How to Remove Mold from Wood Furniture, Floors, and Decks

Did you know mold can ruin your wood furniture in as little as two days? It doesn’t take much—just a bit of moisture and the right conditions.

And once it spreads, it can be a real problem. Not just for your wood but for your health, too.

I’ve dealt with mold many times, so I’ll show you exactly how to remove it safely and effectively.

Let’s dive in and learn how to remove mold from wood furniture and prevent its return.

How to Remove Mold from Wood

To remove mold from wood, mix one part vinegar with three parts water. Apply the solution with a soft-bristle brush or sponge, scrubbing the surface gently. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then wipe with a clean cloth. Repeat as necessary to ensure the mold is fully removed from the wood.

What is Mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in tiny, thread-like structures.

These threads produce tiny spores, which are released into the air. Because they’re so lightweight, mold spores float around easily. And they’re just looking for a spot with moisture and warmth to start growing.

Wood is especially vulnerable because it absorbs moisture. That’s why it’s a common place for mold to grow. If it’s not dealt with, mold spreads and releases even more spores, leading to a bigger problem.

Types of Mold

There are different types of mold. Some of them can be very harmful to man, others – not so much. Harmful, in this sense, implies allergenic, pathogenic, or toxigenic.

Honestly, though, it doesn’t matter the type of mold in your house; you need to learn how to remove the mold from wood.

1. Black Mold

Black mold species are king in terms of potential health hazards to man. There are many black mold species, but Stachybotrys chartarum is the most identified as black mold.

Aside from constituting a greater health threat, black mold treatment on wood is usually more difficult to eradicate as it can firmly root itself.

2. White Mold

Mold species that are white and have a powdery texture fall under the classification of white mold. Mold can occur in different colors, remember?

There are a few white species, like penicillium, aspergillus, and Cladosporium. White mold can change its color later or remain white. Generally, white mold species are not as harmful as their black counterparts.

3. Mildew

Mold and mildew are often taken for one another. Many even believe they are the same species, but not quite. Mildew is a specific type of mold and is the most common type found in homes.

They are classified into powdery and downy mildew. Unlike many mold species, mildew is relatively easy to get rid of because it has a flat growth and doesn’t penetrate wood surfaces.

4. Green Mold

This mold is more common on food substances, like bread and some fruits, but they can also infest painted or stained wood surfaces. Although not as harmful as black mold, green mold still presents health hazards to house inhabitants.

How to Remove Mold from Wood Furniture & Other Surfaces

Now, to the moment of truth – how to remove mold from wood surfaces. There are various ways you can go about this; if one measure doesn’t work, you can always take another.

On the other hand, if all the steps you try don’t work, seek professional assistance.

Tools Required in Removing Wood Mold

• N95 or N100 air mask
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves
• Overalls
• Vacuum cleaner
• Soft brush
• Spray bottle
• Sponge
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Soft cloth

How to Treat Molds on Wood

Here are 6 ways of mold treatment for wood. But sometimes, your preferred method won’t cut it because the mold has penetrated deep into the wood.

So we recommend that you start with the first method, i.e, sunlight, and move to the next if it doesn’t work. Essentially, it’s more of a step-by-step process rather than the best treatment for mold on wood.

First things first: Vacuuming

The first step in removing mold from wood is vacuuming the affected wood surfaces. A good vacuum with a HEPA filter will clear off mold spores, sand, and other small dirt on the surface of the wood.

After the vacuum traps all spores and dirt, empty it outside, preferably in a sealed plastic bag. Releasing the vacuum content in your house will only see these spores redispersed, and you will be back to square one in a few days.

How to Get Mold off Furniture through Exposure to Sunlight

If mold infests your wood surfaces because of too little sun exposure, then all you need may be direct sunlight. Mold grows best under warm, damp, and dark, damp places.

Exposing the wood to sunlight will remove the dampness, darkness, and warmth the mold needs to develop. 

Take the wood out after dew has evaporated not to dampen it further and back in after sunset when the temperature will fall drastically. 

How to Remove Mildew from Wood Furniture with Vodka

If exposure to sunlight doesn’t work, you should spray the wood surface with chemicals using a spray bottle. There are various mold killer sprays that you can use in washing, but you should start with vodka. 

Spray vodka on the wood and allow it to completely dry. This is an effective mold prevention method. You should combine sun-drying with vodka-spraying for even better results.

Allow the wood to dry before bringing it back in.

How to clean mold on woodwork with Detergent

If the mold is resistant to vinegar and sun-drying, you should take it up a notch with laundry detergent. Get liquid dishwashing detergent and mix it with warm water.

Using a soft-bristled brush, gently scrub the affected area with soap water. Ensure that your brush is gentle to the wood, as some brushes may scratch and deface the wood surface. 

After scrubbing, clean off the excess water with a damp cloth. Speaking of which, ensure you don’t saturate the wood with water. 

Repeat this process if some mold remains on the wood. 

