Removing Mold from Wood

Warm and moist environment provide for an ideal environment for mold, a type of fungus, to grow and thrive, and spread rapidly to other neighboring places. Although any kind of moist place may be affected by the mold growth, materials such as paper, leather, natural fibers, wood, and any kind of organic surfaces, tend to be more vulnerable to mold and mildew attack. The best method to deal with these organisms is to nip them as soon as you detect them, and taking preventive steps which would be to cut down the supply of moisture in that area. But if your house has already been overtaken by them, then here are some steps to help you go about removing mold from wood and other places in your house.

How to Remove Mold from Wood

When I came across this question on how to remove mold from wood, the first thing that came to my mind was about commercial mold removal products. So I brought home some of these products, and they seemed to work pretty well. But then one of my friends told me that the work that these products do, can be done using some simple and cost-effective home remedies. So even I would advise you to give a try to go for these methods to clean mold from wood. And if they do not turn out to be effective, then you might as well try for the commercial products for the purpose of removing mold from wood. The home remedies for mold removal are as follows:

• The first method that I would be letting you know on how to remove mold from wood, involves using vinegar. So fill a spray bottle with it, and spray it generously onto the moldy surface of the furniture. Wait for an hour or so. In the mean time, make a mix of detergent (1 part) and water (3 parts). Get a washcloth and dip it in the mixture. After an hour, using this cloth wipe off the surface that you have sprayed on with the vinegar. Do not forget to wear protective gloves. Then allow the surface to dry, before you use another washcloth (this time dipped in clean water) and wipe off the surface again. Finally, use a dry washcloth to dry off the surface.
• One important fact that most people fail to realize about how to get rid of mold on wood furniture, is that it does not take time for the infestation to spread to the upholstery. So even after cleaning mold from wood, the problem comes back. So what you need to do is to wash whatever washable materials of the furniture in the washing machine, added with a little vinegar. And what cannot be washed, can be wiped off with vinegar and placed under the sun for sometime. In this way, you are cutting the chances of the mold striking back.
• Another effective recipe that works great for me for getting rid of mold on wood is a mixture of 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and vinegar each, 4 parts of clean water and 1 part boric acid. This method is especially helpful for getting rid of black mold on wood. First you would have to make the moldy surface wet by spraying some water on it. This is to prevent the mold spores from getting air borne and spreading to other places in the house. So after you are done making the surface moist, spray the solution onto the surface and start scrubbing it with a brush. Thereafter, wash off the area with plain water and wipe off the surface with a cloth. You can use a dryer to ensure that the area is completely dried. So this is how to kill black mold, and keep it from growing back.
• The prospect of black mold removal with bleach, is not a great one, as the substance poses health risks to humans and pets. So if you ask me about how to get rid of black mold, then I would suggest you to go with the vinegar method.
• Using a dehumidifier in the room is also one of the best defenses against mold growth. It keeps the moisture content low thus, cutting off the supply to the mold to grow.

So that was all for my tips on removing mold from wood. Prevention is known to be the best way to deal with this problem. So keep a watch on all places which are prone to moisture, and if you get the slightest hint of mold growth, then as I said, nip the problem in the bud.