The growth of mold and mildew in your furniture is unsightly and a health risk. You should regularly inspect for possible mold growth in your home to prevent further damage and protect your family from serious health issues associated with mold exposure. If large mold colonies have penetrated the fabric of your upholstered furniture, you should discard the materials or hire professionals to remove the mold.
If mold growth is less than 10 square feet, you can remove it using conventional cleaners. However, you shouldn’t delay or hold off mold removal as it gives the colony a chance to proliferate, and continuous exposure has adverse health effects.
Furniture Mold Removal
Unfortunately, most homeowners overlook furniture care when scheduling other home care practices, such as HVAC maintenance. Maintaining wood furniture requires simple dusting. However, upholstered furniture requires some extensive practice. Generally, you should clean off dust and debris from the fabric using a light vacuum.
You should also be wary of furniture placement in your home to maintain its appearance over time. For instance, prolonged exposure to the direct sun causes the wood and fabric to fade. If liquids spill on the surface, you should clean them immediately to avoid permanent stains.
However, the same maintenance practices don’t apply to mold removal. Before considering mold removal, you should identify and eliminate the primary cause of mold growth in your furniture. Mold highly thrives in damp conditions, such as bathrooms and basements. Mold growth in your furniture may suggest pipe leaks or other water events in your house.
If your rooms are prone to dampness, you should actively use a dehumidifier to mitigate mold growth. You should maintain your indoor humidity levels below 50%. Once you have eliminated the cause of mold growth, you can attempt to remediate mold from your furniture without worrying about recurrence.
Removing Mold in Wood and Glass Furniture
Mold can grow on wood or glass furniture, such as tabletops and cabinets. Fortunately, removing mold from these furniture items is very simple. You should first use a HEPA vacuum, then damp-wipe the surfaces using cleaning products with low toxicity. You should consult with furniture stores or check manufacturers’ recommendations for the best products to use.
If signs of mold regrowth appear or these products fail to remove mold completely, advanced steps, such as refinishing or sanding the wood surface, can help. However, professionals should do sanding, as dangerous mold spores might be released.
Removing Mold from Upholstered Furniture
If your chairs, pillows, sofas, and other upholstered furniture is heavily saturated with mold, you should consider disposing of the fabric. If water filtration and mold growth are minimal, you should dry the fabric and clean it with a HEPA vacuum. You should read the cleaning instructions and use the products recommended by the manufacturer.
If you can’t remove mold from upholstered furniture, you can save the frame and seek professional reupholstering. If you have any concerns about possible recurrence, consider hiring professional mold remediation experts.
Best Cleaning/Mold Removal Products to Use
The following cleaning products have proven efficacy against mold;
1. Vinegar
Vinegar is an excellent cleaning agent against mold. The solution has acidic properties, eliminating mold growth caused by excessive dampness. You should reduce its concentration by diluting the solution with water. Rinse the furniture thoroughly afterward with clean water to remove lingering pathogens and vinegar.
2. Bleach solution
You should only use a bleach solution on wood, white fabrics, and non-porous furniture. You should use bleach if mold growth has penetrated deep beyond the surface. It is an effective antifungal solution that kills mold spores. However, don’t use a concentrated bleach solution.
Conclusion
Mold removal on furniture is a challenging task everyone can’t do. As mentioned, extensive mold infestation should be handled by mold removal experts. Ensure that you observe all the cleaning measures, such as wearing protective clothing, if you decide to remove mold.
