How To Clean Mold Off Wood Furniture
Have you ever walked past your dining table and suddenly noticed that there is mold build up on it? Mold is arguably one of the most annoying and concerning things that could happen to your furniture as there is nothing much you can do to prevent them, especially if you live somewhere dry and humid. However, there are several ways on how to clean mold off wood furniture. Let’s find out more about it.
What Is Mold?
Generally, mold buildups in furniture and any other surface occur due to the combination of excess humidity and poor insulation. When airflow is restricted, condensation occurs on some surfaces, creating an environment for mold spurs to attach and result in mold growth. In general, Wood is susceptible to mold buildup as it has the natural characteristic of soaking up and retaining water and moisture. In this case, it is common to find mold and mildew in wooden surfaces and furniture such as your floor, baseboards, ceiling, table, closet, and dresser. Taking this into consideration, what are the ways how to clean mold off wood furniture?
What Can You Use To Remove Mold?
Before we head on to how to clean mold off wood furniture, it is better first to discuss the things that you can use to help clean and clear the mold buildup in your favorite dresser or table. And despite the plethora of cleaning agents available in the market, here are some home remedies and ingredients that you can use that are readily available in your pantry and supplies:
- Vinegar – Considerably the ingredient in this list that is readily available in any household, vinegar has been widely used as a cleaning agent. Its acidity can effectively rid of eight out of ten mold species.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – While hydrogen peroxide is primarily used as a medical supply, it is also useful in cleaning mold, bacteria, fungus, and viruses on various surfaces.
- Baking Soda – Much like vinegar, baking soda is another ingredient easily available in your pantry that you can use to clean off mold from your wood furniture. The good thing is that it does not have any adverse smell, and it is safe to use even if you have pets or small children at home.
- Tea Tree Oil – using tea tree oil requires less manual labor as you can simply mix a couple of drops to a cup of water and spray it on the mold and wait for several hours to clean it properly.
How To Clean Mold Off Wood Furniture
How to clean mold off wood furniture is fairly simple. However, some steps would be different, especially considering the severity of the mold buildup that you are dealing with.
Preparing To Clean Mold
One of the first steps you have to do when trying to clean mold off a piece of wooden furniture is to wear proper clothing and protective gear to ensure that you are safe while doing so. Considering that inhaling mold spores can be harmful to your health, putting on a long-sleeved shirt, protective glasses, a mask, and rubber gloves to cover as much skin as you can is ideal.
It is also ideal for you to move your furniture outdoors to prevent the spread of mold spores to other furniture or surfaces in your house. Before moving the furniture, wrap it with a plastic bag to prevent spores from spreading any further.
Cleaning Mold Buildup
To start cleaning mold from your furniture, first run a vacuum along the mold using an arm attachment and a HEPA filter to vacuum loose mold spores, as well as dust and dirt. Keep in mind to empty the bag or canister outside and seal it tightly before throwing it away.
Light Mold Buildup
When the mold buildup is not as bad, you can get rid of light mold by only airing your furniture and letting it sit under the sun for a day or two. If this is not enough, you can start cleaning the mold by spraying a bottle of cheap vodka and then let it the furniture sit out in the sun for some time.
If this still did not work, you can start scrubbing the mold off of the furniture. Use a mild household detergent or dish soap and slowly use a soft bristle brush to scrape the mold off the wood surface. Remember to brush in a circular motion and to wipe the surface using a damp towel. Repeat the process until there are no mode molds on the furniture.
If using a mild detergent or dish soap still did not work, use other cleaning solutions such as vinegar and hydrogen peroxide and repeat the process of spraying and wiping the vinegar off the surface until no mold remains.
Severe And Stubborn Mold Buildup
When dealing with severe and stubborn mold buildup, the process would be a lot more vigorous. Instead of just letting the furniture sit out on the sun, you would have to manually brush off the mold using a cleaning solution that is made using a mixture of household detergent, bleach, and water.
Apply a generous amount of the solution directly on the mold and brush in a circular motion using a stiff bristle brush or a scrub sponge with moderate pressure. After cleaning the molded parts of your furniture, let the piece dry out in the sun before repeating the whole process as needed.
Conclusion
Learning how to clean mold off wood furniture is essential to maintain your wood furniture's quality for long. Just remember to wear proper clothing and protective gear and be extremely careful and cautious when cleaning mold on your own as it harms your health when inhaled. Find out more about wood furniture care.
