Signs of Mold Under Hardwood Floors and How to Remove it

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Have a doubt in your mind that mold is residing under your hardwood floors? If your fear becomes true then it’s a matter of concern. Because mold under hardwood floor isn’t a good thing. 

Mold is very toxic to our health. So we have to be very cautious about having mold around us. But how to be sure about having mold under your hardwood floor? You just can’t start searching for a way to get rid of mold until you are sure about having them. 

How to find out the truth?

We are gonna present you with some signs of mold under hardwood floors. And if there is mold, then we will also share the removal process of it. So be with us till the end.

Signs of Mold Under Hardwood Floors

There are thousands of types of molds available. Some molds are green, some black, and some yellow. Mold comes in varieties of colors.

It grows in moisture. So it’s common for mold to grow in the basement area. Because this area is always dampened and in touch with water.

If there are any spills or water on your hardwood floor, you may clean it and dry the place. But what about the mold under hardwood floors?

Mold under the hardwood floor doesn’t even get noticed. Then how to understand mold presence and clean them?

There are some signs that can help you. Let’s know them.

• If there is any water damage in your house, maybe mold has grown under the hardwood floors. How to understand? Walk over the hardwood floor. If you feel any spongy strength, water damage has really caused mold problems. 

• Mold under hardwood floor may not be seen but can be smelled. Yes, you heard me right. You can smell and understand if there is any mold or not. Because mold releases gases that cause a musty smell, so if you are smelling musty and unable to find its source, search under your hardwood floor.

• Have a doubt in mind there is mold under the hardwood floor? But no musty smell or water leakage? Now the only way to find out if there is mold availability or not is to check under the hardwood floor. How to do that? Well, you can do it yourself or call someone expert. It’s a simple process, pull up only a few hardwood floorboards and sneak into it. 

Be careful when you go near the mold, as mold is toxic, so wear protective gear like a face mask, hand gloves, and goggles, so it doesn’t cause you any irritation or other problems. 

3 Best Methods- How to Remove Mold Under Hardwood Floor

Removing mold from wood floors isn’t so easy, especially under the hardwood floor, but possible. How to remove mold under hardwood floor? 

You can do it in two ways. Call the professional cleaner or do it yourself. DIY? Yes, DIY. Don’t be afraid; you can do it with some organic home ingredients that are free of chemicals and harmless to hardwood floors. What are the ingredients, and how to use them? 

Let’s know below.

Equipment you will need

White Vinegar, Bleach, Alcohol/Borax, Gallon, Spray Bottle, Warm Water, Microfiber Cloth, Face Mask, Hand Gloves, Goggles,

1-Using Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the popular kitchen ingredients, but it’s not only useful for kitchen uses. You can use it for the cleaning process.

Vinegar can clean cloth, carpets, dishes, pet urine, floors, and remove bad odors. It also works as a deodorizer. Let’s know how you can use it to clean mold on floors. 

• Take one cup of white vinegar in a bucket and pour one gallon of warm water into that bucket. Add one tablespoon of dish detergent or dish liquid for extra benefits.

• If the mold affected area is little, take the solution in a spray bottle and spray all over the mold area. And if the affected area is too large, pour the solution with a jug or mug. Make sure you have worn the protected gears.

• Give ten minutes to absorb the mold.

• Now take a broom or brush and scrub the area in a circular motion until the mold is gone. If needed, apply the solution again and scrub gently. 

• It’s time to wait for another ten minutes.

• Wipe away the floor with a damp cloth. Ventilate the area by opening doors and windows. 

• If there is no scope for ventilation, mop with a microfiber cloth and dry the area.

2-Using Borax or Alcohol

Borax or Alcohol both are effective cleaning agents. You can get rid of your hardwood mold problem by using any of them. Both the ingredients are safe and the cleaning process is the same. Let’s know how to use these.

• One cup of borax or alcohol is enough to mix into one gallon of warm water. Take any of the ingredients, borax or alcohol, and mix with warm water. 

• Take a small spray bottle and fill it with a solution to clean the small areas or corners. If there are any large floorboards affected, pour the solution from the bucket and saturate it.

• It’s resting time; rest for fifteen minutes. And now, broom or scrub with a nylon brush vigorously. 

• Pour some more solutions and wait for another fifteen minutes

• Scrub again and rinse away with water and allow air dry.

• If there is no ventilation facility, use a blower fan and let the floor air dry.

3-Using Bleach

Bleach is effective in cleaning mold, but it’s a little dangerous to use. So you have to use it in little quantities and exactly as we said. The solution ratio will be 8:1. 

• Follow the ratio and make a solution of bleach and warm water. You can add a few drops of lemon juice for better results.

• Before you make the solution or go near the bleach, wear protective gear.

• The cleaning process is same as we described above. Just use the solution only once and leave it for ten minutes. 

• Wash away and wipe away with a microfiber cloth.

Know More on Be A Cleaner

FAQs

Is Mold Under Flooring Dangerous?

Yes, mold under flooring is very dangerous. Mold is toxic to human health, and some molds are poisonous. It can cause several health issues like sinus troubles, respiratory problems, asthma, allergic reactions, etc.

Mold can grow under flooring over time if you didn’t clean the spills correctly or allow the place to be wet. Because mold builds up in moisture and no ventilation areas, so try to tackle mold as soon as you can.

How Long Does It Take for Mold to Grow Under Hardwood Floors?

Mold can grow under hardwood floors faster if it didn’t get proper ventilation or is left wet. On average, mold will take only 48-72 hours to grow under the hardwood floor. Time is very short but not get rid of.

So be careful and try to avoid having mold under the hardwood floor. If it grows under the hardwood floor, it’s gonna make your hard efforts.

What Does Mold on a Hardwood Floor Look Like?

Well, mold doesn’t have a face or body like us. It appears little discolored, fuzzy, or like a stain on the surface of the mold-affected area. There is no exact color of mold. It can look white, black, grey, brown, and even yellow and green. It grows in several places where the area gets moisture.

Does Vinegar Kill Mold on Wood?

Yes, vinegar kills mold on wood. But it’s not gonna kill 100% mold species. Vinegar can kill up to 80% of mold from wood. But be careful; use distilled vinegar, white vinegar, or only vinegar may not work so well as distilled vinegar. 

Can Water-Damaged Wood Floors Be Fixed?

Yes, water-damaged wood floors can be fixed. One way to fix damaged wood floors is to replace the affected wood floors with new ones.

Another way is to use sanding & refinishing, but it won’t look good and won’t go a long way. So it’s better to replace the damaged wood floor.

Conclusion

We have told you the signs of mold under hardwood floors and the cleaning process. After following the process of removing mold under the hardwood floor we have shared above, there is no chance of mold availability in your hardwood floors.

But before you jump into process number three, make sure you have tried the first two methods, and if you fail, only then go with the third process. Because using bleach is risky.