your wall returns to its bright colors. However, the roots of the molds which have reached deep into the insides continue to grow. Also, bleach does not stop harmful mold spores from spreading within the house.
In the long run, you should call an expert to look into any mold problem you have. Cleaning mold is not enough to eliminate their harmful effects because, even when molds are dead, they can still produce toxic spores. Molds have to be removed entirely, and there are different procedures for doing this depending on the type of surface on which the mold has occurred. Air quality also needs to be returned to healthy levels. To achieve these, you should let a certified mold remediation specialist handle any mold problem you have in your home.
