Removing mould from fabrics
Mould can grow on almost any material this includes soft furniture and clothes etc. Having mould on furniture and clothes is a problem as it not only looks horrible and smells but is also harmful. When you spot mould it I important you clean it straight away to remove it. If the mould is on the furniture it can quickly spread and the problem must be eradicated as soon as possible. You need to remove mould from fabric before it causes a serious problem and the furniture or material is ruined. As when removing any mould you need to make you are taking the correct safety precautions:
- Wear goggles,
- Wear a face mask,
- Wear gloves,
- Wear protective clothing or old clothes that can be thrown away,
- Clean the item in a well ventilated area (to prevent the spores landing somewhere else).
Once you have the safety precautions in place you can begin removing the mould, however if there is a large amount it may be too late to save it:
- Make sure the material/furniture is dry
- Make a cleaning mixture (be careful if using bleach as it may lighten some fabric),
- Try and scrape any large bits of mould off and put in a bag and seal the bag well,
- Now slowly clean the fabric with the cleaning mixture on a damp cloth,
- Keep scrubbing until all the mould is gone,
- Once the mould is gone dry the area as best as possible,
- Once the area is fully dry keep checking for any mould growing,
- If the mould comes back then the furniture may be ruined and may to be thrown away or you can try having an expert look at it and take their advice.
If you find mould on items of clothing then here is some techniques to try and save your clothes, before starting make sure you take the proper safety precautions as mentioned above:
- First thing to do is scrape any visible mould away (do this outside so spores don’t spread),
- Hand wash the item(s) of clothing in a sink of hot water with washing powder / liquid,
- (optional: add some lemon juice to try and help remove the spores and smells)
- Scrub the clothes well,
- Leave to dry in a well ventilated area,
- Put in the washing machine,
- Leave to dry in a well ventilated area,
- Check the clothes for any mould or smell,
- Keep checking for any signs or smells of the mould coming back.
It is important to try and prevent mould growing on any soft materials or furniture as it can easily ruin the items and may lead to stuff need throwing away. The best way to keep on top of mould is to keep checking and remove any you see. Also hoovering the furniture and washing clothes regularly will help prevent the spores landing and growing.
