Removing and Preventing Mildew on Wood Furniture in Hilo, HI

If you have issues with moisture in your home, then there’s a very good chance you might also have issues with mold or mildew. Unfortunately, these problems don’t always manifest themselves in places we can see—they can happen behind walls, on the undersides of cabinetry or in the backs of bookshelves that are in use.

The good news is that there are steps you can take to remove and prevent mildew from forming on your wood furniture in Hilo, HI. Here’s a quick overview of what you should know.

Stopping mold or mildew from spreading

Here are some steps you can take to prevent existing mold or mildew from spreading:

• Remove all items from the furniture while wearing gloves and clothing with covered arms and legs. Open your windows for ventilation and wear a respirator or face mask.
• Use a diluted mixture of bleach and water and wipe all areas with existing mold. If you have certain items that you wouldn’t want to expose to water, such as books or more delicate items, you may consider using bleach wipes and then drying them off immediately. Direct sunlight (UV exposure) can also do the trick.

Removing mold or mildew from wood

If you’re certain the mold or mildew will not be able to spread, you should focus next on removing it from your wooden furniture. Here are the steps you should take:

• Continue wearing gloves and protective clothing. If possible, move the furniture outside. Otherwise, go to a well-ventilated area without carpet. Scrape or brush the wood to remove loose spores as much as possible.
• Use your bleach mixture to wash the wood. First, test the mixture on the back of the piece so you can be certain the bleach will not damage the veneer. Once complete, allow the wood to dry in the sun if possible, or else in a well-ventilated area with strong fans running.
• Once the wood is dry, check for any remaining spores. In some cases, the wood will be deeply affected by the mold, which means you may need to cut away or replace some of the wood. Otherwise, if that is not an option with the piece you have, you will unfortunately need to dispose of it, because there gets to be a point where the mold has sunk too deep for the wood to be properly repaired and replaced.

Preventing mold and mildew from growing

To ensure you don’t have any issues with mold or mildew growing at all, follow these steps:

• Maintain a low indoor humidity level, running your dehumidifiers and air conditioning during the summer time especially.
• Never let wet items sit on surfaces.
• Opt for pieces that are naturally resistant to mold, such as glass, metal or plastic.
• Whenever painting or refinishing wood, make sure you choose products designed to prevent mold from setting in.

For more information about preventing and dealing with mold and mildew on wood furniture in Hilo, HI, contact Yamada Furniture today and we will be happy to assist you.

Categorised in: Furniture Care, Wood Furniture

This post was written by Writer