The Best Way to Clean Mold From Wood Furniture

When you discover mold growing somewhere inside your home, it’s never something you should ignore. Depending on the location of the mold and how far it has spread, you may need to have a professional get rid of it. But if you come across mold on a piece of wood furniture, it may be something you can deal with yourself. Here’s what to know.

Several different types of mold can grow on wood furniture. If you happen to be dealing with black mold, it’s probably not something you should try to handle yourself. Otherwise, it’s often possible to remove mold from wood furniture using products you already have at home.

Here’s what to do:

Before doing anything else, put on protective gloves, eyewear, and a face mask or respirator.

Vacuum the piece of furniture to remove any loose mold spores or dust (ideally with a vacuum with a HEPA filter).

If possible, move the piece of furniture outside or to the garage to clean it. You can also cover the areas around it with plastic sheeting.

Fill a clean, empty spray bottle with warm water, add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap, and shake. Then, spray the surface of the furniture with the solution, and scrub the moldy areas with a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush), using a separate rag to remove any excess liquid or suds as you go. When you’re done, use a clean towel to dry the surfaces you’ve cleaned.

If the mold hasn’t penetrated the wood deeply, this may be enough to get rid of it. Otherwise, move on.

Rinse out your spray bottle (or get a new one), fill it with equal parts warm water and distilled white vinegar, and spray the moldy parts of the furniture. Let it dry for an hour, then wipe the surfaces down with a clean, damp rag, followed by a clean, dry towel.

If the mold still won’t go away, you may need to use a borax solution, or possibly sand and then refinish the piece of wood furniture.