You must have spent a lot of money on your favorite wood furniture. It looks beautiful, giving your home an elegant and sophisticated feel. However, wood is prone to damage from mold growth, which is pretty damaging. It leaves furniture with mold stains all over the surface, making it appear old and rusted. Not only that, but mold growth can also pose health hazards since your family is always in close vicinity.
If you're also worried about mold colony growth on your wood furniture or crawl spaces, our detailed guide will help you resolve the problem. We'll answer many of your burning questions regarding the mold problem and ensure your wood furniture looks beautiful for years.
Why is a wooden surface prone to mold infestation
Following are some of the reasons why wood is prone to mold.
1. High Humidity Levels
High humidity; levels can wreak havoc on your shiny wooden furniture by providing the ideal moisture content for mold growth. Mold spores are floating around everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. When you provide them with a damp environment, they multiply rapidly and establish themselves on suitable surfaces like wooden furniture.
2. Poor Ventilation
Poor ventilation is another major cause of mold growth on furniture. Proper ventilation systems ensure that air keeps circulating and no moisture accumulates. If ventilation doesn't happen effectively, moisture gets trapped indoors, providing a perfect environment for mold.
3. Neglecting Regular Cleaning
Mold also loves to grow by feeding on organic material. A build-up of dust, food particles, and other organic matter indoors allows mold to feast on this abundant food source. The lingering mold spores multiply, and your furniture surface gets damaged.
4. Water Damage
Water leaking from the roof or any other source provides enough moisture for rapid wood mold growth. Unfortunately, water gets soaked deeply into the furniture and doesn't evaporate easily because there is no air circulation in these recesses. Moreover, water damage also weakens furniture and creates porous surfaces, spreading surface mold even deeper.
5. HVAC System Issues
One of the critical functions of an HVAC System is regulating humidity levels. If it malfunctions, it can no longer do its core job and humidity increases. Moreover, HVAC issues cause uneven airflow and rapid temperature fluctuations, leading to condensation on the furniture.
Mold types
We must differentiate between mold species before understanding the reasons for their growth and possible remedies. Following are some of the most common types of molds found on wood.
1. Black Mold
Black mold colonies are called Stachybotrys chartarum and appear dark green or black. They have a slimy texture and produce mycotoxins, causing allergies and breathing issues.
2. White Mold
White mold appears as fluffy white patches. Although it is less harmful than black mold, it spreads rapidly on wood and can cause respiratory issues.
3. Green Mold
Green mold loves damp wood surfaces, so it will thrive if your furniture gets wet or has excess moisture. It has a powdery texture and appears yellow or green. Green mold is known for harming the respiratory systems of people with compromised immunity.
How to get rid of mold growth on furniture?
Let us discuss some common remedies used to kill mold on wooden surfaces. Before trying these mold removal methods, wear protective gear, such as rubber gloves and a mask.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar, has been touted as an effective solution for mold removal. It has acids that remove mold and give your furniture a refined and polished look.
Dilute one part of the vinegar with one part of the water and spot test before going all in. Using a gentle cloth or brush that doesn't damage the furniture’s surface is important. After finishing the cleaning process with the soft bristled brush, start another round with a cloth dipped in vinegar. Use light circular movements for optimal results.
Once you have finished it, rinse your furniture with water and let its wood dry for a while.
2. Bleach Solution
Bleach solution is another remedy for removing mold many people use in their homes. It is usually used when mold has penetrated deeply into the furniture. The sodium hypochlorite in it kills spores and prevents further mold growth. Make sure you use a diluted form of bleach because the original formulation is a bit too harsh for painted wood.
Mix one part detergent with ten parts bleach and dilute the solution with twenty parts warm water. Apply the solution to the damaged surface with a scrub or a damp cloth and gently scrub to kill mold. Let the treated wood dry in the air and repeat if necessary.
3. Clove Oil and Salt
A clove oil and salt mixture is also an effective mold spores solution. You can prepare it by adding three drops of clove oil and one tablespoon of vinegar in half-liter warm water. Use a spray bottle filled with this mixture on the affected area and cover it with a thick salt layer.
Leave it for the whole night to create a dry environment, and use a vacuum in the morning to clean it all up. Keep repeating these steps until you have gotten rid of the mold. Ensure your spray bottle is clean by washing it with a dishwashing detergent before preparing the clove oil and salt mixture.
4. Sanding
Sanding wooden surfaces that have suffered extreme damage can also be a viable solution for killing mold. It is also more convenient than treating the whole furniture with vinegar or bleach. The best way to do this is to sand the untreated wood and spray it with antimicrobial agents.
None of these remedies is perfect for removing mold from wooden furniture. Therefore, a technically advanced and effective solution like an air scrubber is better for a delicate surface.
Air scrubbers
Air scrubbers are much superior to home remedies because they prevent mold growth before it begins. As their names suggest, air scrubbers remove particulate matter, offering a permanent solution to the mold issue.
They have specialized filters that work perfectly in high-humidity environments. They're perfectly suited for residential and commercial settings. The highest quality scrubbers can filter up to 99.97% of airborne particles, ensuring optimal air quality.
PuriSystems’ air scrubbers for optimal results
Once you allow mold to set in, it spreads rapidly, ruining wood surfaces and negatively impacting your health. Therefore, controlling loose mold spores with quality air scrubbers like PuriSystems offers is crucial. Our air scrubbers can filter 99.97% of mold particles thanks to the three-step filtration and advanced UV-C light. With such a sophisticated air purification mechanism, we can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns, including microscopic spores.
With the help of your capable team, we have developed a large variety of air scrubbers for various requirements. So, contact us and get your hands on the most advanced filtration solutions on the market to prevent the future growth of mold.