How To Remove Mould From Outdoor Furniture

• What is mould?
• Why is mould growing on your outdoor furniture?
• How to get mould off your outdoor furniture
• How to prevent mould growing on outdoor furniture
• Get in touch

Dark patches of mildew and mould on your garden cushions don’t just look unpleasant – they can produce a nasty smell, put people’s health at risk, and even damage them. You must remove mould as soon you spot the first signs of it to extend your furniture’s lifespan.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer effective, long-lasting mould removal services. Our fully trained technicians are accredited by Dewpoint Professional, and in an emergency can be on site in several hours. We operate nationwide, day and night, 365 days a year.

Keep reading to find out why mould is growing on your garden furniture and how to remove it.

What is mould?

Mould is a type of fungus that feeds on dead organic material. It requires excess moisture to grow and can usually be found in areas that have high humidity, poor ventilation, or damp. There are many different types of species, some of which can be toxic to be exposed to.

It is often confused for mildew which is another type of fungus that grows in warm, moist areas. There are some differences in how they look: mildew is usually a powdery white, yellow, or grey growth, whereas mould normally forms green or black fuzzy and slimy stains.

Mould and mildew can grow on garden furniture, but mould tends to leave lasting damage on surfaces and is considered the more serious of the two.

Exposure to mould can also be dangerous. Mould produces allergens and irritants – and some kinds can even produce toxic substances. Inhaling, ingesting, or touching mould spores may trigger an allergic reaction, such as sneezing or a skin rash. Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to mould:

• People with asthma and respiratory problems
• People with weakened immune systems
• Elderly people
• Young children and babies

Why is mould growing on your outdoor furniture?

In the UK, our wet summers provide the optimal conditions for mould to grow. Regular rain and limited sunlight keep cushions and furniture damp for long periods of time and enable mould to grow quickly. If it is kept near lots of plants, the area may be very humid, too.

Soft, porous surfaces like upholstery and fabric, can stay damp for a while, as well. Mould also grows particularly well on certain kinds of furniture, like wood as it is organic material, but it can grow on any surface.

How to get mould off your outdoor furniture

There are lots of mould removal techniques shared online that claim to restore your patio furniture to pristine condition, such as scrubbing the mould with lemon juice and salt, or wiping it with bleach.

However, cleaning mould yourself can put your health at risk, might not tackle all the mould, and could even damage your possessions.

Firstly, attempting mould remediation without the appropriate personal protect equipment (PPE) will increase the likelihood of you coming in contact with harmful mould spores. Should you scrub at them, you will aggravate the mould and encourage it to release spores that you could easily inhale.

Mould is particularly hard to remove from porous surfaces, like upholstery and wood, as it can grow deep in the pores and evade treatment. Any mould you miss will simply continue to grow and spread.

Certain mould removal methods can damage the material your furniture is made of, too. Bleach, for example, could discolour fabric and wood. Some cleaning solutions, particularly harsh ones designed to kill mould, can damage the environment, as well, so any runoff may kill your plants.

It is recommended you always bring in mould remediation professionals to kill mould. They will have the training and specialist equipment to remove all traces of mould from the surfaces in your property, and can advise on how to prevent it from returning.

How to prevent mould growing on outdoor furniture

• Regularly clean furniture and thoroughly dry afterwards
• Don’t let upholstery, like cushions, stay outside during bad weather
• Choose furniture made out of water-resistant materials
• Keep furniture on patios and decking
• Make sure not too many plants are kept near furniture

Get in touch

Our technicians can quickly make your home safe and clean. They will even pinpoint the cause of the mould so you can solve the problem at source. Every mould remediation service comes with a lifetime guarantee* to give you peace of mind your home will stay mould-free.

You can book our technicians for mould removal by contacting our team on 0208 066 0360 or at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.

*subject to advisories