Note that bleach should not be used to kill mold found on wood. While bleach is very effective for killing mold on non-porous surfaces, it doesn’t work well when it comes to wood. This is because the chlorine in bleach can’t penetrate wood, so only the water portion of the bleach gets absorbed.
In this regard, does bleach ruin wood finish?
Two Things You Shouldn’t Use to Clean Wood Floors
“While bleach will likely disinfect porous surfaces, it’s possible that you could damage the wood or the finish, discoloring it or getting into the actual wood and damaging it,” she says.
Considering this, what can you clean wood with?
Try mixing a weak solution of water and dish washing soap. Dip a soft cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the entire piece. You want a damp cloth, not a wet one. Don’t saturate the wood, and rinse your cloth often.
Will vinegar lighten wood?
If you see the wood getting lighter than you want it to be, stop the action at that point by wiping with vinegar. When finished with either one of these bleaches, it is best to neutralize the chemical action by washing the wood down with white vinegar.
How do you make homemade wood bleach?
After applying the bleach, mix a solution of half white vinegar and half water. Take a clean sponge and apply it on the wood in the same way you applied the bleach. Some bleaching kits include a neutralizer along with the bleach. In this case, it is not necessary to prepare a homemade solution.
How do you disinfect wood without damaging it?
Simply pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle and spray it directly onto your wood floors. Allow the peroxide to sit for a couple of minutes before wiping it with a microfiber cleaning cloth, which won’t damage the surface of your floors.
Will bleach damage hardwood floors?
The short answer is no. It’s not safe to clean hardwood floors with bleach because bleach can break down the wood’s finish and seep into the porous fibers causing discoloration and weakening the structure of the floorboards.
