Removing mould from furniture
Mould on furniture can be a serious problem and can end up costing you a lot of money, especially if you have to throw the furniture away. Mould will grow on furniture if the furniture is damp. Once mould has grown on furniture such as sofa’s or pillows it can result in having to throw that furniture away so it’s important to keep a check on catch the mould as soon as it appears. The sooner you destroy it the better. Mould can commonly be found on furniture such as cupboards, shelves or anything that is right up against the wall. This may be due to moisture developing in a small gap and making a damp spot or a leak in the wall. Be sure to check all furniture as often as possible.
Before cleaning he mould off you need to decide whether an expert mould remover is needed. If you decide to do it yourself you must take the correct safety procedures:
- Wear gloves,
- Wear goggles,
- Wear protective clothing or old clothes that can be thrown away,
- Wear a mask,
- Clean the furniture outside (if possible- If not make sure all the windows are open and there is good air circulation),
Cleaning the furniture will depend on what furniture is mouldy:
- Wood:
- Wash the mould off,
- Dry the area as best as possible,
- Sand the wood down(to remove any spores)
- Recoat the wood with varnish,
- Keep checking the wood for any signs of mould as it may need recoating or sanding more.
- Soft furniture:
- Make sure the material/furniture is dry
- Make a cleaning mixture (be careful if using bleach as it may lighten some fabric),
- Try and scrape any large bits of mould off and put in a bag and seal the bag well,
- Now slowly clean the fabric with the cleaning mixture on a damp cloth,
- Keep scrubbing until all the mould is gone,
- Once the mould is gone dry the area as best as possible,
- Once the area is fully dry keep checking for any mould growing,
- If the mould comes back then the furniture may be ruined and may to be thrown away or you can try having an expert look at it and take their advice.
The best way to save your furniture is to look after it correctly. Here are a few tips to try and prevent mould growing on the furniture:
- Move the furniture away from the wall if possible, (this is to allow air flow),
- Hoover the room and furniture as much as possible,
- With soft furniture i.e. sofa, swap and turn cushions over,
- Keep furniture dry and clean.