How to remove mold from wood with vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most used chemicals for removing mold stains from wood because of its affordability and non-toxic nature. For me, it’s the best way to clean up mold on wood.

Spray it on the affected wood surface using a spray bottle and wipe it with a damp cloth after an hour. Distilled vinegar kills mold that is detergent-resistant mold. Repeat this process a few more times if necessary.

About 80% of mold species will not survive after this step, and if your wood is mold-free, wipe with a wood cleaning solution and then wipe with a soft dry cloth.

It’s not only molds!

How to Clean Mold off of Wood with Bleach

To the other 20% stubborn mold, you need something stronger, and bleach comes to mind.

A bleach and soap mixture is typically reserved for all the mold that is hard to get off due to deep rooting and penetration of the affected wood.

Bleach can exude toxic fumes, so take care when handling it. This cleaning procedure has to be done outdoors or in a large square feet room, at the least. 

Prepare your bleach mixture by mixing one tablespoon of detergent with a cup of warm water and then half a cup of bleach. Using a soft-bristled brush or sponge, thoroughly scrub the wood surface in circular motions.

Allow the wood to dry under sunlight.

How to Get mold off of Wood by Sanding

The probability that you’ll reach this stage is low but not impossible, particularly for mold that has penetrated deep into the surface of the wood.

You need to sand down the wood to remove the remaining stubborn mold. After proper sanding, vacuum the wood surface to remove grit. If you’re inexperienced with sanding, you should call a professional.

To ensure the spores don’t return, you should spray the wood with paint after sanding. This will seal the pores in the wood.

Alternatively, you can use a black stain on wood if you want to transform the color into black without concealing the wood’s grain pattern.

After removing loose mold spores from wood surfaces, dispose of all the rags, plastic bags, and containers that came in contact with the mold spores.

You should also ensure your protective gear is properly disinfected before returning them to your home.

Additional Wood Mold Cleaner Options

-Borax

Borax is a natural fungicide and will kill mold and its loose spores. Unlike bleach, this cleaner for mold on wood doesn’t produce toxic fumes. However, killing mold on wood using Borax solution may damage porous wood. As such, you should only use borax on non-porous surfaces.

– Tea Tree Oil

This oil has potent antifungal activity and effectively removes mold spores from wood surfaces. It is also easy to use. The downside to using tea tree oil is its relatively high cost.

-Hydrogen Peroxide

This chemical is common in many cleaning products because of its strong antimicrobial activity. It will kill wood mold, disinfect the wood, and rid it of other microorganisms.

Why Is There Mold Growth on Wood?

Mold spores are everywhere, dispersed in the air, seeking the perfect site to colonize. However, mold growth only occurs under the right temperature and moisture conditions.

Around 60-70 Fahrenheit is the best temperature for mold growth.

Mold also grows on damp and moist surfaces, meaning dry wood or wood exposed to adequate sunlight will be reasonably resistant to mold growth.

You will have noticed that leaking roofs or floors under bathrooms and kitchens are perfect sites for mold growth; and mold and wood are no exception. Wood provides an ideal surface for mold to spread, especially when moisture is present.

Dangers of Having Mold on Wood

The most significant danger of having mold persists on wood is the destruction of the wood after a while. Consider wood furniture, for instance.

Most mold species will dig their roots into the wood with time and keep growing, weakening the wood furniture and eventually breaking down.

Besides, mold can discolor and leave wood stains, even after removal. 

The detrimental effects of mold can be felt by humans, too, particularly those with respiratory conditions. In addition, infants, the elderly, and people with a compromised immune system are also at a higher risk of the effects of mold.

Some effects of mold on humans include sneezing, rash, itching, shortness of breath, asthma attacks, and other respiratory complications.

Detecting Mold on Wood

Humans can easily detect most molds. Seriously, how can you not?

They are smelly and ugly and usually take on a distinct color. What is interesting, though, is that mold starts growing long before humans can detect it.

This implies that your piece of wooden furniture or door can be infested with mold, and you wouldn’t suspect a thing until it’s too late.

How then can you detect this kind of mold growth? First, let us introduce you to a moisture meter.

Well, this meter doesn’t detect mold growth; it only detects moisture content, which can then correlate to mold growth. If the moisture content in the wood is more than 20%, then it’s a valuable sign that the wood may be infested with mold.

When detecting the presence of mold, you should also focus on the affected area of your home or office.

Check kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and the like. Where you feel moisture and heat can be trapped is a suitable mold-growing spot.

The sure way to detect mold is to have a professional come to your home and do a mold inspection. This will involve taking samples of any visible mold and sending them to a laboratory for analysis.

The lab will determine if the mold is harmful and what type of mold it is.

Wood Mold Prevention Tips

Sure, cleaning mildew from wood is a good solution once you notice them, but mold spores are everywhere.

So, you can’t exactly remove all mold spores in your house. However, you can and should prevent mold from growing on wooden surfaces.

The following tips and measures will help prevent future mold growth on wood surfaces.

