Does Vinegar Clean and Disinfect Mold Growth on Wood?
Anything that can soak up water, such as wood, is a perfect breeding ground for mold. This is why some bathroom doors made of wood often get eaten by mold. The situation in a bathroom is made worse by the warm temperatures and constant moisture supply. Cleaning mold off a wooden surface can be hard, especially if the wood is textured.
The only good thing about wood mold is that it can be eliminated quickly if attended to as soon as possible. Taking an early measure might help you save that piece of wood infested by mold. While it might seem easy to eliminate wood mold, most people often make mistakes that lead to further mold growth. Therefore, when dealing with mold on any surface, you have to be careful not to worsen the situation.
How to Kill Mold that grows on Wood
- Find protective gear
Some types of mold are very toxic; therefore, you should not come into contact with your skin. Since you might not know the type of mold you are dealing with, it is important to put on protective clothing, live gloves, and a mask. If mold is inhaled, it can cause serious respiratory problems and, if ingested, can lead to stomach issues. Additionally, ensure you wear goggles to protect your eyes from the mold.
- Vacuum the Infected Area
This is a crucial step. Don’t be tempted to scrub off the mold or blow it using a leaf blower because it will only lead to further spread of the mold. Mold spores are lightweight therefore can easily float on air and settle in other places. For this reason, you must use a vacuum cleaner to suck the mold in a safe place where spreading cannot occur. Make sure the vacuum is tightly sealed using a plastic bag to prevent the escape of spores.
- Clean the mold
If you caught the mold in its early stages, there might be a probability that they are only superficial. As such, you can use bleach to clean the mold. However, this is not the best option because too much exposure to harmful chemicals like bleach can jeopardize your health.
Therefore, it is advised that you use natural solutions to deal with the situation. Combine warm water with white vinegar, then use it to clean the surface infected with mold. White vinegar kills 80% of mold; therefore, a good option to take.
If that does not work, use borax, an alkaline mineral salt used as a cleaning agent. This is safer than bleach and is guaranteed to kill the mold.
- Sand the Wood
Sometimes, the cleaning solutions may not penetrate through the wood and might leave some traces of mold inside. If you are doubtful, use sandpaper to scratch out the infested area. After sanding the wood, vacuum, then clean again with the solutions you had made earlier.
What to Do If Wood Mold Is Stubborn
If you have tried all these solutions and none has worked for your situation, it is time to call the professionals. Wood mold can be stubborn and might need special equipment to extract all the mold.
Certified mold pros are always ready to tend to your needs. Our professionals are highly skilled and trained to enhance effectiveness at work. We understand how dangerous mold is, which is why we take the best action quickly. Contact us whenever you suspect a mold problem in your house, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
