If your home has been damaged by water, you might find that some of your clothing and upholstered items have sprouted mold or mildew – and while that’s off-putting as it is, there may be something you can do about it.

Here’s what you need to know.

How to Remove Mold and Mildew From Fabric

You’re in luck if there’s mold on machine-washable, white cotton fabric – you can usually bleach it away. You’ll put one part bleach, three parts water on the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, you can launder the fabric as you usually would.

But not everything you own is made from machine-washable, white cotton fabric – right?

If you discover mold or mildew on non-bleachable fabrics, like colored clothing or upholstery, you can try to clean the affected area with lemon juice or white vinegar.

Soak a cotton pad – not a cotton ball – in lemon juice or vinegar, then place it on the stain. Let it soak in for several minutes. When you remove the pad, sprinkle the area with salt; that will react with the acid. If you can, put the fabric in the sun to dry (the sun’s rays can help bleach out stains). Repeat as necessary, and when the stain is gone, launder the fabric as you normally would.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to bring the fabric to a professional dry cleaner or turn it over to a mold removal expert.

Do You Need a Disaster Remediation Expert in Washtenaw County or Jackson County?

If your home has already been damaged, we can help. Check out our services and call 734-352-9183 for your free disaster remediation quote today. We offer: