Clean Wood Pallets For Your Next DIY Project With These Tips

Did you know that wood pallets are a great material to repurpose for countless DIY projects? They're affordable (sometimes even free!) and an excellent way to upcycle. Pallets are also strong enough to handle heavy loads while still being easy to prep for nearly any project. But what are the best ways to clean wood pallets and get them ready for repurposing? Generally, cleaning them off with a garden hose or pressure washer, disinfecting the surface of the wood, and completing an inspection of the material for any hazards is enough to get them ready for transformation into something new and fresh.

If you've been eyeing a project that requires wood pallets but feel overwhelmed, start with the basics. Learn about the types of wooden pallets, like those crafted from hard or softwood, as each has varying characteristics. When selecting pallets for a DIY, remember that hardwood has a much heavier load capacity and is overall more durable, while softwood is typically more affordable. You can also look for local resources on places to find free pallets near you. Some businesses may post advertisements, though you can try stopping into furniture or hardware stores to see if they have extra pallets. Whether you want to follow the latest TikTok trends and DIY a makeup vanity out of wood pallets or use them in the garden, there's no shortage of projects in which you can incorporate these eco-friendly materials.

While a 2020 study published by Antibiotics cites that some types of wood carry naturally antimicrobial properties, it's important to keep in mind all forms of contamination when working with pallets. For example, the USDA requires pallets being shipped to the U.S. to be treated to minimize the risk of invasive pests. Look for the IPPC logo and "HT" stamp to verify that your pallet was treated with heat. You want to use these pallets and avoid those treated with methyl bromide, which is a type of pesticide that can cause adverse effects on human health and our environment.

Before upcycling with wood pallets, you should always go through the cleaning and disinfecting process, even if the wood was heat treated or there are no visible stains. The porous nature of some wood types means there can be hidden bacteria just beyond the material's surface. Overall, it's just good practice to thoroughly disinfect any secondhand DIY materials before incorporating them into your projects. 

To start, use a hose or pressure washer to spray the pallet's surface to remove any debris. Next, you should disinfect the wood with a combination of water, dish soap, and bleach. Use a scrub brush during this step if there's a lot of tough buildup or noticeable grime. For those who prefer natural cleaning options, omit the bleach and opt for water and vinegar instead. After cleaning, rinse well and let the wood dry in the sun if possible.

Even pallets that look spotless on the surface can harbor dangers you don't want to bring into your home like nails, termites, or carpenter ants. Thankfully, taking a few minutes to visually inspect the wood is usually enough to find and fix these issues. For nails, use a claw hammer or pliers to physically pry them from the wood. The hammer method can be a tedious process when dealing with a lot of nails, but this is the best option if you want to keep the pallet intact. You can also use a reciprocating saw to remove just the portions of the pallet that contain nails if you are already planning to break down the wood.

Scanning the wood for pests is a step you want to take before you move forward with any type of wood, pallets included. Some of the top signs that show a pallet may have an infestation are small holes on the wood's surface, tiny piles of sawdust on or around the wood, and dark stains. If you notice any of these warning signs, it's best to skip over those pallets or find a completely new batch if they were stored together. With these simple tips and a little elbow grease, the options for creativity are endless, as there are a large number of beginner-friendly wood pallet DIY projects out there.