Mold loves to grow on wood. For starters, wood is porous, and so it traps moisture. Additionally, wood contains natural "food" for mold growth (in the form of an organism called cellulose). If you have a wood ceiling, regularly check that you have no cracks or leaks in your roof, because if rain water seeps into the ceiling, a black mold colony can quickly take form.
Instructions
1. Remove the source of the moisture. If moisture continues to seep into your wood ceiling while you clean up the mold, the problem will only worsen. Examine your roof and patch up any holes or cracks. If the moisture resulted from another problem (like liquid spilled in the attic or on a second-story carpet), remove the liquid and the source of the liquid.
2. Determine whether you can kill the mold on your own. If the mold seeped in from the roof, you must enter the attic to attack the colony from above. If you cannot access the ceiling from above, you must call a professional to replace the wood. If you can access the ceiling from above, examine it carefully to assess the damage. If you have a large colony growing (black mold will appear slimy and black, with shades of green), you will probably need to replace the wood anyway, because wood is highly porous and can trap mold within its fibers.
3. Dry the wood to stop the black mold growth. Black mold can grow only if moisture is present, so drying the wood will stop the mold in its tracks. A portable heater can dry wood quickly, but if you cannot place a portable device near the ceiling surface, turn on your central heating unit for several hours until the ceiling dries.
4. Mix 1 part bleach with 16 parts water (the equivalent of 1 cup to 1 gallon) and pour into a spray bottle. Put on a breathing mask and rubber gloves. Bleach is corrosive and black mold is highly toxic.
5. Spray the ceiling on both sides to kill the spores. Wait 15 minutes and scrub with a firm-bristled brush. Spray the ceiling with water to rinse the bleach and then dry the ceiling using heat a second time. Keep a close eye on the ceiling. If mold returns, this indicates that the colony has likely penetrated too deep into the wood. Contact a mold remediator and replace the ceiling immediately.
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