How Does Mold Grow on Wood Furniture?
Wood is an organic material. Just because the tree’s been cut down, milled and fashioned into furniture doesn’t mean that it’s lost all the characteristics of an organic material. It’s porous and needs to be sealed so that the grain doesn’t “raise” and it needs to be moisturized to avoid cracking, just like skin. Oils, varnish and shellac are all either porous or based on organic substances. Put a piece of wood furniture in the right place and it’s as susceptible to mold as any other organic substance. Give mold and mildew a place to grow and they’ll grab it, no matter how improbable it seems. Mold is a parasitic fungus that comes from spores that travel on air currents all around us. Spores are the “fruit” of mature mold, released as mold matures and ages. Although spring and summer are the most hospitable to mold spores, spores are produced all year long. Since mold grows best between 70 and 90 degrees, your home is a perfect location for a winter vacation. Spores that find a warm, h
