25 best home remedies to get rid of mildew from clothes
Not every housewife knows what composition to use to remove mold marks from fabric on clothes at home. The appearance of fungal formations can instantly ruin your mood. But don't rush to take your favorite item to the dry cleaners or throw it away. There is an exit. Armed with volumes of encyclopedias, reference works and chemistry manuals, we study the enemy "in the face". And only then, step by step, we eliminate the pollution with the cause.
Reasons for the appearance
It is known that high humidity, dampness and mold are synonymous. In poorly ventilated rooms, on the first floor of houses, they experience characteristic black spots.
But seeing this in their wardrobe, many will be amazed. The main reasons for the problem are:
- favorable temperature conditions;
- humidity.
From accumulated sad experience, it is known that mold appears on the fabric if things are dried incorrectly. It would seem that it is worth making a rule for yourself to put dry clothes on the shelves, in the closet, and the problem can be considered solved. Unfortunately, it is not the case. Proximity to dirty and clean things causes mold to grow everywhere. The musty, unventilated microclimate of the wardrobe, pencil case will also inevitably lead to an undesirable neighborhood. But the main reasons lie in the careless attitude of the owners to used things, shoes.
What to do if mold appears
At the first appearance of mould, it is necessary to act, and not to panic. First of all, you need to remove clothes from the activity zone of the fungus: closet, pantry, mezzanine. Then, depending on the degree of tissue damage, they begin to remove spores, remove mold stains.
You may have to wash it again, treat it with special compounds and dry things well.
As a preventive measure, it is necessary to ventilate the cabinet space. And at the same time, plan measures to prevent the appearance of mold in the future.
What can be removed
There are several ways to get rid of mold spores. To the services of citizens affected by the fungus attack - both factory remedies and folk remedies. The first include Whiteness, Vanish, solutions containing chlorine.
Alternative methods include treating the fabric with lemon juice, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and even soap. Sometimes it is enough to wash the item in a washing machine at a high temperature to destroy the fungus that has penetrated the fibers.
Which of the indicated compositions / methods to vote on depends on the negligence of the case, the presence of these same chemicals or folk remedies in the house. But it must be remembered that there are no universal methods for killing mold. We will have to find the right one empirically.
Professional remedies
The advantage of professional products is their guaranteed high efficiency. No need to ponder over the composition, to choose the proportions: the ready-made mold killer is poured into bottles, vials. It remains to study the instructions for use, and you can begin an attack on the fungus.
white
To remove aesthetic stains from clothes a little, to remove traces of mold, there is sometimes enough processing in the Whiteness familiar to many housewives. Chlorine is a natural enemy of mold spores. With its help, they disinfect rooms, bathrooms and eliminate microorganisms.
To begin treating affected clothing, one tablespoon of the product is added to 500 milliliters of water. If necessary, the number of components is increased proportionally. The task is to immerse the fabric in a solution, followed by heating (and even boiling). The standard procedure takes 15 minutes.
Disappear
Remove stains from clothes - traces of fungus, you can also use Vanish synthetic bleach. At the same time, the product will eliminate the unpleasant smell of dampness, which contributes to the formation of mold. The advantage of the proposed method is that the composition acts gently, does not destroy the tissue structure.
Domestos
A highly concentrated disinfectant can be beneficial for more than just cleaning hard surfaces. It can be used to combat mold stains, as the active ingredient contained in it effectively destroys microorganisms. Only condition: in order not to destroy the structure of the fabric, Domestos must be diluted before use. Better yet, test the action on a test snippet.
Folk remedies
I do not want to expose the fabric with mold stains to harsh chemicals - it is possible to use simple, but effective folk remedies. They have a mild effect and you don't need to go to the store to use them. Most of these magical compounds are found in every home, kitchen or closet.
Lemon juice
The acid, which is part of the juice, has a depressant effect on mold spores and will help clean the fibers of the parasite. The clear liquid extracted from the lemon should penetrate the affected tissues. Then they cover it with a film, wait up to half an hour. At the end, the treated article is washed in the typewriter, dried and used as new.
