Atreyue Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Hey guys! I could definitely use some help here. I've renting a house with a garage that floods. Thanks to my extreme luck, the two main spots where the water comes in are directly above my MDF-topped workbench and my table saw. Since I was only planning to use this garage as a workshop and for storage and I was busy with other stuff, it was about a month of steady rains before I realized this. I'm in the process of removing the rust from my tools and machines, but I've noticecd that most all of my stored lumber - luckily just a small amount of plywood and 2x - is all showing white and green mold. Do I just need to trash this wood, or is there a way to salvage it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Beasley Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 While the mold can be removed with bleach, rinsing and drying in sunlight the wood will likely warp from the moisture especially the plywood. It all depends on how much time you want to spend trying to salvage. You do need to improve the ventilation in the shop to avoid growing more mold. Is your landlord going to fix the leaks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 It really depends on what you plan on using the material for. If you are going to use it for building a wall, get the material dry and hit it with bleach as stated above. The trouble is you can kill the mold but it will leave the wood stained. If you are planning on using it in an application where you can see the wood I'd eliminate the mold sections. The lumber getting wet isn't an issue as long as everything stays strait. For the ply, i wouldn't use it anywhere critical. Shelves for shop stuff or work benches ect is all I'd use it for. Long exposure to water could have softened the glue and may cause issues down the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 There are better, more user friendly products than bleach that can be used on mold. Check them out. Clean every thing up, let it dry and see what's usable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Whether you can salvage the wood is a different issue, tell your Landlord to fix the issues or tell him you will withhold rent and you will pay to fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Hydrogen Peroxide is a common bleach alternative. Just look for the highest concentration you can source and wear PPE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Found this in a brief search of the infalable internet: https://moldblogger.com/3-reasons-why-you-should-never-use-bleach-to-clean-mold/ They are poo-pooing the use of bleach on wood. Sounds like they know what they're talking about, but it's the internet so who knows what's true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 16 minutes ago, Mark J said: Found this in a brief search of the infalable internet: https://moldblogger.com/3-reasons-why-you-should-never-use-bleach-to-clean-mold/ They are poo-pooing the use of bleach on wood. Sounds like they know what they're talking about, but it's the internet so who knows what's true. I've read the advice about not using bleach on many mainstream sources, so I tend to believe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Maybe because using bleach incorrectly will make you dead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 I would pressure wash the wood with just water, and put it in the Sun for initial drying. I'd probably toss the plywood. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Beasley Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 3 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: Maybe because using bleach incorrectly will make you dead? Thats the case if you mix it with ammonia based cleaning agents, among other things. Its a good idea using bleach to never mix it with anything else and use plenty of water to rinse and plenty of fresh air. That said using bleach with the proper precautions is fairly safe, its in many household products and has been used in the washing machine for decades. Just dont be stupid with it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 2 hours ago, Gary Beasley said: Just dont be stupid with it. Unfortunately, stupid can't be fixed. The warning to not drink the stuff or inhale the fumes is on the label because someone did it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted October 4, 2019 Report Share Posted October 4, 2019 Not just the health effects, but unless great care is taken, it's easy for errant drops of bleach to find their way onto clothes with predictable results. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Beasley Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 3 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: Unfortunately, stupid can't be fixed. The warning to not drink the stuff or inhale the fumes is on the label because someone did it. Thats what the Darwin Awards are all about. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atreyue Posted October 5, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 Thanks a lot for the advice. I don't really have much faith in the landlord taking care of the leak, so I'm keeping my non-damaged wood in the basement and I'm going to regularly check the garage and have the wetdry vac at the ready until it's fixed. It's not too much wood and mostly plywood, so I think I'll give up on salvaging it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Beasley Posted October 5, 2019 Report Share Posted October 5, 2019 21 hours ago, Tpt life said: Hydrogen Peroxide is a common bleach alternative. Just look for the highest concentration you can source and wear PPE. You can get extremely high concentrate peroxide at pool and spa supply stores. Be aware the stuff is just as nasty as bleach can be as far as handling it with its own quirks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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