Wood furniture looks great in any home, so lots of people will have wood surfaces throughout their rooms to bring in some natural material that makes a space feel more homely.
The problem is, however, that mold can become a problem with wood furniture and actually ruin the look of the wood surface. Not only is it problematic for the wooden furniture, depending on the type of mold and mold spores you have, it can be hazardous to your health, too.
But don't worry, in today's guide, we'll be taking you through the risks of mold growth on wooden furniture. We'll also talk about the different mold species, and then talk you through how to remove mold from a wood surface safely.
Why is mold growth common on wood furniture?
Before we start by looking at the different types of mold, let's just talk for a moment about why wooden surfaces are so susceptible to mold growth to begin with.
First off, organic materials will always be more susceptible to a mold problem, but wood especially so because porous surfaces (like wood) offer a perfect environment for mold to grow in.
That's why wood mold is especially concerning for the furniture itself, because removing mold doesn't just involve removing mold stains and surface mold, but actually penetrating the wood effectively with the cleaning process in order to kill mold entirely from both the surface, and the inner portions of the wood.
If left to grow, the mold will ruin the integrity of the wood and damage it beyond repair.
But don't worry, there are ways to effectively remove mold and treat the affected area completely so the mold won't return. For now, though, let's focus on the different types of wood mold that are most common.
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Identifying mold species
You'll already be aware that there are different types of mold, but what you might not realise is that there are three different types of mold that are common on wood surfaces. All three types will need your attention, of course, but some are more serious, and need to be treated more quickly than others.
Below, we'll look at how to identify the different types, and talk about the precautions you need to be aware of before you even attempt to treat the mold.
Black mold
Possibly the most concerning mold to find, both in terms of your furniture's integrity and your health, is black mold.
There are many types of black mold, but the most serious of which is Stachybotrys chartarum, which release toxic fumes or mycotoxins, which can cause respiratory problems and also skin irritation.
Whenever you remove mold from wood, you have to be very cautious and wear protective gear to prevent mold spores from causing you any harm, but black mold is especially serious, so it's really important when you start the mold removal process from the wooden surface that you're very aware of how serious this type of mold could be.
By now you've probably guessed that black mold gets its name because, well, it's black mold, so whenever you come across this type of mold on your wood, be cautious.
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Why does black mold grow?
Black mold growth is more common in places that are very damp and have poor ventilation, because this type of mold actually needs far more moisture than the others we'll cover below to develop.
You'll most likely notice black mold on wood furniture that has been exposed to a leak or flooding. This might be more common in bathrooms and kitchens, but even a leaky roof in the garage or bedrooms can cause black mold on your bedroom furniture and storage too.
If you notice black mold on wood in your home, then it's more likely that there's a bigger problem than just the mold, so keep an eye out for flooding, leaks, and bad ventilation where the furniture is.
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White mold
From the worst type of mold spores to the least harmful now, we have white mold. This type of mold doesn't typically cause health problems, but you'll still need to wear the proper protective gear and skin protection when dealing with it.
And despite it not being as serious as black mold, white mold is still a sign that there's a problem with high humidity and moisture in the room where the wood surface that's been affected is.
You'll notice white mold, again, by its white colour, but it also has a stringy or powdery quality to it. Whilst these powdery mold spores aren't particularly hazardous to health, you still don't want to be breathing that in, so removing white mold from the affected material is still really important.
Later we'll talk more about preventing mold, but when there are white mold spores on wood, you'll want to make sure that any air vents in the room are clear and that there is proper ventilation to prevent the moisture that mold needs to grow.
Green mold
This final type of mold that's common on wood may be a bit of a surprise, as typically you'd associate it with food, however green mold on wood is more common than most people realise.
In fact, green and white mold on wood is more common than black mold, but green mold is a little more serious than white.
Unlike white mold, green is much more likely to cause medical problems (although it isn't as serious a concern as black mold is). Again, green mold is a sign of moisture buildup on a surface, and much like white mold, it's likely because of bad ventilation and a lot of humidity rather than a leak.
Whatever type of mold spores and surface mold you notice around your home, though, you need to treat mold in much the same way to remove it and then prevent it from coming back.
What do I need to remove mold?
Before we talk about the actual process of removing mold and the different protective gear you will need to treat the affected wood etc., you should be aware of some of the products that work best to remove mold (typically these products kill mold, and some will even form a protective barrier to prevent mold from returning).
Here's a quick list of some products that work for killing mold. You won't need all of these, but it may help to have a few different products if you are trying to remove light mold vs a lot of mold to get the job done properly:
- White vinegar - kill mold spores and fungi roots to prevent further fungi growth. Distilled white vinegar works best.
- Mold removal products - there are many that you can find. Try to opt for one that actually kills mold rather than cleaning mold, and preferably one that prevents regrowth.
- Washing up liquid - surprisingly, this is great for painted wood or wood that has been stained as very often these only suffer from surface mold since it's difficult for the mold to penetrate the wood itself.
- Vodka - a shock, we know, but vodka will do exactly as washing up liquid does for painted and stained wood, but it will also disinfect the area very effectively. Especially good when there is only a little mold.
- Hydrogen peroxide - you might not be able to get your hands on this easily, but it's really effective at killing mold in porous surfaces like wood because it gets into the wood itself and kills mold from the surface right the way to the inside of the wood. If you can't get hydrogen peroxide, look out for this as a key ingredient on mold removal products as this is a sure sign it'll do the job well.
