How to Remove Mildew on Wood Furniture

If you have any indoor or outdoor wooden furniture that has come under attack from mildew, you may be curious about how to remove mildew on wood. While set-in mildew may seem a bit tricky to get rid of, you'll find that with a few common household items, your wood furniture can be clean and mildew-free in no time. Below are the steps you will need to take in order to remove mildew on wood from any piece of furniture in your home.

Step 1 - Give Your Wood Furniture a Water Washing

The first step in moving mildew on wood is to give the affected wood furniture a thorough water washing. If you're removing mildew from a piece of indoor wooden furniture, use a water-filled spray bottle to apply water to the furniture, paying special attention to the mildew-laden areas. Then, vigorously wipe the furniture with a sponge or washcloth. You may need to repeat this process several times before the affected areas are completely clean. Once you've finished this preliminary cleaning, use a washcloth or paper towel to dry off your furniture.

Alternatively, if you're attempting to remove mildew from a piece of outdoor furniture, you can use a garden hose to rinse any mildew-heavy areas of said furniture. Once the furniture has been sufficiently rinsed, use a sponge or washcloth to get rid any caked-on dirt, dust or other type of filth. If you don't feel like waiting for the furniture to air dry, you can manually dry it with the aid of a washcloth or expendable towel.

Step 2 - Apply Your Bleach-Based Cleaner

Now that you've carried out your preparatory water washing, you're ready to produce and apply a highly effective homemade mildew on wood removal solution. Begin by combining a mild brand of bleach with cool water inside of a clean, empty spray bottle. Once the necessary ingredients have been added, seal the bottle and proceed to apply your newly formed cleaner to any affected of your furniture. Next, allow the bleach-based solution to sit for 3 to 5 minutes and, once it's had ample time to set in, use a sponge, washcloth or soft-bristled scrub brush to vigorously scrub the mildew deposits. Follow up by rinsing off your cleaner with a water-filled spray bottle. If any mildew deposits remain, repeat this step until they have been successfully purged.

Step 3 - Sand the Mildew Deposits

If, after several bleach-based cleaner applications, any mildew deposits remain embedded in your wood furniture, you will need to sand them off. Using a sheet of light-grit sandpaper, carefully proceed to sand the mildew-heavy areas in smooth up-and-down motions. Although it may seem tempting, it is very important that you abstain from using a power sander when performing this step, as it is simply too powerful a tool for the job you're doing. After the mildew has been removed from your furniture, give it another good water rinsing to remove any resulting dust.