The unpleasant mold not only spreads to walls, wallpaper or joints, but also to wood. Find out how to get rid of the infestation there.
As soon as you notice mold in your home, you should take immediate action - this will prevent it from spreading further or mold spores in the air irritate your airways. But how do you remove mold that has formed on wood?
Why does mold form on wood?
You may be wondering how mold can form on wood. For one, wood moistens much more easily than other components - and moisture is a big factor in mold growth . Wood also has high-quality nutrients for many types of mold, including cellulose. Together with little air movement, we then have the perfect climate for mold growth on wood.
Mold on wood: where is it located?
Whether mold on wood is a big problem depends on where it is. There are three options:
- load-bearing wooden components
- non-load-bearing wooden component
- other wooden components such as furniture
If the mold * is on load-bearing components such as roof trusses or ceiling beams, you may have to check whether the structural stability is still there. Certain types of mold can destroy the internal structure of wood. Mold on load-bearing parts usually comes from structural defects or - if they are exposed to the weather - driving rain. Normally, however, the risk of infestation is kept low because wood is only used with a low residual moisture of less than 20 percent .
If there is mold on non-load-bearing components, you should also be careful - after all, it can spread to load-bearing parts. In any case, the best advice for mold infestation on load-bearing and non-load-bearing components is with a professional who will take care of the problem.
You have to pay attention to this when removing mold
With smaller wooden components, i.e. primarily furniture or windows, you can usually do it yourself, as it is often a cosmetic problem. Always wear protective goggles, protective gloves and a face mask so that mold spores and chemical cleaners do not irritate your respiratory tract. Also ventilate well so that the smell evaporates quickly.
Find out also : How to fight mold on windows and seals.
Remove mold with chlorine-based cleaners and hydrogen peroxide
If the mold spreads to visible parts of wooden furniture, I am mostly dealing with a cosmetic problem, as discolouration occurs on the surface . You can usually get rid of these with chlorine-based cleaners or a hydrogen peroxide solution because the stains are bleached out. However, test the products beforehand in an inconspicuous area to determine to what extent the surface changes color and leads to the desired result. In addition, when using such agents you should always open the windows and protect your mouth and eyes from irritation.
Remove mold on wood by sanding
With some furniture it is also advisable to sand off the mold as long as it has not penetrated too far into the wood and has not affected large areas. There is also the problem here that the mold spores get into the air when they are sanded down and thus attack other objects. In this case, it is best to consult an expert.
Removing mold on wood with alcohol - is that a good idea?
Spirit is also an agent that is often used to remove mold. However, you should not use it on wood - there is a risk that the material will wear out.
Also interesting : This simple trick immediately protects your bathroom from mold.
Can mold be removed from wood with vinegar?
When it comes to mold removal, vinegar can often be heard as an aid . However, the home remedy is often not as effective as expected. For porous surfaces such as textiles, wallpaper or wooden furniture, vinegar is not necessarily suitable as a mold remover. Mold can only be wiped off with normal household cleaners - even vinegar or cleaning water with vinegar essence - at most on smooth surfaces. This also includes lacquered wood .
Prevent mold on wood
The best remedy for mold on wood is still prevention. If you observe the following tips, you can limit the risk considerably:
- Keep wooden surfaces dry, eg windows after showering.
- Make sure that the furniture is lacquered wood.
- Do not store wooden objects in a damp environment.
- Move wooden furniture away from the wall - especially outside walls *.
- Prevent structural defects with adequate insulation, etc.
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Read here : With these tips you can get rid of mold on the wall.
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* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.