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Supporting products
It's not just the cleaning solution that will kill the mold that you need, but some other products too to help remove it. This includes cleaning products and protective gear:
- Safety goggles
- Face mask (make sure it covers your mouth and nose)
- Overalls
- Rubber gloves
- Hot water
- Scrub pad
- Damp cloth
- Soft bristle brush (great for dealing with light mold)
- Spray bottle (if you're making your own cleaning solution of distilled vinegar or vodka to apply to remove mold from wood)
- Plastic bag to throw away the damp towel or cloth and any scrubbing products you use afterwards
- Sanding paper or electric sander
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Picking the right product for the job
This guide isn't always going to be 100% accurate because there are lots of different types of mold in the 'black', 'white', and 'green' broad categories we've talked about today.
However, depending on the severity of the mold growth and type of mold, different products may be better suited to cleaning mold from the wood's surface.
Small jobs
For small jobs, you can get away with using homemade solutions by filling up a spray bottle with a solution of your own. These solutions are best for smaller jobs because it's likely that you've caught the mold problem early before they have a chance to go deep into the wood.
When you catch mold early, it's much easier to get rid of it with a spray bottle filled with warm water and distilled white vinegar. When you remove mold from wood in this way, it will treat the affected area and deal with the light mold swiftly.
Larger jobs
To clean mold from wood when it's a larger job, homemade solutions may still help, but make sure you know the exact mold you're cleaning. Black mold, for example, will need more than a distilled vinegar solution and warm water in a spray bottle to clear it up. But we'll talk more about black mold in the 'Severe mold growth' section below.
If there are large patches of white or green mold, then you may be able to use vodka, vinegar, or washing up liquid to remove it. Just make sure you look out for loose mold spores and ensure you clean them all up.
Loose spores can grow again and you'll need to remove the mold from wood later down the line. When you clean mold, be thorough, to prevent mold from reappearing again.
Severe mold spores
Black mold remains the biggest threat as we've already established throughout today's post - to remove this mold from wood, you'll need to invest in the commercial mold removers we mentioned above. Again, be thorough, clearing up all loose spores.
You'll need to wear protective gear, rubber gloves, and safety goggles etc., for all the cleaning methods above, but especially so when using commercial mold removers to clear up the affected area.
Please note: if you're concerned about the severity of your black mold issue, or if you have white or green mold in unmanageable amounts, you may be able to contact professional cleaning services to deal with the problem for you. They will be trained to make the affected area mold free and also help prevent mold growing back again.
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Cleaning up the mold
Now we'll talk you through how to clean mold effectively.
Step 1: choose the right method
First, look at the severity of the situation and, using our advice above, decide if you need to use homemade solutions or commercial mold killers.
Step 2: protective gear
Wear safety goggles, gloves, and protective gear to cover yourself and your clothes completely, regardless of what type of mold you have or how big a job it is. Only a small amount of commercial grade mold killer on your skin could be enough to cause a reaction, and the same is true of the mold itself.
So make sure you're well covered and you're able to breathe safely whilst cleaning the mold.
Step 3: scrubbing the area
Now on to the actual cleaning.
Whether it's homemade or commercial, the key is to only lightly spray the area with the cleaning solution. Leave it for 30 seconds or so before scrubbing. Take a soft bristled brush or a scrub pad and gently scrub the area in a circular motion.
You have to be careful to prevent damage to the wood, so start gently and lightly and increase the pressure only if necessary. At this stage, you just want the colour of the mold to disappear.
After it is clear, take a wet cloth and wipe down the area and allow to dry before moving on to the next stage.
Please note: if you're using commercial mold cleaner, ensure you read the package instructions and follow it to the letter.
Step 4: sanding the area
The sanding process may seem dramatic, but you'll definitely need to sand down the area if the mold problem was particularly large or if there are any stains left behind.
Here you can use an electric sander if the problem is large, or just sanding paper. Again, go slow and gently. You don't want to damage the wood.
Once it's been sanded, you may need to repeat step 3 above to completely kill and remove the mold from the wood further into the wood.
Step 5: clear up
After you're happy, you'll need to be thorough with the cleanup, making sure all mold is completely gone, and anything that came into contact with the fungi is cleared up and properly disposed of.
If not, anything with mold still on it can grow again and the problem will persist, so make sure you get everything from the wood chips from the sanding to the cloth you used to wipe the surface - every little thing must be disposed of.
Step 6: preventing mold in the future
And finally, the most important section of today's post - preventing the mold from forming in the first place or coming back!
The two things mold needs are moisture and humidity, so the key is to remove this from the area you plan on keeping the wooden furniture. Just make sure there is proper ventilation, clear vents nearby, or else just remember to open a window half an inch each day in the area to allow the room to breathe and moisture and humidity to leave.
This will prevent any regrowth.
Final takeaway
Hopefully, today's post has taught you that yes, mold can be dangerous to your furniture, but it can also be dangerous to you. With proper protective gear and the right cleaning mix though, you can easily fix any mold issue - from small to large - so long as you stick to the advice in this guide and on any commercial products you've purchased.
Is mold on wood furniture dangerous? Find more on: HD365
from Homes Direct 365 | Blog - Feed https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/blog/2022/06/is-mold-on-wood-furniture-dangerous/
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