Mold Stains on Wood – What Works to Remove Them?

Mold is a common occurrence in every household. It comes in hundreds of different varieties and strains and thrive in a damp environment. Different strains of mold also love to grow on living or once living biological sources – like wooden fixtures in your home.

Since wood gathers and holds water, it makes it the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. The difference between mold growing on wooden windows or baseboards and mold growing on bathroom walls or shower stalls, is noticeable. Mold that grows on wood in your home produces a musty smell that is difficult to remove.

The most important thing to understand about mold of any kind in your home is that it can be harmful to the health of you and your household. Different side effects of mold on your window sills or other wooden surfaces include rashes, breathing problems, dizziness, headaches, and more.

How to Remove Mold from Wood

Regardless of where the mold problem is in your home there are a few safety measures to consider before attempting to remove mold from any surface. The best course of action is to call in a professional mold remediation team like A&J Property Restoration who can take care of the original problem and remove the mold safely from your home. If you do attempt to remove the mold yourself before calling in the help of a professional, follow the steps below.

1. Be sure you’re safe.

   Mold is dangerous. When you are ready to remove the spores from wood, protect yourself from inhaling any of the mold spores by wearing an air mask. Eye goggles will keep the mold from irritating your eyes. We also recommend wearing protective covering over your clothing. This will prevent you from tracking mold spores that attach themselves to your clothing through your home. Finally, wear rubber gloves before cleaning any type of mold from the wood in your home.

1. Vacuum the area.

   Mold spores travel quickly and spread through any surface that they attach to. They can also travel through the air. Using a HEPA-filter vacuum on the wood before beginning the cleaning process will remove any loose spores.

2. Study the surface before cleaning.

   Wood comes in all different types. It’s important to understand the type of wooden feature you’re dealing with before attempting to remove the mold. Wood can be treated or painted. Untreated wood is much more porous than its counterpart. Cleaning mold from each of these wood types requires a different technique.

3. How to remove wood from treated/painted wood.

   Mold has a difficult time penetrating painted wood. When mold is present on painted wood, it isn’t actually on the wood itself, but sitting on top of the paint. To remove mold from this surface type, use a mixture of hot water and detergent. Using a sponge or a cloth, wipe away the mold.

4. Cleaning mold from untreated wood is a little different.

   Untreated wood is porous and requires a stronger solution to remove the mold spores. Use water, bleach, and detergent to scrub away the mold. For untreated wood, grab a scrub brush and gently work this mixture into the wooden surface and let it air dry. If this area of your home is particularly prone to high humidity, it is important to use a dehumidifier or fan to speed up the drying process. Excess water or humidity will only increase mold growth.

5. Remove the stains.

    Once you have cleaned the wooden surfaces of the mold spores, it’s time to really deep clean the mold from the surface. These stains don’t pose any health hazards but aren’t the prettiest in the world. There are a few options to remove these spots and stains without causing additional mold growth. Lightly sanding the wood once it is dry will completely remove the stain, but, on darker wood, may also cause discoloration.  A new varnish or paint over a coat of mold killing primer will help hide those spots.

Call A&J Property Restoration for Larger Issues

Once you have completed all of these steps, the mold problem may be taken care of. However, if you experience a recurrence of mold growth on wooden windows or furniture, calling in A&J Property Restoration is your next step.

Our mold remediation team will deal with the problem quickly and efficiently, killing the source of the mold instead of just removing the issue in one place. We will also do a thorough inspection of your home to identify any potential mold growth.

Call us today to schedule your appointment.