Most people are confident that only dry cleaning professionals can remove mold. In reality, they are wrong, because there are a number of folk methods for removing mold that can be used at home. Financial costs are minimal, and the result will be pleasantly surprising, so before contacting specialists, you can find out how to deal with mold and we will help with this.
Soap solution
If you are afraid of ruining something in an attempt to return it to its previous state, then the soap and water method is the ideal option for you:
- Prepare a soap solution. To do this, you need to mix a little water at room temperature and liquid soap.
- Use a soft bristle brush to remove dirt.
- Rub the solution in smooth and careful movements so as not to accidentally damage the product.
- After the result is achieved, remove any remaining soap with clean water and let the product dry at room temperature.
Eliminate sweat odor
The skin easily absorbs all odors, so the smell of sweat will persist, and simple weathering will not do. Let's call on the entire arsenal of available tools to help:
- soda or vinegar - proceed as described above;
- ammonia - dilute with water (a tablespoon of ammonia per glass of water), add a little liquid soap and gently wipe both the leather surface and the lining with a soft cloth;
- citrus fruits - can only be used for dark-colored products. The axillary and collar areas are rubbed with fresh fruit peel. After drying, wipe these places with a damp cloth, then dry.
- essential oils - add a few drops to the soap solution and wipe the product thoroughly.
Ammonia
An incredibly effective remedy when it comes to removing mold from skin is ammonia. All you need to do:
- Dilute it in equal proportions with water.
- Then soak a cotton pad or a small piece of cloth in the resulting solution and go over all areas of contamination.
- At the end of the procedure, it is necessary to rinse the product.
Important! It is best to test before you decide to use ammonia. To do this, use a small amount on a small area of the item. This is quite important, because you can never be sure how the material will behave.
The fastest ways to remove mold from clothes
In any household chemicals department, helpful salespeople will probably advise you on how to clean mold from clothes and offer more than one remedy for this. But when you get home, you may find that the miracle tool you purchased for fungal stains does not work, or is not suitable for all fabrics and materials. What to do?
First of all, study the label on the item, it will tell you whether it can be cleaned at all, whether it is allowed to be bleached and boiled, and at what maximum temperature it can be washed. This information is very important! Then we wash the item in warm water with soap or powder. It's good to do it manually.
If the product cannot be washed, try soaking it by adding bleach or “Vanish” to the water, after checking with the information on the label: is it allowed to use such products to remove mold stains? In the case where it was not possible to remove the fungal colony from the laundry, we move on to available options.
Bright skin
Hydrogen peroxide is perfect for removing traces of mold from products on light leather:
- Dampen the stained areas and leave for fifteen minutes.
- Afterwards, rinse the item.
You may have to repeat the steps if the result is not achieved after the first time.
Important! You can also use bleach. To do this, mix it with water and washing powder. Dampen the brush with the resulting liquid and work on the dirty areas.
Newspaper/wrapping paper
The method is simple. The leather product is wrapped in a layer of newspaper or wrapping paper for several days. The texture of newspapers is soft, porous, it easily absorbs all odors, freeing the skin from them. It is possible that in this case, complete removal will require two or three repetitions of the manipulations.
Absorbs odors well and is safe for the skin. To eliminate the odor, we follow the algorithm:
- put the jacket in a pillowcase or large plastic bag;
- treat with a thin layer of soda outside and inside;
- close the package;
- leave for 12-24 hours;
- remove from the package;
- Carefully remove chemical deposits using a vacuum cleaner with a furniture attachment.
Baking soda can also be used in another way. Rub a thick paste of water and soda into the lining of the jacket and leave until completely dry. Then shake off any excess product or remove it with a soft brush. Sodium carbonate will absorb odors and carry them away.
Air conditioner
It is very important to complete the cleansing process correctly. Using leather conditioner is mandatory. You can purchase it at any specialized store.
Use a small amount immediately after cleaning the mold from the product. The fact is that the condition of your item after cleaning may deteriorate somewhat. The conditioner will help preserve the original color and extend its service life.
Tips and tricks:
- If you do not want mold spores to form on the surface one day, then as a preventive measure it is recommended to periodically wipe the leather product with vinegar.
- Once the result is achieved, be sure to make sure that there are no traces of mold left. Otherwise, you will have to face the problem of eliminating it again in the near future, the plaque will make itself felt again.
- Be sure to take proper care of your leather item and the place in which it is stored. By following this rule, you will never have to look for ways to combat mold.
Important! Alternatively, you can wash the item in the washing machine, adding laundry detergent and a small amount of leather conditioner.
Top 6 remedies for mold on leather products
Mold spots have different colors, depending on the type of fungus, and sizes that increase as they grow. If you find mold, do not put off cleaning until later. The faster the problem is resolved, the less likely the fungus will reappear.
How to remove mold from a leather jacket? First of all, inspect the clothing completely (don’t forget the lining) and find any areas of infection. You can clean it at home in the bathroom, but it is better to do it in the fresh air. If this is not possible, then close the bathroom door tightly to prevent spores from entering the rest of the living space.
You may also be interested in reading this: “What mold spores conceal: why they are dangerous, preventive measures”
Treatment with soap solution
A gentle option for removing fungus. To prepare it, dilute liquid soap with warm water and apply the solution to the jacket with a soft brush. Rub in gently, applying light pressure. After cleaning, rinse off the soapy solution with clean water.
How else to clean a leather jacket from mold at home? In addition to soap solution, there are several other quite effective means:
- ammonia;
- mouthwash;
- hydrogen peroxide;
- laundry soap;
- laundry conditioner.
You need to be careful with hydrogen peroxide. This product bleaches, so we do not recommend cleaning dark-colored clothing.
Popular folk methods
There are many improvised means that you can use to remove mold from clothes yourself:
| Means | Mode of application |
| Vinegar | For every liter of water, add 2 dessert spoons of acid, dip the affected item into the solution, and wash it after an hour. Vinegar can be used for machine washing by adding 0.2 liters to your usual product. |
| Ammonia | A good option for removing black spots from mold on any fabric. The product is diluted by half with water, applied locally, and washed after 20 minutes. |
| Soda | Add water to obtain a slurry, apply locally, rub with a brush, rinse with cold water, wash in the usual way |
| Lemon with salt | Squeeze the juice from the citrus onto the affected area, then sprinkle with salt. The item is completely dried, then washed in the usual way. |
| Tomato with salt | The product is used similarly to the previous recipe, but only on dark fabrics where the trace of tomato juice is not visible |
| Curdled milk | The affected item or part of it is soaked in a fermented milk product for 12 hours, washed in the usual way, and dried thoroughly. Yogurt can be replaced with sour milk, kefir, sour cream |
| Powdered chalk | The powder is poured onto the stain, a cotton cloth or waterproof paper is applied, and ironed. All that remains is to remove the remaining chalk |
| Hydrogen peroxide and chlorine | Mix the ingredients, apply to the stain, rub with a stiff brush, and wash the item in the usual way. |
Moldy fabric can be cleaned with bleach. This option is suitable for white bed linen, cotton or linen clothing. Add 2 tbsp per liter of water. l. products, bring to a boil, soak the affected item for 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly.
You can remove fresh mold from clothes with laundry soap. It is better to choose a product with a stain remover effect such as Antipyatin, Aist, Sarma, Dr. Beckmann, Pardo, BioMio. The affected areas are generously soaped and washed off after an hour.
Many products remove mold, but its ingrained odor remains. Get rid of it by rinsing with vinegar or lemon juice added to the water.
How to prevent mold
Once the stains have been removed, mold must be prevented from forming again. To do this, shoes must be kept dry. Change your shoes periodically to give them a chance to dry after wearing them.
You can put silica gel in your shoes. It will absorb excess moisture. You can also sprinkle baking soda or salt into your shoes. These substances also have moisture-absorbing properties.
It is necessary to remove moisture from the shoe closet. Place a dehumidifier or a bowl of charcoal briquettes in it. This will help you maintain a dry climate in your closet.
Preventive measures
Mold is a living organism; its colonies grow and quickly render things and shoes unusable. And this is not only an aesthetic problem, because the structure of the material is disrupted. Therefore, it is better to prevent infection:
- do not store wet clothes, bedding and shoes in closets, as well as clean and dirty things in the same place;
- monitor the state of the microclimate in the room - humidity, air circulation, temperature;
- regularly ventilate chests of drawers and cabinets;
- To improve air circulation, do not place furniture close to the walls;
- Use silica gel packets to control humidity levels inside cabinets - these can be found in shoe boxes.
To prevent humidity from rising in cabinets and drawers and mold from appearing, place silica gel bags on the shelves
Using Vinegar
The first assistant in this matter is vinegar. Of course, the product has a pungent smell, but don’t worry, it will disappear very quickly. But the cleaning technology itself is very simple.
You need to prepare a solution of white vinegar and water in equal quantities. Take precautions and try it on the back of the jacket first. Take a clean rag, dampen it generously and gently wipe the moldy area. You can also put the solution in a spray bottle and apply it to the skin. Wipe.
Another effective method using vinegar is this. We fill the bathtub with hot water about 15 cm high, it is important that it is really hot and steam comes from it. Add a glass of white vinegar to the water. We hang the jacket on a hanger and place it above the bathtub. Close the bathroom door for two hours. Then we wipe the surface of the jacket and dry it naturally. It is important that the item is completely dry.
Features of caring for shoes made of suede and nubuck
If you are removing mold from suede or nubuck shoes, limit yourself to dry cleaning. Such products cannot be treated with vinegar and alcohol. If after cleaning with a stiff brush there are still mold stains on the boots, then use special suede cleaning products. Use them according to the instructions on the package.
If the problem persists, repeat the previous steps. Brush the shoes again, first with a stiff nylon brush and then with suede cleaner.
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If your shoes are made of regular leather, you can use vinegar or isopropyl alcohol after dry cleaning.
Aerosol
For preventive purposes, be sure to use special chemicals that are designed to care for leather products and protect them from various types of corrosion. Aerosols can be purchased in the general hardware section of your local grocery store. Better quality ones can be purchased from leather goods stores. Sprays perfectly protect against moisture and the damaging effects of direct sunlight.
