Molds, such as mildew can quickly grow in places with moist conditions. This musty odor can grow on damp clothing, carpets, walls, and upholstered furniture.

Having that unpleasant smell and a fungus growing in your home can be bothersome. To avoid this situation, we present you with ways to get mold out of fabric, remove the musty smell from your clothes, and what cleaning agents you should use to remove molds and mildew out of your home.

Where Can Mold and Mildew Grow in Your Home? 

Mold and mildew can grow in the moisture-prone areas in your home, such as the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and laundry room. You may even have mold issues in moist areas that can be difficult to see since they are often hidden from the naked eye.

Moisture problems that can cause molds to thrive in your home will differ from one climate to another. You might be able to avoid this situation in some areas with more excellent ventilation, but if you can’t, then worry not because there are natural cleaning agents that can help you deal with these unwanted guests.

5 Natural Mold Cleaning Agents 

  • Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an antifungal and antibacterial solution found in your medicine cabinet that will also help eliminate molds growing on your kitchen counters, bathroom, and wall surfaces.

Cleaning products that contain hydrogen peroxide are pretty effective at killing molds in the moisture-prone areas of your home.

  • Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural cleaning agent that cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes almost everything.

Spray a regular white vinegar with at least a 5% acidity rate onto the surface with moisture problems and see how it quickly kills mold in just an hour. You can also use vinegar on your clothes as you wash them to prevent mildew.

  • Baking Soda

Baking soda is famous for removing the nasty smell from your home. This gentle but effective natural deodorizer can be used on clothes, foul-smelling refrigerators, kitchen surfaces, dirty walls, and uncleaned upholstery.

Create a mixture of ¼ tablespoon baking soda with water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray away the mixture on affected areas and scrub it until the surface is clean and mold-free. You can also sprinkle it alone on the couch and mattresses, let it sit for a good 15 minutes then vacuum it after.

  • Essential Oils

If you want a clean and pleasant home, essential oil is the way to go. Besides its great smell, the natural compounds of essential oils can get rid of mold too.

Tea tree oil, clove oil, and thyme oil can kill molds and prevent the spores from coming back. You can put a teaspoon of your preferred essential oil in a spray bottle and one cup of water. Spray it on the surface you want to clean, let it dry for an hour, and then wipe it off with a clean towel.

  • Lemons

Lemons are now a household staple. They break down molds and disinfect the surfaces of your home. Just simply juice over some lemons and put them on the affected areas. Let it sit for 5 minutes and wipe the surface with a damp towel.

Removing Molds and Mildew from Different Surfaces and Materials

As a homeowner, you never want to experience thriving molds and an unpleasant musty smell roaming around your house. Removing molds and mildew can be exhausting, especially if you don’t know how to eliminate them properly.

For that reason, we prepare a list of practical ways to clean and eliminate these unwanted guests around your home. May it be on your clothing, walls, carpets, and upholsteries.

White-Cotton Clothing 

The most effective way of removing mold and mildew from white cotton clothing is through bleaching. Create a mixture of one part bleach to three parts water, apply the solution to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. After the stain is eliminated, proceed to wash your clothes as usual.

Non-Bleachable Clothing

If the clothing cannot be bleached, you can try using lemon juice or white vinegar to remove the molds and mildew from your clothes.

Here are some helpful steps you can follow:

  • Soak a cotton pad with vinegar or lemon juice and place it on the stain. Let it sit for several minutes.
  • Remove the cotton pad and sprinkle some salt on the area to help boost the acid’s effect.
  • Place the cloth into a sunny spot. The sun’s rays also help bleach out the stain.
  • Repeat the procedure as needed, then launder it as usual after removing the stain.

If the mildew from the fabric persists after all these steps, you should bring it to a professional dry cleaner already.

Grouts and Walls

To effectively clean molds and mildew out of your walls and grouts, we suggest that you prepare a mixture of one part bleach to three parts water. Dampen the sponge with the solution and apply it one the moldy areas. But before that, remember to wear protective gear such as gloves, glasses, and even a face mask because the bleach can be too strong.

If the mildew is gone, dry the surface with an old towel. The mold isn’t too hard to clean, so it will come off as you scrub it.

Upholstery 

Molds will not quickly grow on upholstery. It must have the right conditions before it can grow into it. Molds cannot grow on synthetic materials, but they can grow on the soil that is embedded in the material. Moisture must also be present for molds to thrive in your upholstery. It should remain wet for a certain period before the molds and mildew grow.

Given this information, here are some recommendations for dealing with molds and mildew on your upholstery:

  1. If your upholstered furniture already has water damage and tremendous mold growth, it should be replaced.
  2. If the mold stain is small and fixable, you can use 3% hydrogen peroxide to clean it. Put it on the mold and let it sit for a few minutes. Rinse the solution by alternately dabbing it with a damp and dry cloth. Doing so may not remove the mold, but it will help lessen the stain.
  3. If the stain persists or reappears, consult a professional upholstery cleaner. Also, if your upholstery is made from silk, wool, or is already an antique, it should be cleaned by a professional for better handling.

Eliminate Molds and Mildew with Clean My Space

Cleaning is complicated, especially if you are not sure how to clean something, let alone mold. Mold may cause irreparable damage to your belongings, most especially on things that need to be professionally cleaned.

To assist you with a similar dilemma, Clean My Space offers cleaning and disinfection services that might help you out.

If you are interested in trying our cleaning services, kindly contact us at (860) 539-8725 or chat with one of our representatives to book one of our professional cleaners.