Best 4-Step Guide On How To Clean Water Damaged Wood Base

The first step on how to clean water damaged wood base is to remove debris. Removing debris is essential because the leading cause of water damage on wood bases is flooding. There is bound to be debris when a flood is involved.

The following steps are written below. In it, we will tackle the drying and cleaning process. We also included the restoration process near the end.

how to clean water damaged wood base

We also explained what a wood base is, its uses, its qualities, and how it can get damaged. So, read until the end to get the best out of this article!

 

What Is A Wood Base?

A baseboard is used to cover the interior wall’s lowest part. It is typically made of wood, hence the term “wood base”. It is meant to cover the joint that connects the floor and the wall’s surface and protect the wall from furniture and abrasion.

Simple wood bases are made of simple planks that are either screwed, nailed, or glued. Moreover, there are three categories of wooden baseboards. They can either be pre-painted, lacquered, or untreated.

Either way, a wood base is a typical structure in a household, but how do they get damaged by water? Proceed to the next part of the article to know more.

 

How does the wood base get water damaged?

Wood bases can get water-damaged due to flooding or excess moisture from the walls. Both are difficult to deal with because they can affect the whole structure of the wall and the flooring.

Moreover, since the internal structure may be affected, it will be difficult to ward off mold. Mold and mildew thrive in environments with excessive moisture, so a damaged baseboard may also result in mold growth problems.

To protect and restore your wood base after a water damage incident, you have to clean it. We wrote the steps in the next part of the article.

 

Cleaning Water Damaged Wood Base

 

Step #1. Remove debris

First, you have to remove the debris and grime that the flood caused. Along with clearing debris, you have to move your furniture away from the affected area.

You can also document this so that your insurance company may be informed of the impact of water damage in your home. Then, recall your insurance policies and strengthen your insurance claim with the help of your lawyer.

 

Step #2. Let it dry

If it is not humid outside, then open your doors and windows to ventilate the area properly. This can also help in hastening the drying process of the wood base.

Use a humidifier or fans to help with the drying process. As soon as the wood base has dried, look for other signs of water damage. The other signs you can watch out for are warped walls and peeling wallpapers.

 

Step #3. Clean

Mix a bucket of warm water with vinegar and liquid dish soap to remove grime. Be careful in washing the wood base with this mixture. Do not saturate the baseboard with water.

You can use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to eliminate tough water stains. To clean the trim’s grooves, use a toothbrush.

Afterward, wipe the wood base with a clean towel. Make sure the wood base is dry.

 

Step #4. Remove mold

Mold and mildew develop within the first 24 to 48 hours after exposure to water. You have to be careful with mold, especially black mold, because of its adverse health effects.

To remove mold from your wood base, you must make a bleach-water solution and let it soak in the moldy area. Also, the mixture with vinegar earlier can help with mold growth as well. After spraying the mixture on the wood base, leave it to dry.

 

What home products can kill mold?

A homeowner’s go-to solution for mold is the bleach and water solution mentioned above. To make it, mix a cup of bleach and about a gallon of water. Then, apply to the moldy surface.

Another DIY solution you can do is mix ammonia and water in equal amounts. Then, apply the mixture to the affected surface. Rinse the mixture off the surface after three hours.

Lastly, the borax-water solution can prevent mold from growing further. Also, it has the advantage of not emitting fumes compared to other solutions.

 

What to do after cleaning the baseboard?

After cleaning and removing mold, you have to decide on how to restore your wood base. Do you repair or replace the whole thing?

In this situation, you have to be mindful of the extent of the water damage and if it fits in your insurance coverage. If it does, your insurance company may take control of the situation and have it fixed for you. However, if the water damage is not included in your insurance coverage, you have to be mindful of your budget.

 

Conclusion

This article on how to clean water damaged wood base goes beyond just cleaning — it also tackled insurance claims and documentation as well as mold growth prevention. Since we put various related information, we hope you were able to pick something useful and apply it in your life.

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