Cleaning hack removes mould from wooden surfaces 'instantly' without scrubbing

Battling mould on wooden surfaces has now become markedly less challenging.

Mould is a familiar and unwelcome guest, particularly for those residing in older properties with subpar ventilation. It thrives in moist environments and is frequently spotted in bathrooms due to the residual humidity from hot showers, a common issue when external temperatures plummet as they do during this season.

Mould can also appear in other parts of the home, notably around windows prone to morning condensation. Tackling early-stage mould is somewhat straightforward; it generally wipes away from plastic window frames with the aid of some bleach. However, when confronting wooden window sills or bathroom areas adorned with wood, eradicating mould becomes an arduous task, as the fungus embeds itself within the wood fibres, rendering surface cleaning futile, even with the liberal use of bleach or anti-mould products.

Fortunately, there's a renowned solution that has been celebrated by cleaning aficionados online for effectively "killing" the pesky mould with minimal effort required. According to a Reddit post, an individual sought advice after discovering mould on their wooden kitchen counter, a result of neglecting a damp dish mat.

Black mold on wood
byu/ortiecannibale inCleaningTips

They explained: "I've put bicarbonate and white vinegar on it and tried to clean it right away, but it won't go away. I'm going to leave some more bicarbonate and vinegar overnight. But it's very encrusted. Do you think it can go, or is the whole wood ruined and I have to change the whole kitchen counter?"

Quick to respond, commenters on the post offered a variety of useful tips. One particularly popular method involved "soaking" the mould in a bleach solution and sealing it with a common kitchen item: cling film.

One commenter advised: "Try spraying with an anti-mould product, cover it in cling film for a few hours, then scrub with an abrasive sponge. There are many more intense measures you can take, but most black mould isn't the nasty stuff and will come off easily."

Another suggested: "Couldn't you spray with bleach and let it sit for a while, then scrub and finish up with soap and water? After it dries, coat with mineral oil."

Some endorsed the use of bleach as it's known to "kill mould" quite swiftly. Others recommended a more forceful approach, suggesting that sanding down the wood until the mould is gone and then refinishing it might be necessary.

Additionally, for future prevention, it was suggested to use a stone drying mat on wooden counters to avoid trapping moisture like fabric ones do.

The original poster responded: "Clearly this will be better. I have bought a very cheap one since I've just moved in, but I'll have to get a better one that will not lead to this anymore."