How to Remove Mold from Outdoor Furniture

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It can be quite easy for mold or mildew to appear on your outdoor furniture, especially if you have not cleaned the furniture as frequently as recommended. 

(Which no one does.  Ever.  Just FYI.)

Thankfully, it’s much easier to get rid of unwanted bacteria on outdoor furniture than unwanted house guests who visit the indoor portion of your house.  (I can’t help you there.)

When it comes to outdoor furniture that has been made from wood or metal you will have no trouble at all when it comes to removing the mold. Of course, mold remediation services are needed if the problem extends beyond a piece or two of furniture. 

(You’ll know if you have a serious infestation.)

Upholstery can prove to be a little bit trickier, but is still not impossible to cleanse.

This article will help you know exactly how to get rid of the pesky mold and mildew from all types of furniture.

Step 1:  Get it Dry

First things first, you need to begin by putting your furniture outside in the sunlight so that it dries out. 

If the sun is not shining, you might need to get creative and find your own method of drying out the outdoor furniture, such as using a hairdryer. After all, mold tends to occur because the area is damp or is in the dark. 

Hint: If your outdoor areas attract dampness, this is likely to be the reason why the mold and the mildew have appeared in the first place. 

If you begin the cleaning process without doing this step then you are likely to find that the pesky fungal species will reappear again. 

Step 2:  Kill the Mold

To begin the cleaning process you need to create your mixture to get rid of the mold. 

Get yourself a bucket.

• Fill it about two thirds of the way with water

• Add 10% to 20% of bleach

• Add a small amount of detergent

Important Note:  When it comes to cleaning any of the upholstery on your outdoor furniture you need to be a little bit more mindful when using the mixture. It is always recommended that you test a little patch first in order to ensure that the bleach does not take away the colour from your fabric.  Don’t proceed with this method if your test patch messes up the colors.

You can also obtain specific cleaners for this, however, the mixture just stated is more than substantial enough and it is likely that you will already have these products in your home. 

Use a spray bottle in order to apply the mixture to the areas containing mold and mildew. 

(You should start to notice the mold immediately begin to disappear from sight.) 

If you don’t feel like all of the fungi have gone, then find a soft scrub brush to rub in the mixture better and get rid of the stain.

Step 3:  Rinse Excessively

Chances are there is some mold that isn’t visible to the naked eye.

If you’ve scrubbed off all the visible mold, you’ve probably killed all the harmful bacteria, but it is still physically on the chair (or whatever you’re cleaning).

Make sure you rinse until any trace of your cleaning solution is gone.

Step 4:  Dry Even More Excessively

So we mentioned that damp furniture causes mold, right?

Well, you just rinsed the heck out of your furniture.  If you put it away now you’ll only be back out here with your trusty bucket in another week.

Get it as dry as possible with a towel then put that thing in the sun (or get your hairdryer).

Alternative Treatments

Another solution that is especially effective when it comes to removing mold and mildew from wood is one that consists of half water and half alcohol. You merely need to brush this into the area containing the stain. 

(You can actually use this for upholstery too.)

Also, it is better to blot certain fragile types of fabric with a cloth rather than using the scrubbing technique. First, you don’t want to damage the fabric, but also if you decide to use the alternative treatment solution then you are likely to be rubbing the mold further into your fabric.

Ta da!

So, it is not actually quite as daunting as it seems to get rid of mold and mildew from your outdoor furniture. 

You should probably tackle this project sooner rather than later.  Basically, as soon as you notice mold appearing it is imperative to clean your furniture as soon as possible. 

After all, it is not healthy to have mold or mildew growing anywhere in your home...  

...and kids, you know, lick stuff.