Turpentine
A product of the processing of pine resin, a solvent for oil paints - turpentine, which is often used to combat mold. Clothes should be washed and dried first. And only then do they begin the treatment: they soak the mold stains in a pungent-smelling liquid.
When the turpentine is slightly absorbed, a layer of baby powder is applied on top, after which the fabric is covered with paper. It remains to iron the resulting "sandwich" with a hot iron, rinse the item thoroughly with clean water.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide, an active ingredient in fabric bleaching and hair bleaching, is an effective tool for killing mold.You will need a tablespoon, no more, which is diluted in 500 milliliters of water. Clothes affected by mold are immersed in the resulting solution, set aside for 20 minutes. This is usually enough to make the spores disappear without a trace.
Ammonia
Ammonia is a corrosive liquid, therefore it is recommended to carry out a preliminary test of tissue sensitivity to its action. The treatment itself takes no more than 10 minutes. The disinfection process is completed by washing and drying.
laundry soap
Fatty acids included in laundry soap composition, will help clean mold stains from a denim jacket stuck in the closet. The recipe for use is simple: lather the contaminated areas well, leave in this form for a while. Then they get rid of the traces of soap and fungus by rinsing the thing with clean water.
The vinegar
An acidic environment is the first enemy of mold. A vinegar treatment will eliminate gray and black stains on your clothes. And will also eliminate the unpleasant smell that accompanies them.
Boura
There are 2 options for removing mildew from fabrics with borax - hand wash and machine wash. It will take about 2 tablespoons of the product, which is dissolved in 300 milliliters of hot water. The spoiled thing is immersed in the finished solution, left for 3 hours. Then they wash it. Small stains are mechanically removed by adding 100 grams of borax to the detergent.
Acetylsalicylic acid
The secret of the composition is hidden in the combination of aspirin with vodka. 3 tablets are crushed, mixed with 50 milliliters of liquid.The finished solution is covered with spots of mold, after drying, the place of contamination is lightly wiped with a brush. The treated thing is washed.
Dairy products
Kefir, yogurt and other fermented dairy products effectively resist fungus. Such methods were successfully used by grandmothers and great-grandmothers to get rid of mold, since there were no modern chemicals at that time.
Yogurt
You'll need a byproduct of making cottage cheese if your clothes are as bad as mold. Acts on any fabric, does not break the structure. The instructions for use are simple: curdled milk is applied to the pollution, kept for a few hours.
spoiled milk
Sour milk is a ready-made composition for cleaning things from mold. You do not have to invent anything, the liquid is poured over the mushroom, if necessary, lightly rubbed with a brush.
Kefir
Everyone's favorite fermented milk drink is recognized as useful for nutrition, as it has a beneficial effect on the work of intestinal microflora. It is also useful for cleaning mold stains on clothing. Pour, wait a bit, then stretch.
serum milk
To use this method, you will need:
- bowl;
- serum;
- moldy thing.
Clothes are placed in a container, poured with whey. The stains should disappear after 10-12 hours.
Boric acid
About 30 milliliters of boric acid, a liter of water - and the magic composition for killing mold is ready. It is believed that in addition to the withdrawal action, this method is suitable as a prophylactic method.
Features of the removal of tissues of different types
Different fabrics require different approaches to washing, cleaning mildew.This rule also applies to the presence of color. If there are doubts about the action of the remedy, you can always try it on an inconspicuous area. Otherwise, there is a possibility of permanently ruining the thing.
Wool and silk
Woolen and silk fabrics are classified as delicate, requiring a special approach. They cannot be used with aggressive compositions containing liquid chlorine. From existing means - turpentine, mild bleaches, fermented milk products.
White and delicate
White objects affected by mold can be completely spoiled if handled carelessly. Previously, when there was not a wide range of chemicals, whiteness was used. It is enough to choose the proportions by pouring 100 grams of product into a bowl of warm water. Its only drawback is that with excessive use, the fabric will begin to deteriorate.
