How to Remove Mold From Antique Furniture
Apart from being a health issue especially for people with asthma and other respiratory problems, mold smells bad and looks even worse on antique furniture. Mold can ruin antique furniture fabrics and wood and many stains are tough to remove. Removing the mold is the first step towards the restoration project.
Items Needed:
- Soft brush
- Mild detergent
- Vacuum cleaner
- Isopropyl alcohol solution
- Lysol
- Non-chlorine bleach
- Warm water
- Sponge
- Protective clothing and surgical mask
- Wear a protective mask to protect yourself from mold spores. Inhaling mold can be dangerous to your health.
- Move the furniture to the outdoors to prevent the spores from being released and spreading inside the house. Vacuum the loose spores in the home. You will not always see the spores as they can be microscopic
- Brush the affected area on the furniture using the soft brush and vacuum the area again. Remove the vacuum cleaner dust bag and throw it away immediately, or clean the vacuum canister.
- Begin with the mildest solution to find out if the stains will come off, before resorting to harsher or stronger detergents.
- Mix mild detergents with water first and test it on a small area. If the solution is ineffective, use the Lysol or the isopropyl alcohol. Test them on different parts of the furniture to see which one is most effective and does not deteriorate the wood or cloth.
- Mix non-chlorine bleach and water and use it if all the test results fail to produce results. Apply the solution and test it, again in a non-conspicuous spot. Be sure to rinse this thoroughly and follow all precautions.
- Clean all the mold spots by gently rubbing the affected areas. Leave the furniture in a warm dry place and wait until it is completely dry. You can place a fan nearby to blow air onto the furniture.
- Seal the wood with a varnish or polyurethane but realize the value of antique furniture may decrease when the original condition is altered.