How to remove mildew from hardwood floors

Did you ever walk into your living room, only to be greeted by a heavy, musty odor hanging in the air? You glance down and feel a sudden wave of alarm as dark spots or powdery patches appear on your hardwood floors. It’s unsettling, right? Well, you might be dealing with mildew. This unwelcome guest can tarnish the beauty of your hardwood floors and, if left untreated, can lead to significant damage over time.
But how do you remove mildew from hardwood floors? Is it even safe to clean hardwood floors without causing further damage? Worry not! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about dealing with mildew and maintaining hardwood floors so they look their best.
Causes of Mildew within Hardwood Floors
To understand how to remove mildew from hardwood floors, it is important to see the cause of mildew itself. It does not just float down from the sky and stick itself to your beautiful hardwood floors. It requires a certain environment and conditions to flourish, yet sometimes they find the perfect condition inside your house, even within your beautiful hardwood floors.
Humidity and Moisture
This is the primary cause of the development of mildew on the hardwood floor. Excess moisture caused by higher humidity levels, spills that haven’t been attended to, or have allowed water to seep through floorboards makes it easy for mildew to grow.
Improper Cleaning
Inadequate drying of floors after mopping, too much water incorporated into cleaning procedures, or even the usage of harsh cleaning products make the area suitable for mold and mildew growth. Repeated wetting of the floor makes water saturate the wood, causing it to develop mold. Make sure you follow our tips to avoid leaving sticky floors after mopping.
Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation exposes most indoor causes of mildew development. In rooms where ventilation is not proper, trapped moisture tends to hang into the air and does not go anywhere, turning into a mold growth environment. Prolonged exposure to high humidity making the floors prone to this mold goes hand in hand with rooms that have an inadequate flow of air — bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.
You need to be careful about what is going on where your hardwood floor surface is in terms of maintenance, as cleaning it is just one step. Moisture is retained at bay, making it impossible for mildew to grow deeper, and it doesn’t take much to do that.
Signs of Mildew on Hardwood Floors
So, how can you tell if you’ve greeted your hardwood floors with mildew? It may be so subtle at times that, with good observation, you can catch it before it gets very destructive.
Visual Indicators
Well, discoloration is one of the first signs you might see. Multiple dark patches or streaks on the floor are often early indicators of mildew. A white powdery residue that can often be observed on the surface of the wooden floor indicates that mold clings onto it. If ignored for a longer period, the patches may further enlarge and cause extensive damage to the flooring.
Odor
Whenever your hardwood flooring area begins to emit a damp, tired, or earthy smell, possible reasons include mildew or mold. The scent manages to permeate the entire room, making it an unpleasant atmosphere. Without any visible signs of what this fungus has been up to yet, the smell is still a red flag for taking action.
Surface Damage
Mildew can become quite serious to the extent that it begins to warp, soften, and even split the wood. Bubbling, swelling, or warping in your wood is most probably a result of prolonged exposure to moisture and mildew. Moisture has a pretty bad reputation for often leaving long-lasting damage to your floor’s overall integrity as the mildew remains festering for longer. This would mean catching the signs and identifying them early enough for one to take requisite preventive measures in terms of how to clean mildew on the hardwood floors to reclaim lost beauty and function on the floor.
How to Safely Remove Mildew from Hardwood Floors?
Now that you have learned about how mildew forms and how to recognize it, let’s explore the different techniques that you can use to remove mildew from hardwood floors safely and effectively. This is a step-by-step guide on how to clean your floors and ensure mildew does not come back.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
Before everything else, you need to get all the tools you need to get the job done. You will require:
- A soft brush or microfiber cloth
- Vacuum cleaner
- Bucket of warm water
- White vinegar or any gentle hardwood floor cleaner (our favorites are from the Branch Basics range)
- Soft cloth for drying
- Protective gloves and a mask to avoid inhaled spores.
Step 2: Test Area Before Full Application
Testing a small area ensures that the cleaning solution will not harm or discolor the wood.
Step 3: Mild Cleaning Solution
A vinegar-water solution is an ideal, effective, and natural way to clean mildew. Just one cup of white vinegar in a gallon of warm water, and with the aid of a soft cloth, scrub at the affected site gently. Do not scrub very hard as this would damage the wood. A specialized hardwood cleaner is also a good option. Just remember to choose a commercial product that is safe for the wood floors.
Step 4: Make Thorough Drying of the Area
After scrubbing, it’s crucial to thoroughly dry the cleaned area to prevent the mildew from returning. Use a soft cloth to wipe away any moisture, paying close attention to any remaining dampness. For larger areas, consider using a fan to speed up the drying process.
Safety Tips
While cleaning mildew can be straightforward, it’s important to take safety precautions. Wear gloves to protect your hands, cover your nose and mouth (or wear a mask) to avoid inhaling spores, and ensure the area is well-ventilated to clear any lingering fumes.
How Mildew Growth Can Be Prevented on Hardwood Floors
Blocking the source of mildew is the most effective way to tackle the problem. Here are some tips on how to keep it from affecting your hardwood surfaces:
Daily Cleaning
Sweeping and vacuuming your floors regularly has several benefits. It prevents a buildup of dirt, dust, and debris that retains moisture within the wood and, thus, offers the perfect breeding ground for mildew.
Immediate Spill Cleanup
If you’ve accidentally spilled water, juice, or any other liquid on the hardwood, mop it up immediately. If left unattended for too long, moisture will be absorbed into the wood and provide favorable conditions for mildew.
Proper Ventilation
Moisture getting trapped can also be avoided by ventilating rooms thoroughly. Open your windows, and switch on the installed fans and air circulators. This makes sure the indoor humidity is kept within a 30% limit.
Professional Hardwood Floor Maintenance Services
Mildew can certainly cause great inconvenience when settled onto hardwood floors, but with the perfect prescription, it can easily be managed. Identifying the problem at an early stage and adopting a healthy cleaning method, in addition to ensuring that humidity and ventilation are well maintained, will keep floors appearing beautiful for many years. When mildew has spread across extensive areas or when the wood starts warping or cracking, it is high time to summon a professional. They can evaluate the situation deep clean adequately and restore your floors.
If you are worried about your hardwood floors growing mildew and don’t know what to do about it, you know it is time to call in Vella’s professional housekeepers. We are equipped with all the tools required to clean your floors without leaving any lasting damage. Book our deep cleaning services today and rid your beloved hardwood floors of smelly mildew.