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This section of our "How to Clean Mold" article discusses the limitations of cleaning moldy building surfaces such as framing lumber or plywood sheathing. What about furniture that was in the building? If a heavy upholstered couch (photo above) was exposed to flooding it will be nearly impossible to fully clean; surface cleaning, even steam cleaning, combined with HEPA vacuuming, simply cannot pull mold growth from the couch interior. A couch like this one that is found to be contaminated probably needs to be stripped and reupholstered. In contrast, surface dust settling on an otherwise clean upholstered couch can be usually cleaned effectively using HEPA vacuuming techniques.

This article offers advice on cleaning mold found on surfaces of un-finished wooden building materials such as framing lumber (rafters, floor joists, wall studs), and building roof, wall, and floor sheathing such as plywood, tongue-and groove pine boards, and other structural wood surfaces in buildings.

We discuss the pros and cons of using fungicidal sealants and bleach on wood surfaces and give sources and list types of those products. We also discuss common errors made when cleaning wood surfaces, such as relying on bleach or performing expensive and unnecessary cleaning on cosmetic black mold on wood surfaces.

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CLEANUP LIMITATIONS - of Moldy Wood Surfaces

The suggestions for mold cleanup of wood surfaces which are outlined below do not pertain to

• Cleaning or treating moldy lumber which is used outdoors and where airborne mold exposure to humans is most often less of a concern
• Cleaning wood surfaces which were previously finished with paint, stain, varnish, or similar coatings; usually these surfaces are simply washed or scrubbed clean and in some cases are re-coated with compatible paint, stain, varnish with or without adding a mildewcide or other chemical to retard future mold growth

These suggestions have not completed an extensive professional peer review - which is why they are being exposed here to invite commentary. Comments received so far indicate this is reasonable commonsense advice.

Some mold found on wood components in building interiors is likely to be of only cosmetic concern, such as Ceratocystis/Ophistoma sp. or "blue stain" molds.

Others may be more of a concern, particularly to occupants who are at particular risk of certain illnesses or immune system problems.

Allergenic/pathogenic molds often identified on construction materials exposed indoors include Penicillium sp., Aspergillus sp., Stachybotrys chartarum (previously Stachybotrys atra), and numerous other species.

Depending in part on the particular species, the presence of mold growing on building materials risks contamination in the living environment and possible mold-related illnesses.

This is true regardless of whether mold spores are merely allergenic (allergenic mold) or actually toxic (pathogenic mold) to humans, and regardless of whether or not mold spores present are viable (alive) or non-viable (dead). Where there is a concern regarding mold on building framing the following steps should be helpful at reducing the risk of future mold growth.

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MOLD CLEANERS - WHAT TO USE
MOLD CLEANUP COMPANIES
MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
CLEAN MOLDY SURFACES
  CLEANING SMOOTH WOOD
  CLEANING IRREGULAR SURFACES - MEDIA BLASTING
  CLEANING MOLDY WOOD TRUSSES
  SANDING WOOD TO REMOVE MOLD
DRY THE MOLD-CLEANED SURFACE
FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE
  ADVANTAGES
  WARNINGS
  SOURCES & TYPES
MOLD CLEANING MISTAKES
  CROSS CONTAMINATION
  USING BLEACH on MOLD
  USING OZONE to KILL MOLD
  HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE MOLD
  COSMETIC MOLDS
MOLD CLEANUP LIMITATIONS

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Action Guide for Mold: what do I do about mold in our home? Step by step instructions.
• Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
• Mold Levels: allergenic or toxic mold: how much means a problem
• Not Mold, Stuff that is harmless or cosmetic-only
• Ozone Generators Indoors, The Use of for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims
• Prevention: Avoiding Mold Problems in Buildings by Using Mold-resistant Construction Products & Practices
• Prevention of Mold list of articles on how to Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems
• Standards: Mold Cleaning, Remediation, & Clearance Testing Standards list of documents

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