How To Get Rid Of Mold Under Wood Floors

To keep the mold from spreading first cut off the source of the moisture.

How to get rid of mold under wood floors.

Step 6 sand and finish. It can not only stain wood floors but also move below the surface to discolor rot or warp the wood. Spray the subfloor and hardwood floorboards with a light layer of fresh borax water. Combine a tablespoon of borax with a cup of water then apply this solution to the mold with a soft bristled brush.

Allow it to soak into the wood and allow it to dry completely. Attach new subflooring cut to fit with screws. 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. Saturate the material to weigh down the mold spores then cut through the flooring with a reciprocating saw.

Hardwood floors are a bit more difficult but you should be able to pull up the hardwood in sections to clean. Allow this treatment to dry out completely for a minimum of two days. In our case most of the mold cleaned up easily but some had gotten into the grain of the wood. Most surface mold can be removed with a rag and chemical spray.

Turn up the heat and run a dehumidifier to facilitate swift drying. 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. 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. 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.

Bag and remove the affected flooring. Chlorine doesn t absorb into porous materials but because chlorine only compromises about 5 percent of the overall solution that little bit will only clean the surface mold. If you discover there is mold on the subflooring you will want to remove it carefully. Because wood is a mold favorite it can get on the subflooring and floor joists spreading under the surface.

Linoleum can be removed in sections using a razor blade and can be easily replaced if cut in sections of 1 square foot. Pull up all flooring with mold underneath. Here are some helpful tips for removing tongue and groove planks without damaging them. Don t sponge up the excess liquid.

Mold grows on wood floors when it has appropriate moisture warmth and food. Gently pry up the trim so you can pull up a few hardwood floorboards. Scrub away the mold leaving the borax solution in the wood. Once the hardwood is dry the borax residue will continue to inhibit mold formation.