How to Clean Mold From a Wood Floor
Mold can be removed from a wood floor, but the task can be completed only with varying degrees of success, for sometimes the removal of the mold requires a strong caustic treatment that changes the appearance of the wood floor. There are different methods and options that you may face when going about this seemingly simple task. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Mild soap or detergent
- Bleach
- Trisodium phosphate
- Plastic scrub brush
- Plastic bucket
- Long-handled scrub brush
Instructions
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How to Clean Mold From a Wood Floor
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Start with a bucket of warm water water mixed with a liquid detergent and use a plastic scrub brush as a removal tool. The best possible scenario is that you have mold on top of your floor finish that can be removed without harming the finish. If this is the case, a mild detergent should get rid of the bothersome fungus.
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2
Wash the floor with a mild mixture of bleach to water (10 percent or less) and add a 1/4 cup of trisodium phosphate (per 2 gallons). This mixture can also be applied after the mold has been removed to further clean the surface and as a preventive measure against further mold outgrowths.
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Use a stronger mixture by adding bleach (10 percent at the most) to the same mixture and scrub intensely with a hard, hand-held scrub brush.
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4
Increase the soap-and-bleach mixture to 25 percent and use a brush with a long stick handle to get more leverage. At this point, you are almost guaranteed to have discoloration in the wood.
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5
Use a power washer with a bleach mixture. Make sure to take away the water as fast as you can apply it to the floor, and apply only a little bit of water mixture at one time. A shop vacuum might be a good device to remove the excess water immediately. Plan on staining or even painting the floor when you are done.
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Tips & Warnings
Start with a mild cleansing mixture first and work your way up to the stronger chemicals, as there is a point of no return where the mold cannot be successfully removed without changing the color or staining the wood. A floor that is discolored by the mold-removal process can be tinted with paint instead of covered with a single heavy coat. Mix a small amount of floor paint with the base material (oil and latex) to get a stain effect that allows the grain to show through. Use a heavy bleach-to-water mixture across the entire floor to get a uniform effect.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water after using trisodium phosphate, especially if you are going to refinish or paint the floor afterward.
