How to Protect Furniture from Damp and Mould in Irish Homes
A mild, wet climate, cold external walls and washing drying on every radiator: Irish winters are hard on furniture. The first sign is usually a musty smell from a wardrobe, a white bloom on the back of a chest of drawers, or black spots on a sofa that sits against an outside wall. Here is how to prevent it, and how to deal with it safely if it has already started.
Why furniture gets damp in winter
Warm indoor air holds moisture from cooking, showers, breathing and drying clothes. When that air touches a cold surface, such as an external wall or a window, it cools and the moisture condenses. Furniture pushed tight against a cold wall creates a pocket of still, cold air behind it, which is exactly where condensation collects and mould grows unseen.
Signs to look for
- A musty or earthy smell when you open wardrobes and drawers.
- White, grey or green bloom on wood, especially on backs and undersides.
- Black or grey spots on fabric, mattresses or the backs of headboards.
- Drawers that stick or doors that no longer close cleanly, a sign that wood or board is taking on moisture.
- Dull, sticky or spotted patches on leather.
Aim for 40 to 60% humidity
Indoor relative humidity between about 40 and 60% is comfortable for people and safe for furniture. Above 60% for long periods, mould becomes likely. An inexpensive digital hygrometer from any hardware shop will tell you where you stand, room by room.
Prevention: the furniture side
- Leave a gap from external walls. Keep wardrobes, chests of drawers, sofas and headboards 5 to 10cm off any outside wall so air can move behind them.
- Do not overfill wardrobes. Packed clothes trap moisture. Leave room for air, and open the doors for an hour now and then.
- Air storage beds. Lift the base of an ottoman or storage bed regularly and avoid storing damp items inside.
- Keep furniture off cold floors in garages and sheds. Never store a sofa or mattress in an unheated outbuilding over winter.
- Let new furniture breathe. If you are renovating or moving into a new build, where walls and floors can take months to dry out, keep new pieces in a heated, ventilated room.
Prevention: the room side
- Open trickle vents and keep them open.
- Run extractor fans during and after showers and cooking.
- Open bedroom windows for ten minutes each morning to let out overnight moisture.
- Heat rooms steadily at a low level rather than in short bursts; cold rooms condense more.
- Dry clothes outside, in a tumble dryer, or in one room with a dehumidifier running and the door closed.
How to clean mould from furniture
Work in a ventilated room, wear gloves and a mask, and brush loose spores off outdoors where possible. Test any product on a hidden area first.
| Material | What to do | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Painted or lacquered wood | Wipe with warm water and a little washing-up liquid, then dry thoroughly | Soaking the surface, abrasive pads |
| Raw or oiled wood | Brush off, wipe with a barely damp cloth, dry, then re-oil once fully dry | Bleach, which discolours wood |
| Fabric upholstery | Brush off outdoors, vacuum with a HEPA filter, spot clean according to the cleaning code, dry quickly | Over-wetting, which drives mould deeper |
| Leather | Wipe with a leather cleaner, dry, then condition | Household sprays and bleach |
| Mattresses | Vacuum, spot clean, air in a warm dry room | Putting it back on a cold wall |
Our guide on how to clean leather furniture covers leather in more detail. If mould covers a large area, keeps coming back, or anyone in the house has asthma or a respiratory condition, get professional cleaning advice for the furniture and deal with the damp in the room itself.
If it keeps coming back, it is the room
Furniture rarely causes mould; it reveals where the damp is. If the same corner grows mould every winter after you have cleaned it, the problem is ventilation, insulation or a leak. Fix that first, then move the furniture back with a gap behind it.
Choosing furniture for damp-prone rooms
In a cold back bedroom or a room on an external gable wall, choose pieces on legs rather than plinths so air circulates underneath, keep a chest of drawers off the outside wall, and choose a wardrobe with enough depth to hang clothes loosely. Our Portlaoise showroom team are happy to help you plan a layout that keeps furniture off cold walls; visit Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
