Posted on June 25, 2010.
I bought a natural wood rack dryer large Amish. I found that my clothes smell mildewey? I also noticed the wood looks dark in some places, perhaps mold.? Was I suppose to treat wood, or paint before using it? Anyway, what I do now? Should I paint, stains, ... etc.?
Yes, wood turning black because it is the casting. Yes, you can paint or put several layers of lacquer on the drying rack.
If you're going to paint, sand from the bay where the wood has turned black. You probably are not going to completely remove the black areas, like the mold has penetrated the wood. After sanding, wipe it with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 5 parts water to kill mold spores. Wipe with clean water after 10-15 minutes, let dry and paint. You need to paint it with something that will hold up to moisture - from painting to high gloss kitchen bathroom / should be fine.
If you go to stain and varnish it - again, sand and wipe with bleach to kill mold and rinse with clear water. Stain similar color and painted with a spar varnish (marine varnish). This will hold up much moisture.
Personally, I do not stain and varnish.
smell musty clothes because they do not dry fast enough. Sand the black spots. Stain it, which should keep the old mildew from returning. Then she has a place where there is more movement of air to dry clothes faster and prevent a repetition
My grandmother hated using an electric dryer. It is used as that in winter all the time, put in place throughout the home. I would say, as someone said earlier, not enough airflow in the rack. She never had any problems with the clothes smell funny. But yes, definitely use bleach to kill mold and perhaps even as you sit in the sun for a few days prior to paint / stain / whatever.