How to Remove Mold from Wood: Our guide to removal and remediation

Mold loves wood as it loves all porous materials. Just add water and chances are you will have a moldy mess on your hands in no time! Keep it dry!

HOW TO REMOVE MOLD FROM WOOD

Wood is highly porous, allowing mold to not only grow on the surface but also grow roots deep within, making it more difficult to treat. This is important to understand because using the wrong treatment product for mold on wood, such as bleach, can clean the surface but leave the root system intact, allowing the mold to grow back.

You’ll need these tools to remove mold from wood:

Latex gloves
Brush
HEPA vacuum with wet/dry capabilities
Bucket
Rag or towel

To effectively remove mold from wood, the badger recommends using a Borax solution. Borax is an inexpensive, non-toxic mineral that not only kills mold on wood but prevents it from returning. DO NOT USE BLEACH as it is ineffective at killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/25595?show=full

mold on floor joist how to remove mold from wood

mold in attic how to remove mold from wood

Steps to Safely Remove Mold from Wood

Step 1: Take one cup of borax and mix with one gallon warm water and stir until dissolved.
Step 2: Apply solution generously to mold affected areas. Wetting it helps keep the spores from becoming airborne. You may also use a spray bottle if easier.
Step 3: Scrub with the brush to break loose any stubborn growth
Step 4: Vacuum to remove the spores. This is important as even dead mold can still contain mycotoxins and cause allergic reactions.
Step 5: Wipe area as clean as possible with rag
Step 6: Repeat as needed.

Do not worry about leaving excess borax as it can actually help to prevent the mold from returning. It is also an effective insecticide.

Badger Tip: White mold on wood is a little more benign and causes less staining in the wood, making it easier to remove all traces. However, black mold on wood often leaves lasting black streaks deep within the grain, even after the mold spores have been killed. If aesthetic is important, you can attempt to sand the black streaks out, but you may have to remove several layers. If the mold has been present on the wood for a long time, the streaks may go deep into the wood and won’t easily be removed without damaging the wood further.