How To Get Rid Of Mold Under Wood Floors

Gently pry up the trim so you can pull up a few hardwood floorboards.

How to get rid of mold under wood floors.

Try wiping up the mold if the hardwood floor is properly sealed you can just wipe up the mildew with vinegar soap and water dilute bleach or some other common cleaning solution. In our case most of the mold cleaned up easily but some had gotten into the grain of the wood. Because wood is a mold favorite it can get on the subflooring and floor joists spreading under the surface. Bag and remove the affected flooring.

To prevent the mold returning you need to apply a solution of bleach in water at a ratio of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach before adding cup trisodium phosphate. Whether you do it yourself or bring on a mold remediation specialist the only way to get one of the firmest of signs of mold under hardwood floors is to look under the floorboards. It can not only stain wood floors but also move below the surface to discolor rot or warp the wood. You want as much of the solution in the wood as possible to prevent future growth.

Don t sponge up the excess liquid. Turn up the heat and run a dehumidifier to facilitate swift drying. Hardwood floors are a bit more difficult but you should be able to pull up the hardwood in sections to clean. Here are some helpful tips for removing tongue and groove planks without damaging them.

Combine a tablespoon of borax with a cup of water then apply this solution to the mold with a soft bristled brush. Once the wood is completely dry use a fine grit sandpaper about 200 grit over the area that has been affected with mold as well as any other nearby areas that are discolored. Linoleum can be removed in sections using a razor blade and can be easily replaced if cut in sections of 1 square foot. Once the hardwood is dry the borax residue will continue to inhibit mold formation.

Pull up all flooring with mold underneath. Allow this treatment to dry out completely for a minimum of two days. Spray the subfloor and hardwood floorboards with a light layer of fresh borax water. Attach new subflooring cut to fit with screws.

Mold grows on wood floors when it has appropriate moisture warmth and food. To keep the mold from spreading first cut off the source of the moisture. Most surface mold can be removed with a rag and chemical spray. If you apply chlorine to the wood sub flooring all it will do is absorb into the wood because wood is very porous.

If you discover there is mold on the subflooring you will want to remove it carefully. Allow it to soak into the wood and allow it to dry completely. Saturate the material to weigh down the mold spores then cut through the flooring with a reciprocating saw. There are a few mixtures that you can spray onto the mold to kill and remove it such as measured doses of borax and water.