Home Garden

Is Furniture Mold After a Water Leak Bad or is It OK?

Water leaks in your home can be caused by faulty plumbing, poor construction or natural disaster. Often these leaks require a significant amount of expense to repair and it is understandable that homeowners would want to salvage as many of their water-damaged belongings as possible, both to maintain a sense of normalcy and to save money on expensive replacement items. However, water damage often leads to mold growth and mold on your furniture can be a serious problem.
  1. Is Mold Ever OK?

    • Mold on your furniture is not OK and cannot be ignored due to the potential health dangers routinely associated with mold exposure. Furthermore, depending on the source of the water that caused the mold growth on your furniture, there may be other bacteria present along with the mold. All furniture that has been exposed to moisture and then grown mold needs to be either thoroughly cleaned or replaced as soon as possible.

    Mold and Your Health

    • Mold in your home and furniture poses a serious health risk. Mold is associated with breathing problems, allergies and an assortment of related illnesses. If your immune system is impaired or you are an asthma sufferer, mold could be a contributing factor in serious long-term health problems.

    Mold and Furniture

    • Moldy furniture will expose you to mold spores every time you use it or are even in the same room with it, putting you at risk for illness. This is why you should immediately clean moldy furniture and get rid of pieces that you cannot completely eliminate the mold from. It is often easier to successfully remove mold from hard furniture surfaces than from absorbent surfaces and fabrics.

    Cleaning Up Mold

    • Mold can often be removed by scrubbing affected areas using a bleach and water mixture. You may also be able to have the furniture items professionally cleaned by a dry cleaner or professional cleaning company that deals with flood damage. If you are unable to completely remove the mold from your furniture, you will need to replace the item in question to avoid potential health problems as a result of extended exposure to the mold.