Water leak

[dilligaf]

Several months ago we had a water leak in the bathroom which resulted in the downstairs toilet floor getting very wet.
We have now decided to renew the vinyl on the toilet floor but after lifting the old vinyl have found a small area of the board directly under the leak has black surface mould on it..
We are leaving the boards uncoverd for a while to make sure they are completly dry before re covering but I would like to know the best way to remove the black mould..
Any advice?

Thanks in advance

[Clanad]

If it's a relatively small area, then wash the area thoroughly with a soap water/cleaner mixture. (Don't use ammonia based cleaner). Then, after rinsing and drying, mix about 2 cups of common household bleach in 1 gallon of warm water and spread as much as you need to soak the infected area. I'd leave it set for an hour or so. The mold can get into the wood, so it's a good idea to let the wood soak up a little of the bleach. This is the reason you don't want to use an ammonia based cleaner since it doesn't react very well with bleach. Ventilate the area while you're working with the bleach...

[hippyhoppy]

We had a leak in our downstairs loo and claimed on the insurance - they turned up with two industrial fans which at to be on 24/7. They came every week with a machine which measured the moisture in the floor and it was three weeks before they OK'd a new floor to be put down. The electricity used was also covered in the claim, as was the new flooring - and because it leaked into the hall I got a new hall/kitchen/utility room flooring as it was all linked.. Basically, make sure the floor is dry enough to renew flooring otherwise you might come a bit unstuck in the future with mould/smell etc..

Good luck..

[shylock73]

I had the same type of problem as yourself and through the home insurance had the whole downstairs and up re-papered and new carpets throughout up and down. So see your agent. YOU KNOW IT MAKES SENSE.

[dilligaf]

Used diluted bleach as Clanad suggested and it seems to have done the trick. Not putting new vinyl down for a couple of weeks to give it a chance to dry properly. Thanks for your help.