Removing mold mildew from wood

In this blog post, I will share with you how to prevent mold growth on wood surfaces and ways to safely remove mold mildew from wood materials.

Molds nourish on the minerals and oil in the paint of the wood surface. This causes discoloration to the wood surface. Sometimes, they can eat into the paint film and penetrate to the underlying wood and destroy the structure.

Most of the times, using some mold or mildew resistant paints for outdoor wood surfaces can prevent this from happening. These paints are formulated with special chemicals to fight mold attack. You can get one of this paint from your local paint and hardware stores.

Bear in mind though, these mold-resistant paints are not suitable to be used on window sills, beds, playpens or wooden toys as the chemicals in the paint can be very hazardous to small children.

remove-mold-from-woodHow to remove mold and mildew from wood

If you see molds or mildew start growing on wood surface, increase the air circulation and use heat to dry the wood as much as possible. Always keep in mind that stagnant air is as dangerous as stagnant water, it promotes mold growth. Regulate the ventilation to allow fresh air to flow in.

To clean mold and mildew from mildly infested wood materials:

1. Moisten the infected area with little plain water; this is to prevent the molds from becoming airborne when disturbed.
2. Scrub off the visible molds and mildew with mild alkali. You can use washing soda or trisodium phosphate; mix 10 tablespoons to a gallon of water. Alternatively, a mixture of borax and white vinegar works well too.
3. Wipe clean with a damp cloth if rinsing is not possible. Discard the cloth when it is soiled with mold and mildew. You will not want the soiled cloth to infect other areas of your house.
4. After the cleaning is done; spray a layer of white vinegar onto the wood surface and leave it without rinsing. This helps to disinfect and prevent future mold growth.
5. Allow the wood to dry completely in the sun if possible. Otherwise, use a blower or fan to help drying the surface.
6. Apply mold or mildew resistant paint.

If the molds have eaten through the paint or coating, you will need to remove all the paint or coating from the problem spots before cleaning the molds. Use undiluted vinegar to moisten the stained spot and let the solution to sit for at least 15 minutes before sanding down the paint / coating. Scrub off the mold with a stronger solution this time if necessary. Rinse well and allow the wood to dry thoroughly. Lastly spray a layer of undiluted white vinegar to help disinfect the area and prevent future mold growth.

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