The Best Way to Clean Wood Furniture From Mold

When you find that mold is growing somewhere inside your home, you should never ignore it. Depending on the location of the mold and how far it has spread, you may need to see a professional to get rid of it. But if you’re experiencing mold on wood furniture, you may be able to deal with it yourself. Here’s what you need to know.

How to remove mold from wooden furniture

Several different types of mold can grow on wooden furniture. If you’re dealing with black mold, you probably shouldn’t try to deal with it yourself. Otherwise, it is often possible to remove mold from wooden furniture using products you already have at home.

Here’s what to do:

Protect yourself

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

Protect your home

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

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

Wash the surface

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

If the mold has not penetrated deep into the wood, this may be enough to get rid of it. Otherwise, move on.

Spray with vinegar

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

Additional measures

If the mold still persists, you may need to use a borax solution , or perhaps sand, and then polish the wood furniture.