What Kills Green Mold On Wood
Green mold is a blanket term but its generally the most common type of mold that is self-identified by the person living in the home. Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium can all be considered green molds.
Because green mold on wood tends to be moist and slimy, baking soda works wonders. It can also prove useful for harder mold that is solid and stubborn. Mix it with water as instructed above to remove it.
Protecting Yourself While Cleaning Moldy Surfaces
When cleaning mold from any surface, wear protective gear to keep yourself safe. Wear a respirator or air mask of some sort during mold removal to prevent mold spores from entering your lungs. Safety goggles and rubber gloves need to be worn at all times when cleaning up the mold to protect you from certain cleaning products, as well as mold spores.
If using bleach, wear protective outer clothing or old clothes as the bleach may cause stains. To remove mold from a large area like one that has a strong, musty smell, or one with extensive water damage, you not only want to wear protective gear, but you also want to take a few extra precautions.
These extra precautions prevent the mold from spreading throughout the rest of the house and will protect you from breathing in the spores and fumes from cleaning products you are using. Use an old box fan to ventilate the area you will be throwing it away when done as the spores are impossible to clean off the fan.
Moisten moldy areas while working, turn off furnaces and air conditioners while working, cover ducts and vents, and always leave your wet/dry vacuum outside double-bag and tape all moldy materials before throwing them in the trash.
Clean Up And Dry The Affected Area
Once you have completed the scrubbing and sanding to remove mold, you want to make sure to finish cleaning up the area where you worked.
Start by collecting and throwing out any residue and other items that have come into contact with the fungi. The residue that stays on these items can grow into new mold growths, so you want to be sure not to leave any around.
Next, take a final pass at the area you worked with new cleaning items such as rags or paper towels. This extra step will help prevent mold from spreading again.
Finally, make sure the area you worked dries fully. If youre working with furniture, place it in a well ventilated and dry area. If youre working on walls or floors in an area with minimal ventilation, you may need to use fans to dry the surface. In either case, take all the time it needs to ensure the surface is dry.
Test the cleaned surface both by sight and touch. Once you are sure the surface has dried thoroughly, be sure it does not get wet again.
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How To Kill Mold With Baking Soda
Reasons Why You Should Never Use Bleach To Clean Mold
Mold is not a topic that most homeowners want to think about. If they are discussing mold, it is likely because they have discovered some mold in their home, and as it can be both dangerous and costly, the chances are if you have found some you are desperately trying to determine how to get rid of it as soon as possible.
You may be wondering if you can do the remediation yourself and if so, what type of chemicals or cleaners you should use. Luckily for you, were here with those answers!
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How To Remove Mold With Vinegar
Vinegar is natural and safe mild acid that can kill 82% of mold species. Plus it doesnt give off dangerous fumes like bleach. If you want to use vinegar to prevent mold growth on surfaces, spray vinegar on the surface and leave it. Repeat every few days to keep the surface mold-free.
How to Use Vinegar
Limit Your Exposure To Mold
Its important to limit your exposure to mold and mold spores. Keep them out of your eyes and try not to inhale any.
- Wear a mask or an N-95 respirator to avoid inhaling mold.
- Wear gloves that extend to the middle of your forearm. If youre just using water and a mild detergent, household rubber gloves work fine.
- Wear goggles that dont have ventilation holes to avoid getting mold or spores in your eyes.
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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.
- 20 parts water
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.
Hydrogen Peroxide Is A Non
If you want to obtain a similar result against black mold as you would using bleach, you can use hydrogen peroxide. In an empty spray bottle, combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water. Spray the mixture onto the mold, and allow it to sit for 15 minutes. Then, use a sponge to clean the surface and remove any leftover mixture, and youre done!
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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.
Due To The Risk Its Advised To Test A Small Section Of Floor First
Another trick that you can use if you must use bleach is too try a small area first that would not be noticed easily. A great spot to find a space like this could be an area thats typically covered with a rug or another piece of furniture.
This will allow you to test if the bleach is going to cause any harm to the floor before proceeding to the larger areas of the floor that will be seen daily. Also, always ensure that when using bleach that you are working with a well-ventilated area to avoid adverse health risks.
We have covered a few things thus far into the post. First, we have discussed that if bleach can be avoided on wood that it should be.
Additionally, we have covered that if bleach must be used that only one good way exists to do so properly.
Now lets forget about the bleach altogether and discuss other alternatives you can use, so you dont have to worry about any damage taking place what so ever.
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Clean And Disinfect Wet Items
Be sure to put on a pair of latex gloves and goggles for protection before beginning your cleanup.