Saline solution
Table salt is a faithful assistant in the fight against mold. Dissolve 2 tablespoons in a liter of water, enhance the composition with 5 milliliters of ammonia. The whole is immersed in the liquid, kept for several hours. Then wash and rinse as usual.
chalk
Sprinkle dry chalk over the mildew stain, moisten lightly and rub if necessary. Then remove the porridge with the absorbed fungus from the clothes, wash and dry thoroughly.
Turpentine
Wipe off mildew stains with a cloth or cotton swab dipped in turpentine, then dry and wash by hand in a typewriter. Be sure to completely dry the treated item.
Hydrogen peroxide
With hydrogen peroxide, it is possible to get rid of mold once and for all. The fabric is wiped with a liquid composition, with a large area - the whole thing is soaked.
Synthetics
Tired and unpretentious synthetics, trying to "cure" it from mold, become capricious. Unnatural fibers are sensitive to heat, boiling and steam. Fermented milk products are best for them.
Leather products
Shoes, jackets, soft gloves attacked by mold must be recovered immediately. This can be done using petroleum jelly, alcohol, special cleaning products (sprays, liquids). Before processing, the painted products are checked for the effect of the composition.
jeans
A difficult case, because the tissue has a dense structure in which the fungus can grow deeply. In addition, the material is colored and, due to exposure to aggressive compounds, may discolor. A test treatment is applied, and then the jeans, depending on the degree of damage, are soaked in whole or as a separate fragment.
How not to damage clothes when removing fungus
To do this, select a product for the type of fabric, study the action of an anti-mold on a small area.
Be sure to follow all recommendations. This will help remove dirt and not damage the fabric.
How to get rid of the smell
The unpleasant odor accompanying the development of mold can be easily removed by treatment with peroxide, whitening, ammonia, complete drying in the sun. Sometimes it is useful to wash it again and rinse it thoroughly.
Sun and wind drying
Mold grows on unfinished items. Once in a dark, warm place, they are attacked by the ubiquitous spores. Therefore, drying outdoors, in natural conditions, exposure to sun and wind helps to completely eliminate moisture.Before the advent of washing machines, dryers, clothes were dried in this way.
Boiling
Molds are afraid of high temperatures. Washing in forced modes, boiling (the old way of removing deep dirt) will help to completely remove traces of mold from clothes. But only for fabrics that allow such processing.
Whitening
The use of chemical bleaches is also extremely detrimental to mildew, removing it from the structure of the fabric. Whiteness, Vanish and other similar remedies will help get rid of the fungus.
Use of ammonia
The corrosive tear fluid is harmful to the fungus. An ammonia swab is used to wipe off the dirt, then dry and wash the thing. Protect eyes and respiratory tract during work.
Dealing with things without washing
Most methods are "wet". They imply the obligatory washing of the product after demoulding. But there are also "dry" ones. This is a selective cleaning, solvent treatment.
Dry cleaner
A special spray, a stain remover pencil is a pair of existing formulations in household chemical stores that can be successfully used to destroy fungus. Just contact the seller for advice or read the instructions.
Sprayer
A small stain can be sprayed with a product poured into a household spray bottle (peroxide, ammonia, chemistry), then dried thoroughly.
dry cleaning soda
Almost new jacket "soiled" with mold is not a reason to get upset. Just cover the stain with baking soda, rub lightly. Then the soda porridge that has absorbed the spores is shaken off, the thing is cleaned with a clothes brush, and it's ready to wear again.
Vodka
Mold does not like alcohol.You can blot the dirt with a cotton swab dipped in vodka, pour a small amount so that the liquid soaks into the fabric. It remains to wait for the fabric to dry.
Dry cleaning
It is allowed to take the injured item for dry cleaning, but in this case you need to be 100% sure that the fabric will withstand treatment with solvents and temperature.
Prophylaxis
Insidious fungi can "live" not only on clothes, but also in a washing machine, since it is almost always damp and warm there. To eliminate lesions, the tank is periodically disinfected by driving the machine without laundry with boric acid, Blancheur. All spores found on the cuff, cover are destroyed with alcohol, ammonia, baking soda.