If you detect mold on your old wooden furniture, you might be wondering is mold on wood furniture dangerous. Yes, mold on wood furniture is very dangerous. It can make a musty smell, and damage the furniture quickly.
It can also cause lots of respiratory issues, skin irritation, and allergic reactions to human health. So wear protective equipment, and use sunlight, mild dish soap, bleach, or sand off your wooden furniture to kill mold completely.
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Is Mold On Wooden Furniture Harmful?
Mold on wood is dangerous for both human health and furniture. It produces a musty smell and makes the air uncomfortable to breathe in. Mold can penetrate deep into the wood and damage its rotting. So your wood furniture can get weakened and break down over time. Whether it is black, green, or white, mold on wooden furniture is toxic.
It contains mycotoxin substances that can cause deadly illness through touching, inhaling, or ingesting. So if you want to protect your furniture from mold, address any growth immediately and clean and disinfect the area. Then improve ventilation and reduce humidity level inside the house to protect furniture from mold.
Health Risks Associated With Mold On Wood Furniture
Mold on wood furniture can cause plenty of health risks, particularly for people who have allergies or weak immune systems. Mold exposure can cause these potential health problems:
1. Respiratory Issues
If you inhale mold spores, it can cause various respiratory problems including wheezing, coughing, and breath shortness. If you already have respiratory conditions like asthma, mold exposure can worsen your symptoms. If you keep inhaling mold spores, you can suffer from bronchitis or other respiratory infections.
2. Skin Irritation
If you touch moldy wooden furniture, it can cause rashes and skin irritation.
3. Allergic Reactions
If you have allergies, moldy wooden furniture exposure can cause your various allergic reactions including runny nose, sneezing, skin rash, and itchy eyes. In the long run, mold on wood furniture damages your lungs and causes neurological problems. Some research finds that mold exposure can cause cancer.
Why Does Mold Mostly Grow On Wood Furniture?
Wood has a porous surface and absorbs water which provides a food source for mold. Debris or dust on the wood surface contributes to mold buildup. Mold also requires unventilated, warm, and dark places to grow. If you place wood furniture in a high-humidity area, it can get wet due to indoor air. It creates a favorable environment for mold spores to build up and settle.
Wood furniture in unventilated areas like bathrooms or basements also causes mold quicker than other place in the house. This is because wood furniture traps moisture quickly in inadequate ventilation. Mold also grows more often on wood furniture that is exposed to leaks, spills, or floods and retains moisture for a long time.
How To Effectively Kill Mold On Wood Furniture?
Follow these steps to remove light or stuck mold along with dirt and dirt from your wood furniture completely using home remedies:
Prepare The Furniture
Wear your safety goggles, rubber gloves, and air mask to prevent mold from entering your lungs. If you are allergic to mold, wear a long-sleeved shirt to cover most of your skin.
Take your moldy furniture outdoors and then clean it thoroughly to prevent mold spread inside of house. To do so, cover your furniture using a garbage bag and tape to prevent spreading mold spores during transportation. They choose a well-ventilated area to remove mold from your wood furniture. If you can’t take the furniture outside, open all windows before cleaning the mold.
Then clean loose spores, dirt, and dirt using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter and arm attachment. To do so, move the vacuum gradually over moldy areas a few times.
Kill Light Mold
Follow these methods to kill light mold from your wood furniture:
Sunlight
You can remove musty smells and light mold using sunlight. So take your furniture outside in the early morning and bring it back at sunset. You can also place your furniture in a small room and use a dehumidifier to get the same results as sunlight. In this case, you will need a humid room. You can also spray white vinegar solution lightly on your furniture to clean light mold faster using sunlight.
Vodka
If some light mold persists after placing the furniture in sunlight, you can remove it using cheap vodka. To do so, spray vodka on the whole furniture and air dry them placing them under sunlight.
Dish Soap Or Distilled Vinegar
If some mold still exists, you can remove it using a mild detergent solution. To prepare the solution, mix dish soap and hot water in a bucket and spray the solution on moldy areas. Then scrub the areas gently using a soft bristle brush and wipe the surface using a damp towel.
If dish soap fails, use distilled water to eliminate the remaining mold. Spray the mixture of white vinegar and water on your wood furniture and wait for an hour. Then wipe the furniture using a damp cloth.
Remove Stubborn Mold
Stubborn molds are harder to remove and they require additional techniques and effort. Follow these methods to eliminate stuck mold from your wood furniture and retain its longevity:
Bleach Solution
If your wood furniture only has stuck mold, you can use bleach to remove it. But if there are mold’s sunk roots, you’ll need to add detergent to the mixture. To prepare a solution, Mix 2½ cups bleach and 5 cups water in a bucket and stir the mixture using a utensil to distribute the ingredients evenly.
Then dip a scrub sponge or bristle brush into the solution and move it on the surface of wooden furniture following a circle motion applying moderate pressure. After cleaning the furniture, let it dry and then repeat the process if required.
Sand Off The Furniture
If bleach solution can’t remove stuck mold completely, sand the furniture off to finish the job. So sand the moldy areas using fine grit sandpaper and apply moderate pressure. Sanding may damage the finish of your furniture. So you’ll need to refinish the furniture to restore its bright look.
FAQs on Is Mold On Wood Furniture Dangerous
What Does Toxic Mold Look Like On Wood?
Stachybotrys chartarum is a type of black mold that is considered toxic. It appears very dark gray or black. It also has round dotted marks.
What Kills Mold On Wood instantly?
If you want to kill mold on wood instantly, use hydrogen peroxide. It has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that can kill mold on wood surfaces effectively.
How To Treat Powdery White Mold On Wood?
If you want to kill powdery white mold on the wood surface, use a small amount of bleach. Dip a cloth rug into bleach and wipe the moldy area using the cloth. If you want to clean mold from drywall, use a soft rag to avoid causing scratching. You can also use baking soda or distilled vinegar to kill powdery mold.
Final Words
Mold on wood furniture is extremely harmful to both the furniture and humans. It can damage the furniture quickly and cause various health problems for those who use moldy furniture. So if you detect mold on your wood furniture, try to remove it immediately using your home remedies.
Wear safety equipment properly during dealing with mold if you can’t, seek professional help to kill mold completely and prevent further buildup.
