Expert: Eileen Cronk - 9/22/2007

Question
Both the kitchen  and bathroom cabinets in my new condo look like teak and do not  have any apparent sealer on them. Some, not all, of the cabinet doors have a white powder substance on one or both sides. The shelving does not show this condition. When powder is removed it returns after some time. Again, not all cabinets have this problem, nor is it in one area of the kitchen or bathrooms. Could this be mold or....? Thank you for your response. Carter"

Answer
Hi again Carter.
Avoid wax in these areas.
It will eventually go gummy.
Try a test area of low luster tung oil to see what you think. I like Circa brand.
And many thanks for the great ratings.
It makes helping others worthwhile
Regards
Eileen

Hi Carter
Nice to hear from you.
This is very strange.
Try giving the wood a wash with a mild bleach solution.
If its mold that should stop the problem.
I just cannot imagine its mold though.
Get one of those cheap humidity gauges.
Check the humidity in the area of the powder.
Mold loves damp places. If the humidity inside is higher than that outside this time of year, then your house is damp.
Now another mystery to me is why the cabinets have no finish on them. Certainly never heard tell of cupboards with no sealer at all.
So that would be my next step...getting them sealed.
Can be as simple as rubbing a coat or two of tung oil on them. That would solve the problem.
Good luck.
Regards
Eileen