1. Use dehumidifiers and hygrometers

These two will help regulate the moisture in your house.

The work of a dehumidifier is to help reduce total moisture, and a hygrometer can help measure relative humidity.

Ideally, you want a relative humidity below 60%. Getting moisture and humidity levels right is the first step to preventing mold from infesting wood surfaces.

2. Proper ventilation

Airflow is one of the more underrated measures in maintaining perfect living conditions for furniture.

Ensure rooms containing your furniture are properly ventilated. For example, you can move your furniture away from wall corners and use fans to promote proper air circulation and flow.

3. Proper insulation

Wood is a good insulator, so insulating wood surfaces prone to condensation is advisable, as this will help maintain their dryness and prevent mold growth.

4. Fix all drainage problems

This goes without saying, doesn’t it? Bad drainage can lead to wood soaking up water, which, in turn, increases the likelihood of mold infestation. So check your sinks and drainage pipes from time to time to ensure the drainage is perfect. 

5. Avoid wet spots

It is common in some houses to have spots where water accumulates, especially after rain or snow. Ensure you clean mold spots to prevent water from penetrating the wood and increasing its moisture.

6. Periodic checking of wood 

Using a moisture meter will help tell the moisture level of wood. Perform the checks periodically, especially if the wood is in areas where it can easily trap moisture.

Precautions When Treating Mold on Wood

Before you learn how to remove mold stains from wood, you must know how to protect yourself. This is essential, considering how harmful mold can be to man.

Wear protective gear before examining the moldy wood, whether or not you are allergic to them. If inhaled in large quantities, mold spores can harm the lungs and other organs.

Start by getting a respirator mask. You aren’t going to be using just any protective mask now, though. Instead, use an N95 or N100 air mask to prevent mold spores from getting into your lungs.

Then, you need safety goggles to protect your eyes as the spores can be pretty itchy and irritable. You should get rubber gloves, given the chemicals you will likely be dealing with.

It will also be best to get an overall to protect your skin, but if you can’t get that, wear old clothes, as you will be dealing with chemicals that may splash and ruin clothes.

Another precaution is to undergo the wood mold removal process outdoors or in a well-ventilated room. If the infested wood is something you can remove from your house and take outdoors, please do.

If not, open all windows, and ensure proper airflow. You don’t need fans, though, as this may just end up blowing the mold spores all around.

The final precaution, or more of a warning now, is that if you discover at any step of the way that the process is overwhelming, you should call it quits and get a professional.

How to Get Rid of Mold on Wood FAQs

Can you clean mold off wood?

Yes. You can clean mold from wood using warm water and dishwashing soap. Add some dishwashing solvent into an empty spray bottle. Fill it with warm water and shake well to ensure they blend. Spray the moldy areas while scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush to get the mold out. Use a dry sponge to wipe the excess liquid.

What kills black mold on wood?

White vinegar is the preferred black mold killer for wood. To remove black molds in wood, mix white vinegar and warm water in equal measure. Spray the solution on the wood surface and let it dry for an hour. Then, gently scrub the wood surface and clean it with a moist cloth.   

How to kill black mold on wood

Mix warm water and vinegar in equal proportions to kill black mold on wood. Spray the solution on the black molds allowing it to dry for an hour. Wipe the surface with a wet cloth to ensure the removal of all black molds from wood. Wipe with a dry towel.

How to get rid of white mold on wood

Mix one tablespoon baking soda and half a liter of water into a spraying bottle. Shake the mixture well to allow the baking soda to dissolve completely. Spray the solution on the moldy wood surface. Use a soft cloth or a soft brush to scrub the white mold.

How to get rid of green mold on wood

To get rid of green mold on wood, mix one gallon of water with a cup of white vinegar. Using a soft brush, scrub the solution onto the affected area to remove the mold and algae. Allow the mixture to sit for an hour, giving it time to work effectively. Finally, wipe the wood clean with a damp towel to remove any residue.

How do you make a homemade mold and mildew remover for wood?

Mix equal amounts of warm water and vinegar into a spray bottle and shake well. Spritz the solution on the moldy areas. Allow the wood to dry for an hour, wipe the surface with a wet cloth, and finish by drying the wood with a dry cloth.

How do you remove mold on painted wood?

A thorough cleaning removes and kills mold. Take a cupful of water and mix it with one tablespoon of dishwashing soap. Using the soapy solution, wash the mold-affected areas, scrub off the mold using a soft brush, and finally dry with a cloth. If you wish to repaint, check our guide on painting over old paint on wood. This method is also important for addressing any lingering mold issues.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Mold Off Wood

Mold on wood isn’t just ugly—it can destroy your furniture and harm your health. This guide shows you simple, effective ways to remove mold using natural and chemical solutions.

Always gear up for safety, and if the damage is severe, it’s time to call in the pros. Regular cleaning, preventing spills, and using the right products will keep your wood in great shape.

But the real key? Stop mold before it starts by keeping your wood dry and well-ventilated.