Prep first
Before you start
- Mold needs moisture to keep growing, so stop the water before you clean anything.
- Don't touch it bare-handed or lean over it until you're fully protected.
- Keep loose growth from scattering: brush it off outdoors if you can.
Mold on a basement floor usually means moisture is still getting in, and the spores will keep returning until that's fixed. What you can do with water depends on the flooring: laminate should only ever be damp, and vinyl and linoleum shouldn't be flooded, so identify the flooring before you pick up a cloth. Fresh growth wipes off easily, but a patch that's been damp for a long time can leave a mark that doesn't fully clear.
Getting a musty smell out of wood floors starts with finding the damp underneath, not the surface. If white or black growth keeps coming back, the moisture is the thing to fix, not the mold. A large patch of black mold in a basement is a job for a professional.
Before you start
What laminate & vinyl floors can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
Avoid3
- Soaking
- Scrubbing and abrasives
- Heat, once the stain is out
6 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respiratorKeeps spores off your skin and out of your eyes and lungs. (opens Amazon)
- Stiff brushLoosens loose growth so you can take it outdoors. (opens Amazon)
- Clean clothsOne for the wash and a clean one for the rinse, so you don't smear the mold around.
- Mild detergentMakes the warm water sudsy for the wipe. (opens Amazon)
- AmmoniaA few drops go into the warm sudsy water. It must never be combined with bleach. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial mildew stain removerOnly if the stain is still visible after the ammonia wipe and rinse. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Stop the water and dry the area
Mold on a floor keeps growing as long as the spot stays damp, so find the leak, seepage or standing water and fix it before you clean. Dry everything completely, because wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold.
Step 2 of 6
Put on protection before you touch it
Wear gloves, goggles without vents, and an N-95 respirator so you don't breathe in or touch the spores. Do this before you brush or wipe anything, not after.
Step 3 of 6
Brush off loose growth outdoors
If you can, take the loose mold outside and brush it off there, so the spores don't scatter through the house. Work from the outer edge of the patch toward the middle so you don't spread it.
Step 4 of 6
Wipe with warm ammonia water
Dip a cloth in warm, sudsy water with a few drops of ammonia added, then wipe the stain. Wring the cloth out well so the floor stays damp, not wet, and keep going until the cloth stops picking up color.
Tip. Switch to a clean section of cloth as it picks up color so you don't smear the stain.
Careful. Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia or any cleaner that contains it, because toxic fumes can be produced.
Step 5 of 6
Rinse and dry the spot
Rinse the area well with clear water until no suds are left on the floor. Then wipe it dry with a clean cloth.
Step 6 of 6
Test, then try a mildew remover
If the stain is still there, test a commercial mildew stain remover on a hidden spot first. If the spot holds up, apply the remover to a cloth rather than the floor, and follow the package directions exactly.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on laminate & vinyl floors
Choose a mildew stain remover made for your floor type, and read the label before you use it. Test it on a hidden spot first, even when the label says it's safe.
Amazon Basics Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on laminate & vinyl floors, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
See what to do for what you're seeing →Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Progress looks like a fuzzy patch that lightens with each pass and stops spreading at the edges, and the floor should dry without a damp smell. If a dark shadow stays after a full day or two of drying, the discoloration has likely soaked into the surface, and it may only fade over time.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your laminate & vinyl floors
Black mold on a basement floor
Black mold uses the same steps as any other mold, but dark growth often points to damp that has lasted a while, so the water source matters even more. Expect the ammonia wipe to need a second pass on dark growth, and dry the floor fully before you judge the result.
Black growth on a basement floor is often a sign that water is reaching it from the walls or the floor edge, so check those spots too. If the dark mark still shows after that, it has likely gone deep, and replacing the affected section may be the only real fix.
White mold on a basement floor
White mold is still mold, so it gets the same treatment: fix the damp, protect yourself, brush loose growth outdoors, then wipe and rinse. Because the growth is often light, you can start with the warm ammonia wipe and only test a remover if the mark stays.
After the floor is dry, check the spot again over several days. If new white growth comes back, the moisture source hasn't been fixed yet, and cleaning again won't solve it.
Musty smell in wood floors
A musty smell under wood floors usually means the boards or the subfloor have stayed damp. Cleaning the surface alone won't remove it, so find the damp spot and dry the area completely first.
If the smell is still there after the floor is dry, the mold may be in porous material under the boards, which can be difficult or impossible to remove completely. For cleaning the boards themselves once they're dry, see the Hardwood Floors guide.
Vinyl or linoleum flooring
Vinyl and linoleum take the same warm ammonia wipe, but the cloth should be damp rather than dripping. Wipe a small patch at a time and dry each one before moving on so no water sits in the seams.
On linoleum, don't use furniture polish or silicone products, and don't mix cleaning chemicals unless the maker specifies it. If the stain is still visible after the rinse, test the mildew remover on a hidden spot first.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
An old mold stain has often worked into the surface or the seams, so one wipe may only lighten it. That's normal, and it doesn't mean the cleaning failed.
Once the spot has dried, rewet it lightly with the warm ammonia water, let it sit for several minutes, then wipe it again. Keep the cloth damp rather than wet and rub gently, because the surface can be damaged by force.
