Black Mold On Plywood – Causes, DIY Cleaning & Expert Removal

Here is a guide on cleaning black mold off plywood.

Mold growth issues can be a headache for homeowners due to the many risks posed by such.

First, there’s the likelihood of damage to property in addition to health risks. The usual approach taken is to carry out mold removal, but how is this cleaning process performed?

Black Mold On Plywood

This article takes a look at mold cleaning from plywood surfaces.

The chances of mold growth on plywood are amplified by the presence of moisture. It doesn’t matter what type of wood you have.

If you’re currently seeking help with your mold issues, you might want to read through this article for details on how to clean up the problem.

Before Cleaning Begins

One of the things homeowners must do when mold growth is noticed on a pile of plywood is to first isolate those with the problem. Not all your plywood will likely be affected.

To prevent the spores from spreading, you’ll need to isolate the affected wood to prevent mold spores from spreading to the entire pile.

Having isolated affected plywood, you can proceed to carry out your preferred cleaning or mold removal method.

More on the methods will be discussed shortly. Of course, you’ll need to have all the cleaning tools in place in addition to protective gear such as a face mask and gloves.

Additional things you might need before cleaning commences include vacuuming tools, wiping, hosing, and scrubbing equipment.

Mold cleaning supplies like vinegar, baking soda, bleach, and the likes may be preferred by you. However, some persons would prefer the professional cleaning approach.

Two Approaches to Plywood Mold Cleaning

When it comes to mold cleaning from plywood, two options are always available. They include the DIY cleaning approach, as well as the professional approach.

These approaches serve the unique needs of homeowners. For example, DIY enthusiasts will likely have a preference for DIY mold cleaning over the professional cleaning option.

On the other hand, some would prefer to have a professional handle all their mold removal needs. This approach has several advantages as well.

The best part is you’re likely to have a thorough mold removal job performed on your plywood.

Causes of Mold Infestation on Plywood

One mold growth is observed, it’s because of the presence of favorable growth conditions. These primarily consist of moisture or humidity, oxygen, as well as a suitable medium or organic matter which plywood represents.

Knowing the cause of growth helps with the cleaning process as well as future prevention.

DIY Methods of Mold Cleaning From Plywood

Removing mold from plywood can be done using several techniques.

All of these are classified under the DIY approach and are largely home remedy treatments involving the use of common supplies like vinegar and bleach and hosing of affected areas.

Also, there’s a need to prevent future mold growth by keeping out moisture.

• Vinegar

Vinegar is an effective mold cleaner and can be used on plywood.

However, you’ll need to know how to apply this method to obtain desired results. To make your cleaning solution, you’ll need to make a solution containing equal parts vinegar and water.

The anti-fungal property of vinegar not only helps with mold removal but also helps eliminate the musty odors associated with mold growth and presence.

You’ll need a spray bottle for the effective application of your vinegar treatment. Empty your mixture into the bottle and spray on affected areas.

Allow the spray mist to drench all affected areas and leave to sit for several hours. You must wear a face mask and have gloves on when you apply this spray.

A lot of mold spores will be dispersed in the air; as such protection is needed from breathing in such.

Having been left for hours, your plywood surface is likely to get dried rinse the treated area with water. You may have to repeat this process severally if you notice a persistence of the problem.

It’s important to note that this isn’t a comprehensive way to deal with mold issues on plywood.

• Bleaching

As a readily available disinfectant, you can put bleach to good use by deploying it for mold removal on plywood. Bleach has been used severally with a significant level of success.

The only issue users have complained about is the odor coming from this product.

A bleach solution can be made by mixing a cup with about a gallon of water. There are no standard mixture measurements. All you have to do is ensure your bleach solution is strong enough to get the job done.

With the help of a brush or rag, dip into the solution and apply to affected parts of plywood.

Mold growth areas should be drenched in the bleach solution to kill the spores. This contains the growth and return of mold on surfaces.

Like most DIY mold removal approaches, 100% certainty of desired outcomes is never guaranteed. You might have mold springing up after some time.

• Water Hosing

The water hosing approach is one of the simplest cleaning methods for mold removal on plywood. Here, a water hose is connected to a water source and the mold blasted off the plywood surface.

There should be sufficient pressure to clear out mold spores from the wood surface.

Water Repellent Treatments Or Using Mold-Resistant Plywood

Having cleared your plywood surface of mold using any of the above DIY techniques, what remains is to have the surface protected from moisture. There are lots of water repellent treatment products for wood.

Get any of them and have them applied on the surface as instructed.

Professional Plywood Mold Removal

There are situations where DIY approaches simply don’t measure up or provide the needed outcome.

Here, the professional approach best fits such situations as it tends to be more effective. This mold remediation process should be handled by an experienced professional.

Expertise and experience combined help a lot in finding far-reaching solutions that help prevent mold growth on plywood. You’ll do well to call a professional mold contractor for this procedure

Cleaning mold from plywood can be achieved through any of the processes above. However, relying on the expertise of the professional tends to give better outcomes.

Your mold issues shouldn’t be allowed to linger on.