How can I remove green mold or mildew from my old wood fence boards?

Dianna
by Dianna
I have a lot of old thin wood fencing boards that I want to use as reclaimed wood for indoor walls and such. A lot of them are very green on the side that faced north. What can I use to remove the green color best so it won't come back? I want to use these boards to cover some walls inside my house. Most of them are 6 feet long thin slats, less than a half inch thick.

  10 answers
  • Carol Thomas Carol Thomas on Mar 24, 2018

    I use a pressure washer to remove the green, then wipe down with a mixture of 1 gallon warm water with 1/2 cup of bleach. Allow to completely dry before bringing inside. This also helps get rid of bugs you don't want to bring into your home. Please try both on a scrap piece of wood first. It the wood is soft, maintaining the proper distance with the pressure washer is crucial. It can reallyl tear into wood if you have it too close.

    If you don't have access to a pressure washer, a scrubbing brush can be used to clean it with warm soapy water. I's a lot slower and takes some extra effort.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 24, 2018

    Use Wet andForget safe for all surfaces

  • Bri8078885 Bri8078885 on Mar 24, 2018

    If you ave a wood plainer or know someone that does, you might be able to shave off a thin layer. If that does not the trick, try it again, only thinly. should that not solve the issue, I suggest you dispose of them and buy new from the Lumber yard. I want to add that bleach will not get rid of mold, it might bleach it but does not kill it, which could result in health issues later on.

  • Rose Broadway Rose Broadway on Mar 24, 2018

    That's an easy one to answer. Look through these videos and choose what jumps out at you. Hope this helps you have a nice clean fence.


    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mold+on+wood+fence

  • Joyce Holden Joyce Holden on Mar 24, 2018

    I used my power washer a couple of years ago on my fence, then put sealant on it after the wood dried out for a couple of days. It still looks good after almost 3 years.

  • Ruth Hetherington Ruth Hetherington on Mar 24, 2018

    I'd try white vinegar...

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Mar 24, 2018

    If you have access to a power washer, carefully clean every inch of the boards. Wash them down with bleach water to help with the stains and let them dry. Spray the wood thoroughly with vinegar and let it dry, this will take care of any spores that were left in the wood. Let it dry thoroughly out in the sun before you bring it inside.

  • Christel Christel on Mar 25, 2018

    pressure wash and then seal

  • Power wash them.

  • A power washer would be the best way to do this task easily with minimal effort. You can typically rent one from a home improvement store.