How To Clean Mold On Wooden Furniture?

According To The American Home Improvement Media “This Old House”, There Are Several Types Of Mold That May Grow On Wooden Furniture. If Your Wooden Furniture Is Infested With Toxic Black Mold ( Stachybotrys Chartarum , Also Known As Stachybotrys Chartarum), You’d Better Call A Professional To Take Care Of It. As For Other Types Of Mold, You Can Usually Use Cleaning Products You Already Have At Home And Follow The Steps Below To Remove The Mold.

(1) Wear Goggles, Gloves, Masks Or Artificial Respirators To Protect Yourself.

(2) Move Wooden Furniture With Mold Outside The House Or Into The Garage, And Use A Vacuum Cleaner To Remove Mold Spores Or Dust On The Surface Of The Furniture. You Can Also Place Plastic Sheeting Around The Furniture To Prevent The Surrounding Area From Being Contaminated By Mold Or Dust.

(3) Fill An Empty Spray Bottle With Warm Water, Add Two Teaspoons Of Liquid Dish Soap And Shake. Next, Spray The Solution On The Furniture Surface And Scrub The Mold-Containing Areas With A Soft-Bristled Brush (Such As An Old Toothbrush). Then Wipe Off The Excess Liquid With A Rag And Dry The Furniture Surface With A Clean Towel.
This Cleaning Should Be Enough To Remove The Mold If It Hasn’t Penetrated Very Deeply Into The Wood. If Mold Is Still Present, Continue To The Next Step.

(4) Distilled White Vinegar Can Kill More Than 80% Of Mold Types. Fill An Empty Spray Bottle (You Can Wash The Above Spray Bottle) With 1:1 Warm Water And Distilled White Vinegar, And Then Spray It On The Areas With Mold On The Furniture Surface. After Letting It Sit For An Hour, Wipe The Area With A Clean Wet Cloth, And Then Wipe It Again With A Clean Dry Towel.

(5) If There Is Still Residual Mold, You Can Use Borax Solution At This Time. Borax Is An Alkaline Salt That Is Safer Than Bleach.

Mix A Teaspoon Of Borax With A Cup Of Water And Apply The Solution To The Mold With A Soft-Bristled Brush. Then Wipe Away The Mold, Leaving The Solution On The Wood. This Solution Will Penetrate Into The Wood And Prevent Future Mold Growth.

Although Bleach Can Kill Mold Growing On Non-Porous Surfaces, It Is Not Suitable For Removing Mold From Wood Because The Chlorine In The Bleach Will Not Penetrate The Wood; Only The Moisture Will Be Absorbed By The Wood, Leaving The Possibility Of Mold Coming Out In The Future. Growing Again Beneath The Surface.
If Necessary, You Can Use Very Fine Sandpaper To Sand The Moldy Areas On The Wood, And Then Use A Vacuum Cleaner To Remove Local Wood Chips And Mold Spores.