If it's still visible after that, the mold may have gotten into porous material that can't be fully cleaned. Mold can fill crevices, and on porous building materials it may be difficult or impossible to remove completely, so replacement may be needed. Stop cleaning at that point, let the area dry fully, and decide whether to replace that section or have it assessed.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on laminate & vinyl floors?
Most home remedies you'll find online are built for fabric or stone, not floors, so only a few of these earn a place here. For mildew on hardwood and wood floors, stick to the steps above and skip anything that isn't listed for wood.
Helps2Skip2Avoid2
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Ammonia + Hydrogen peroxide (3%)
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals, and Poison Control warns that mixing ammonia products is dangerous.
Ammonia + Rubbing alcohol
The ammonia maker's safety sheet says not to mix ammonia with other household chemicals.
If they mix by accident: Don't use the mixture; ventilate the room and avoid breathing fumes or touching it; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for disposal advice or if anyone feels unwell.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't paint or caulk over mold
Clean the mold and let the surface dry fully first. Paint applied over mold is likely to peel, so the surface has to be clean and dry before any coating goes on.
Don't rely on bleach as a routine fix
Chlorine bleach and similar biocides aren't a good everyday choice for mold, so don't reach for it every time. If you do use one, ventilate the room and exhaust the air outdoors.
Don't tackle a large area alone
Keep your own work to about 10 square feet or less. Mold that came from sewage or contaminated water, or any larger area, calls for official remediation guidance or an experienced professional.
Don't clean the spot while the water is still coming in
Wiping the boards does nothing if moisture keeps seeping up through the slab or from a leaking pipe, because the spores will just return. Find and fix the source first, then give the area 24 to 48 hours to dry before you judge it.
Don't skip the test spot
Each flooring type reacts differently to the ammonia solution and to drying, so a hidden corner shows you the result before the visible boards are at risk. Put a few drops of the mixture on a small area, rinse it, and check it once it's dry. Skipping this step is how a clean spot turns into a dull patch.
Don't keep porous materials you can't dry
Carpet pads, cardboard and other porous items near the floor can hold spores even after the surface looks clean. If one is soaked through, it may have to be thrown away. Hard flooring can usually be cleaned and dried instead.
Troubleshooting
If the stain is still there
Pick what you're seeing:
A dark shadow remains after cleaning
Try the mildew stain remover after a test spot. Some mold leaves staining that can't be fully reversed.
The floor looks dull after cleaning
Detergent residue may be left behind. Rinse again with clear water and wipe dry.
Mold is growing at the edges or under planks
Surface cleaning can't reach it. Contact the floor retailer or a professional about lifting and replacing affected sections.
When to call a professional
Most basement patches are small enough to handle yourself, but once the growth covers more than about 10 square feet, or it came from sewage or contaminated water, bring in an experienced professional. Call one too if the mold has reached under the boards or into the wall, because the source has to be fixed before the floor can be called clean. Tell them where the water came from and how long the area stayed wet.
Questions
How do I remove dampness from my basement?
Start by finding where the water comes from, because mold spores need water or moisture to grow. Dry everything completely, since wet areas dried within 24 to 48 hours usually won't grow mold. Once the source is fixed, the cleaning only has to deal with what's left.
How do I tell a stain on a softwood floor from mold?
If you're not sure, treat it as mold until you know otherwise, and check whether the spot is still damp underneath. Test the warm ammonia wipe on a hidden area of the softwood first. If the mark doesn't change or keeps coming back, assume mold and dry the area fully.
Can mold come back after I clean it?
It can, if the moisture that fed it is still there. Cleaning again won't fix that, so the water source has to be found and stopped before the floor is truly done.
Will the mark stay after the mold is gone?
It might. Mold can cause staining and cosmetic damage that can't always be reversed, so a faint mark can stay even after the growth is gone. Clean it up anyway, since the mold has to go before anything else can be judged.
Do I need to replace my basement floor?
Hard floors usually clean up, but porous items such as carpet or ceiling tiles may have to be thrown away. If the mold has gotten into the material itself and won't come out, replacement may be the only option.
Can I use bleach on a vinyl basement floor for mold?
Only as a diluted spot treatment, since undiluted bleach can discolor vinyl and leave it slippery. If the floor is vinyl and a stubborn spot is left, mix 1 part bleach with 10 parts water, keep it to that one spot, and rinse with clear water afterward.
Can I use vinegar on a laminate basement floor after mold?
Yes, but only in a diluted form and only damp, never wet. Mix roughly 1 cup of plain household vinegar with a gallon of warm water, wring the cloth until it barely drips, and dry the boards right after. Keep vinegar away from any ammonia, since the two shouldn't be combined.
Is rubbing alcohol a good last step on laminate?
Only as a last resort for a leftover mark, and only on a clean cloth, since mold cleanup on laminate doesn't call for it. Test a hidden corner first, and keep it away from the trim pieces that match the floor, since those aren't meant for alcohol.
Will a rubber-backed mat on the basement floor leave a mark?
It can. Rubber and latex backings contain an antioxidant that can leave a permanent mark on the floor beneath, so a mat with that backing can undo a clean-up. Once the floor is clean and dry, pick a mat with a non-staining backing and lift it now and then to check the floor underneath.
Mold on other materials
Other stains on laminate & vinyl floors
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.