- Disinfect non-porous materials: Wash glass, plastic and metal surfaces with a solution of equal parts hot water and 3% hydrogen peroxide** . Scrub the solution into rough surfaces, such as concrete, with a stiff brush. Let the solution sit for 15 minutes and wipe dry.
- Disinfect porous materials: Scrub porous surfaces such as wood and fabric with just the 3% hydrogen peroxide** . Let the solution sit for 15 minutes and rinse clean. Leave non-porous materials to dry over several days and monitor for mold growth and odors. If mold develops, discard the item.
**Hydrogen peroxide is considered an oxygen bleach. it is free from chlorine, but it can still discolor fabrics and other materials. As such, you may want to have a specialist handle items of sentimental or monetary value
How To Clean Mold From Wood
To remove mold from painted or stained lumber:
To remove mold from raw, untreated lumber:
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White Mold On Basement Wood
White mold on basement wood is another common occurrence since basements tend to be quite damp and warm, allowing mold to thrive. The ease of tackling white mold in a basement depends on the size of the area affected and the severity of the growth.
White mold will eat away at the wood itself, making it much weaker and more susceptible to breaking.
This may eventually lead to the wood collapsing, potentially injuring a person or damaging any items stored in the basement.
So, how should you tackle it?
- Assuming its a small to moderately sized infestation, you will be able to get rid of the white mold using either vinegar or baking soda and water. We would recommend using vinegar as it can soak through to the lower layers of the wood, ensuring the entire colony of mold is killed off.
- Make sure to wear some protective gloves while using vinegar, and to get as many windows open as possible to keep the basement aired out.
- You should contact a professional if the mold growth spans more than just a meter or two in your basement to ensure your safety.
How can you prevent the White mold from returning?
- As with furniture, simply using vinegar on the affected area should be a great way of preventing the white mold from returning, especially if you let it seep into the deepest parts of the wood.
- You should try your best to keep the basement well ventilated, and potentially invest in some dehumidifiers to control moisture levels.
Mold On Wooden Furniture
Fungi spores are a constant part of our indoor and outdoor surroundings. Unfortunately, they carry no good with them. Your wood furniture may come under attack from these fungi eventually causing damage as well as health complications. Wood furnishings are high prone victims of mold attack if exposed to certain temperatures and moisture levels. Mold survives on any cellulose-based matter, in which wood furniture provides. If any of your outdoor or indoor wooden furniture starts to home fungi, you might want to know how to remove it.
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Cleaning Mold With Bleach
Always use protective gear when cleaning mold.
According to conventional wisdom, bleach kills mold growth. However, this is somewhat of a myth as bleach only kills the mold on the surface without affecting the membrane underneath. You need to kill and remove this underlying membrane to effectively remove the mold growth and prevent it from returning. Bleach cleaners cannot kill this membrane because its chemical structure prevents it from penetrating porous surfaces. This causes the mold membranes to move deeper into the affected surface to hide from the bleach. You should only use bleach to remove small amounts of mold that have formed on non-porous surfaces.
Another problem with using bleach is that it can actually multiply the mold growth. When bleach is introduced to mold colonies, the mold recognizes the bleach as a threat and reacts. Mold can actually use bleach as a food source once it has been exposed which will cause the mold to grow back faster and stronger. Even the EPA advises against using bleach for removing mold. Fortunately, there is another household item that can kill mold.
Black Mold On Wooden Floors
Black mold manifests itself in the form of black spots. If you have wooden floors, you probably should be on the lookout for these toxic and damaging fungi. When your wooden floor comes into contact with moisture, it creates an excellent breeding ground for fungi growth. It does not only stain the floors but also growths beneath the surface and causes wood discoloration, rot, and warp. Immediate attention is paramount to prevent extensive damage and kill the black mold. Take a look at our in-depth guide to remove mold from floors.
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How To Get Rid Of Mold Under A Deck
Black mold that forms on the underside can be unsightly, especially if you have a two-tiered deck and youre forced to look at it every time you use the lower section.
Removing this mold can be a real challenge, requiring ladders and difficult above-the-head work.
A pressure washer is the most effective way of cleaning the underside of a deck however, it can be tricky as using too much pressure will damage the wood.
Another option is to use a garden sprayer with a cleaning solution. A solution with oxygen bleach, which unlike chlorine bleach, wont harm plants, is effective at cleaning away mold.
Apply the solution, use a scrub brush on the end of the pole to remove the mold, then use a standard garden hose to rinse.
Keep in mind that cleaning the underside of a deck presents additional hazards. Working from a ladder presents the danger of falling, and cleaning the underside of the deck means water and cleaning agents will be dripping onto you as you work.
With that in mind, be sure to use protective goggles and clothing when cleaning the underside of a deck, as you will get wet.
