How to clean mold off your logs or boards

Cleaning the dark mold off lumber or logs might seem like a daunting task but it's not that bad. A little saltwater and a wire brush will get the job done.
Jay C White Cloud has been graciously providing me guidance and valuable information and he brought to my attention these additional facts.
Other options are using bleach or a product called Bora-Care. I went with salt as it seemed the most traditional and I could better judge what I'm dealing with from an environmental perspective.
"If you add a bit of natural dish detergent you will get even better results and not have salt staining (white powder) that can form on some timbers at the time depending on brine concentration. "
"The family of molds and fungi (blue stain) is broad depending on region and tree species. Grosmannia clavigera is the most common and prevalent."
Jay has a channel with lots of great content that is far more advanced then I'm doing here but it's a great resource of information. You can check it out here.
/ jaytosatomo
Dave Mead also mentioned that he uses vinegar on his logs
Also, check out my wife's channel ‪@TheTimberLife‬
Keep up with the journey on Instagram
Trustin Timber
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www.trustintimberproductions.com

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Awesome video & ideas. I have a box of unused salt, from an abandoned idea years ago... not iodized... & a bunch of logs to remove bark & clean. Perfect! I much rather use salt on my wood than bleach. Salt was always used as a preservative. Of course.

[@lumber856]

thanks for the tip i’m cleaning up a large pine stump that i plan to use for a table base. the salt water certainly helping

[@hohetannen4703]

That was a hard time, glad you made it through.

[@careenaalexis]

Thanks for going through all this work so we don't have to when it's our turn to build a cabin :) Salt water and elbow grease 💪🏼

[@TrustinTimber]

Alexis Outdoors or better yet, harvest logs in late fall and early winter. Although I think if the summer are moist and the cabin has some shade fighting mold might be a regular routine but at that point a little vinegar would do the trick.

[@livealittlepedro6379]

I thought I recognized your name, I watch your channel too. Got a big old dirty log I’m turning into a bench but all the charming features/knots are making it impossible to sand.

[@lint2023]

A labor of love. It will be worth it. Keep safe.

[@TrustinTimber]

InTnMnNmAz thanks. Well wishes your direction as well.

[@exploringlife738]

Exciting is relative. Right now any realism, with problem-solving, in a seriously peaceful endeavor is a joy to watch. Thank you for the Timber Tuesday infusions of nature and nurture, and the reminder that we are all connected through our earth. ~ Tina in Northern Cali, under wise state Gov/County 3-week lock-down; a high-risk home still lucky with health, and well stocked for 4-6 months of seclusion. Stock up reasonably and early, all, so all may be well. :}

[@TrustinTimber]

exploring life wishing you all the best. We’ll do our best to keep bringing you some form of entertainment and realism.

[@WhoNoes]

Thanks for sharing, I didn't know about the salt water cleaning mold. I'll have to give it a try.

[@TrustinTimber]

Who Noes Figure it might help someone out there. Just passing along the information as I receive it.

[@funny-video-YouTube-channel]

Charring would do the same trick and prevent future mold growth.

[@MeadLongbows]

Good stuff man, logs are alot of fun I miss that. Thanks for the mention brother 👊 my logs were not that bad I dont think vinegar would have done it Haha The salt is a great method. Its incredible how many times you handle each log over the course of the build isn't it? You get to know each one pretty well. Stay safe Timbers

[@TrustinTimber]

Mead Longbows yeah, becoming very familiar with each them and it’s only beginning.

[@timberdoodles4647]

I put a bunch of timber into a barn that is now my home, years ago in the summer, some were live edge and it molded up, I resorted to pressure washing them in place and a mist of bleach. Their okay now. A work of caution, the sap wood on those young pine logs is very very not rot resistant, highly susceptible to rot, keep them well off the ground and in a dry environment. The great thing about white pine is the heart wood does okay, but not much on small logs, they have a higher sap ring ratio.

[@TrustinTimber]

Yeah, I was wishing I had electricity and a hose hookup out here. Pressure washer would have been much better. Yeah, all logs are normally off the ground. Just in the process of moving everyone to the building site.

[@NuteIlaTaco]

I was making a small 10ft by 10ft cabin last winter and in the summer it got really moldy, I hope this works

[@padmag5303]

😊 nice work

[@jimisnotunique]

Good info.

[@samuel3253]

Nice

[@levijessegonzalez3629]

I about to sheetrock a 20 year old shed I bought. But some of the framing (wood) has black / dark spots. What would be best to really kill the spores and treat the wood? 90% rubbing alcohol? Vinegar? Wormwood or garlic spray? Bleach???

[@tiwantiwaabibiman2603]

Hi! Thanx for this tip/demo... Does salt water rinse also work for getting rid of mushroom fungus on cut logs (for carving)?

[@TrustinTimber]

Not sure about that one. I usually discard wood if it starts to get funky.

[@smgibv4393]

How much salt per how much water?

[@meandnature6452]

There is only one month to fell trees. January

[@tinyponymuse]

Are you scrubbing black mold?

[@jp8006]

i have a hickory log which i just removed its bark, do i still need to do this?

[@TrustinTimber]

Only if it looks ugly and covered in fungus. Hickory is nice wood. What are you going to do with it?

[@trippie999]

Do you think salt water will help get mold off of wood slabs?

[@TrustinTimber]

Probably. Add extra salt.