how do you check for mold on hardwood floors

How do you check for mold on hardwood floors?

• 1- Musty smells. Musty odors permeating your home environment can be a clue that a mold issue is affecting your home.
• 2- Water damage.
• 3- Check under the hardwood floorboards.
• Option #1: Do it yourself.
• Option #2: Hire a mold remediation specialist.

Full Answer

What to do if you find mold on your hardwood floors?

If you have discovered mold on your hardwood floors, make sure not to walk on or touch the mold in any way. This will disturb the mold and release it into the air. Leave the moldy area alone until you are prepared with a certified mask (such as an N-95) or a filtered respirator.

How do you know if your floor has mold?

There are a number of different ways you can if your floor has mold. One of the most common ways to know this is by the smell. While in some cases you will be able to see the mold, this is not always possible if it is underneath the floorboards. Given this, you will want to check for musty smells.

How to tell if your hardwood floor is damaged by water?

If you observe spongy strength of the hardwood floor when you walk over it, it means water has damaged the wood and mold has surely grown. Water stains on your floor is a sign that water has settled on your hardwood floor for long, hence, the formation of mold. You can check under your hardwood floorboards for mold.

How does Mold grow on hardwood flooring?

Mold that forms from chronic water in a leaky pipe is called decay fungi. Decay fungi’s spores do not stay on the surface of wood; they go inside the wood. Hardwood flooring is a beautiful type of floor that connotes warmth, quality and the loveliness of nature. It is one of the ancient flooring materials, and it has been tested over time.

How can you tell if you have mold under your floor?

If you believe you have mold under or around your vinyl floors, look for black growth coming from the edges of the planks, as well as discoloration or bubbling of the material.

Can mold get in hardwood floors?

Hardwood floors may look nice and feel durable. However, the one problem with hardwood floors is that they're susceptible to getting mold underneath them. If you have mold under your hardwood floors, it can become a serious health hazard for anyone who normally walks around in that environment.

What does mold look like on a wood floor?

On hardwood floors, mold usually appears as a discoloration, stain, or fuzzy growth on the surface. It can appear in a variety of colors: be it black, white, green, gray, brown, or yellow, and it often grows in areas that have been exposed to water, leaks, or moisture in general.

How do you check for mold on wood?

What Are the Warning Signs of Mold?Discoloration: Place a drop of household bleach on a suspected mold spot; if the stain loses its color or disappears, it may be mold.Musty/earthy smell: This may indicate the presence of some types of mold.More items...

How do you remove mold from hardwood floors?

Combine a tablespoon of borax with a cup of water, then apply this solution to the mold with a soft-bristled brush. Scrub away the mold, leaving the borax solution in the wood. Don't sponge up the excess liquid. You want as much of the solution in the wood as possible to prevent future growth.

Is there a mold detector?

Mold testing kits help you detect and identify growing spores in your home through samples collected via the air or from the surface in question. Some give you results right away, while others ask you to package the samples and send them back to a lab for a professional examination.

What kills mold in wood?

White vinegar kills black molds on porous and nonporous surfaces. To remove black molds from wood, mix white vinegar and warm water in equal measure. Spray the solution on the wood surface and let it dry for an hour. Gently scrub the wood surface and wipe it clean with a moistened cloth.

What kills mold on floors?

A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.

Is there an instant mold test?

A: The Mold Armor Do-It-Yourself Mold Test Kit lets you test for the presence of mold in just 48 hours. If you find mold present in your test dish you can register your mold sample online and $40 to receive a lab analysis to determine the mold type.

What instrument is used to detect mold?

Other equipment professional mold testers may have includes a hygrometer, a device that measures the relative humidity, or amount of moisture, in the air. Mold generally grows best in places with relative humidity above 60 percent, so using a hygrometer helps professionals determine where they need to test for mold.

What should I do if I suspect mold in my house?

If you suspect your home is infested with mold, the best thing you can do is seek out the advice of a professional mold remediation specialist. They'll be able to test your home and any samples to determine the species of mold and potential hazard to you and your family.