Wooden furniture is known to give a timeless appeal to the space whether it is a home or office. However, like any other furniture this too needs maintenance from time to time. Wood is likely to get fungal growth when kept in poorly ventilated areas. The fungi damage the structure and appearance of the furniture and is also injurious to health as it can cause allergy and respiratory problems.
If you have noticed any type of patches such as green, black or white and the air smells bad then its time to take action. Wondering what to do next? Well, here are the steps to help you out.
The fungal growth on the wooden furniture can be caused due to many reasons such as high humidity, poor ventilation, water leakage, dirt, dust or warm temperature. It might be caused during the monsoons or in environments which are too tightly packed.
Has your wooden furniture got fungus? Are you wondering what to do with it? Well, here are the steps to help you remove it.
Step 1: Relocate the Furniture to a Well-Ventilated Area/Outdoors
The first step begins with moving the affected furniture to a well-ventilated area such as a balcony, courtyard or garage. This prevents the fungus from spreading further and ensures that the better air circulation maintained while removing it.
Step 2: Wear Safety Gear While Cleaning It
As fungus can be harmful when it is inhaled or touched, therefore, it is better to safeguard yourself first. You can wear gloves, goggles, mask, and clothes with long sleeves for protection.
Step 3: Dry Brush the Surface of the Furniture
Remove the fungus by using a brush which can be a toothbrush or a scrubbing brush. Use it gently over the affected surface to get rid of the fungus, aggressive brushing will infect the air around you. Don’t forget to spread some newspapers below so that the falling fungus can assemble on it.
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Step 4: Vacuum the Surface of the Wooden Furniture
If you have a vacuum cleaner, you can use it to suck the fungus that has loosened up. Don’t forget to dispose off the vacuum bag and clean the machine afterwards.
Step 5: Prepare a Natural Anti-Fungal Cleaning Solution
You can make different types of anti-fungal cleaning solutions at home such as baking soda paste, vinegar solution, and tea tree oil spray. For making a vinegar solution, all you need is a spray bottle which is to be filled with 1 cup warm water and 1 one cup white vinegar.
To make a baking soda paste, you need to mix 1 table spoon baking soda with water and for tea tree oil spray, mix 1 cup water with 1 teaspoon tea tree oil, fill it in a bottle and use it.
Step 6: Apply the Solution to the Affected Area
Once the solution is ready, dab or spray according to your solution choice on the affected area. Wait for 10 to 15 minutes as it kills the spores, ensure that you don’t oversaturate the furniture as it can make the situation worse.
Step 7: Scrub Gently & Carefully
Use a sponge or a soft piece of cloth to scrub the area in gentle circular motion. You can use a brush to scrub tough spots.
Step 8: Wipe and Dry the Furniture
Once done with scrubbing, gently wipe the furniture using a clean and dry microfiber cloth. Let the furniture dry in the sun as it will kill the germs.
Step 9: Sand and Refinish the Wooden Furniture
In case you see that the fungus has stained the furniture, sand the affected area with a fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe using a dry cloth and apply wood polish or wax to the area.
This is how you can bring back your fungus affected furniture back to life. Hope, these simple steps will solve your problem effectively.
You must always buy wooden furniture from a trusted furniture manufacturing company such as Haus Luxuriant and learn all the maintenance tips and tricks from the manufacturer during purchase to prevent any such problem in the future.
