How to Get Mold Off of Furniture

Removing mold and mildew from furniture is quite easy if the furniture is wood or metal. It can be more challenging if you have mold on furniture upholstery, but there are several solutions to try that won't ruin the fabric.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Detergent
• Bleach
• Water
• Rubbing alcohol
• spray bottle
• Soft scrub brush
• Old toothbrush
• Clean absorbent rags
• Furniture oil

How to Get Mold Off of Furniture

1. Dry the furniture completely, in natural sunlight if possible. Mold thrives in dampness and shade and will stop growing in dry, sunny conditions--although the stains will still be visible. Before removing mold from furniture it needs to be dry or else the mold will come right back.

2. Use a mixture of water diluted with 10 to 20 percent bleach, and add a few drops of detergent to clean outdoor metal or wood furniture. You can also obtain outdoor house cleaners with mildew-killing additive right in the mix from any hardware store. Spraying it directly on the moldy areas should make the mold disappear before your eyes. You may need to use a soft scrub brush to clean away the stains. Rinse the furniture thoroughly with clean water.

3. Use the same bleach and detergent mixture on outdoor furniture cushions but test a small area first to make sure the bleach does not ruin colored fabrics. Bleach, even diluted with water, should never be used on fine interior furniture fabrics, but may be fine for some outdoor furniture upholstery. You will need to loosen the mold particles with a small soft scrub brush or even a toothbrush dipped in the cleaning solution.. Rinse completely and air dry.

4. Try the same bleach, detergent and water solution on interior furniture--but take care not to get it too wet. Excess moisture may loosen veneers and laminate on interior furniture. Test the solution in a small area first to make sure it doesn't discolor the finish. Once you have cleaned the mold off, let the furniture dry well in a warm dry place for at least 24 hours. This solution is drying to wood, so you then have to use quality furniture oil to clean and buff it back to its original luster. A 50/50 solution of water and rubbing alcohol is also effective for removing mold from wood furniture.

5. Brush visible mold from furniture upholstery and fabric with a small toothbrush. If possible do this outside so you are not spreading mold spores inside your home. It is usually unsafe to try any form of chlorine bleach or lemon juice solution on upholstery fabrics. Although they will effectively remove mold there is a great chance it will lighten the fabric. If you want to try it, experiment with a hidden part of the fabric to be sure it won't ruin your upholstery first.

6. Try the 50/50 solution of rubbing alcohol and water on interior furniture fabric. This will usually not discolor the fabric but always test first. To rinse, use clean rags and blot the fabric. Never rub it as you could rub the mold and solution deeper into the fabric pile. Always dry by blotting with clean, white absorbent cloths.

Tips & Warnings

• Always dry moldy furniture in a warm dry place, preferably in sunlight, both before and after treatment.
• If the mold conditions happened because of dampness inside your home, consider a dehumidifier to keep the air drier or the mold will return.
• If the dampness and mold inside your home is severe, contact your homeowners insurance company. They may be able to help.
• If the mold has penetrated deep into upholstery or cushions you may need to have them professionally fumigated to completely remove all the mold.
• For very fine, expensive antique furniture, it may be wiser to take it to someone who specializes in antique furniture restoration.
• Protect your skin and mouth when working with chlorine bleach.
• Never mix chlorine bleach with ammonia based cleaners as this will cause chlorine gas which is extremely dangerous.