How to Clean Mold & Mildew From Wood
Going down to the basement to retrieve a piece of wooden furniture, only to find it covered with mold and mildew, can be heartbreaking. But moldy wood can usually be salvaged, as long as the mold is hasn't eaten away at the piece's structural integrity. The important thing to remember is that you have to remove the mold, not just kill it; you have to scrub the wood, not just disinfect it. Always wear gloves when you're working with mold, and make sure you wash or dispose of any cleaning materials that come into contact with the mold quickly. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Hot soapy water
- Soctch-Brite sponges
- Clean white cloths
- 10 percent bleach solution, or 50 percent rubbing alcohol solution
Instructions
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Identify where the mold and mildew is coming from and fix the moisture problem before cleaning the wood. Mold will return quickly if the root problem has not been addressed. Consider investing in a dehumidifier.
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Put on rubber gloves and make sure the area you are working in is well-ventilated.
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Remove surface mold by scrubbing the wood with hot soapy water. Scoth-Brite pads with sponges attached work well for this. Scrub vigorously, but be careful not to scrub so hard that you damage the wood's finish.
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Rinse the soap off with water and dry the wood with a clean white cloth.
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Mix up a solution of nine parts water and one part bleach. Apply it to the wood with a clean white cloth and let it air dry for at least twelve hours, so it has time to kill the mold and mildew. Rinse the wood with water and dry it with a clean white cloth. If you are working with unfinished wood or bleach is not an alternative, disinfect the wood with a mixture of 50 percent water and 50 percent rubbing alcohol, and let it air dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Scrub stubborn mildew stains with a toothbrush dipped in the bleach solution. Oil your wood well after it has been cleaned to restore its natural moisture and shine.
Always work in a well-ventilated area, and dispose of moldy materials quickly.
