Home Garden

The Best Mold Removal Products for Furniture

Mold is a difficult problem to deal with, especially when it infests porous surfaces like fabrics and wood. Often mold will dig down deep into a porous surface and will escape many types of cleaning to eventually regrow. For bad infestations on furniture, consider removing the furniture piece entirely. However, for light infestations you can use a powerful cleaning agent to remove or at least kill the mold and make the furniture usable again. Always treat furniture in an area outside the home.
  1. Denatured Alcohol

    • Denatured alcohol is simple ethanol mixed with a variety of other compounds to make it a more efficient solvent. Some types of denatured alcohol are used as rubbing alcohol. Denatured alcohol is useful for removing some of the mold that is bonded to the furniture. The alcohol itself will often kill the mold spores.

    Fungicide Sprays

    • Fungicide sprays are aerosols that are designed to kill mold so that it cannot reinfest any areas in the home. Look for a fungicide or biocide that is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and is nontoxic to use within enclosed spaces. Some sprays use enzymes to break apart mold particles to make them easier to remove. Other sprays are designed to protect surfaces from further infestation.

    Hydrogen Peroxide

    • Hydrogen peroxide is a reliable compound for killing and removing mold. Over time, it breaks down into oxygen and water, making it safer to use than some biocides. If you decide to use hydrogen peroxide, choose a strong solution, at least 3 percent. When it comes to killing mold, stronger is better.

    Vacuum Cleaners

    • Vacuum cleaners probably won't help much to remove mold from wooden furniture, but they can certainly help when taking care of mold on upholstery. Remove the furniture from the house before vacuuming it to avoid spreading mold spores in the air, and vacuum after you use any type of biocide. Vacuuming can help to remove some of the deep-set mold growths that resist normal scrubbing.