We have an old bureau/bookcase which has a drop down desk. It came with us to France and has been fine for 18 years. This winter, with all the rain, it seems that our house must have been pretty damp because the interior of the desk part has gone mouldy - both the wood and the leather. (See below,) I’d be grateful for suggestions as to how to restore it and to keep it looking good. I’m guessing those little silica sachets that come in some deliveries would be a good idea.
Thanks for any help.
I would wipe it down with so.e ACE bleach (hydrogen peroxide) not chlorine, that will kill the mould spores. Leather food for leather parts and some furniture cleaner for the wood. See how it is after that.
Only if you have very large ones and regularly change them. A dehumidifier would be better, or storing it somewhere dry.
I envisaged putting them inside the bureau. It’s in our lounge being used so not possible to store it somewhere dry.
Not particularly aware we need a dehumidifier - I think this winter/spring has been exceptional and if the water table is high then I guess there could be damp in the wall behind the bureau (our 350 year old house just stands on sandstone - no foundations).
Silica gel can be regenerated in the oven at high temperatures, so it would do no harm to try
Or those larger pot versions? Even some salt in a bowl or as a french neighbour used to do a bucket of dry chaux powder.
Our buffet has the same problem. Mould goes with the territory in old houses - or at least it does in not-always-so-sunny Normandie.
Thanks for the tip about hydrogen peroxide @corona
Just wear gloves as it dries the oils from the skin.
Thanks Corona, working well. While doing it I’ve realised - the bookcase above is not mouldy and the books are fine. The drawers underneath are not mouldy and they contain wrapping paper and some Christmas bits and they are all fine.
The bureau itself mainly contains greetings cards and spare batteries - could the batteries be the problem?
I wouldnt have thought so unless they are leaking.
Strange. 
Indeed it is. The mottling certainly looked like little damp mold spores but its always a bit of a guess from a photo.
‘Foxing’ in the book trade - but no idea why. However, living in a deep valley next to a river we have considerable humidity all year round so mega -foxing in some places and we’re always looking for solutions…
Crikey thats a word I havent heard since I worked in my uncles book binding company lots of years ago, quite forgotten it. 
@Corona what % dilutions of hydrogen peroxide to see off mold? is it different according to the surface? eg stone/concrete vs wood, plastic, textile.
Wondering if it would be cheaper to get the right % made up from a pharmacist.
A pharmacist is unlikely to know what concentration does what. Always safest to start with a more dilute and work to stronger. I recently made a ball point pen mark over one of my wifes cushions, trying to catch it as it fell but with a pen in my hand.
It took 4 days of keeping it wet with normal concentration out of the bottle Ace to dissolve the pen line but it went completely.
Go to YouTube and search “removing mould from antique furniture” and you will find a load of videos with different methods.
I thought we had established its not mould.
It is mould and your advice worked.
Ok, I stand corrected and thanks 
