Mold is a stubborn, sneaky, and sometimes scary problem. It can lurk in the corners of your home for months before you even know it’s there.
If left untreated, mold can cause serious health problems such as allergic reactions and asthma. But how do you get rid of that icky moldy recliner? Here are some tips on how to clean your recliner!
Steps on Cleaning a Moldy Recliner
Step 1. Vacuum the fabric of your recliner with a vacuum cleaner. Be sure to lift up all cushions in order to remove any hidden mold spores that may have grown there.
Step 2. Cleaning tools: use a mop and bucket or sponge (dish soap) for cleaning, white vinegar as an alternative disinfectant, water mixed with hydrogen peroxide as an alternative disinfectant, and a vacuum cleaner for quick cleanups.
Step 3. Cleaning the recliner’s fabric: Use a damp sponge or white vinegar to wipe down any moldy areas of your chair. If you’re using dish soap instead, be sure to rinse with water afterwards. Do not use bleach! It will damage your fabric.
Step 4. Cleaning the recliner’s frame: If there are any moldy areas on the frame, use a dry brush or vacuum cleaner to remove it completely and then wipe it down with a damp sponge or white vinegar before drying off. Do not spray water onto the chair!
Step 5. Drying out the recliner: Allow time for your recliner to air dry completely before you sit on it again.
How to Vacuum a Moldy Recliner
Turn the power on your vacuum cleaner to “high.”
Position the nozzle close to, but not touching, any moldy areas of your recliner. This will help suck out as much moisture from those spots as possible without actually getting wet – which can damage furniture.
Repeat this process for each area where you see mold.
Once you’ve completed this process, turn off your vacuum cleaner and empty the dustbin to remove all dirt that was sucked into it.
Check with an expert before using any cleaning solution or other methods of removing the mold from a recliner frame.
How to Prevent Dirt on a Moldy Recliner
Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to keep the air in your home clean.
Put on gloves and use any cleaning solution you want, as long as it’s meant for furniture or upholstery (don’t mix products).
Spray down the area of concern with an all-purpose cleaner from about three inches away.
Let the cleaner soak in for about ten minutes, then use a cloth or sponge to scrub it off and rinse with clean water.
If you don’t have any luck removing mold from your recliner frame using this method, check with an expert before trying anything else.”
How to Lubricate a Moldy Recliner
Clean the recliner thoroughly with soapy water and a scrub brush. Rinse the chair in clean water, being careful to not get any of it on your clothes or other items that could be ruined by soap. Dry off as much the moisture as possible from the surface using paper towels before applying lubricant to avoid excess wetness getting on other items.
Apply a thin layer of lubricant to the moldy recliner and allow it to sit for two hours before wiping away any excess with paper towels. You can also apply lubricant in sections, waiting 15 minutes between each section to let the product work.
While this may seem like an easy solution, some people have reported that the mold returns after a few weeks of treatment.
How to Put Slipcover on a Moldy Recliner
One of the easiest ways to keep a moldy recliner clean is with a slipcover. Slipcovers can be either made or purchased, and they come in many different colors and fabrics that match any décor style. You’ll need some basic sewing skills to put one on your chair but it’s not as hard as you might think .
You can measure your old slipcover to get the right size for a new one. If you’re using fabric, cut it in a rectangle that’s four inches larger on all sides than the chair frame, and be sure that there are at least three inches of excess material so the cover won’t pull when you put it on. Sew around the perimeter of the fabric, leaving a seam allowance.
Place the slipcover over your chair and pull it down so that one side is on top of another. You’ll need to have an opening for how you want to fasten it in order to keep from pulling when putting it on or taking off . Place two pieces of velcro at the opening so that the two pieces can fasten together when you’re done.
Lift up one side of your slipcover and attach it to the bottom left corner of the chair frame using fabric glue, then fold over as much material on top as needed for how far you want it to be pulled down. Repeat this step with the opposite corner, attaching the top right corner of the chair frame to how much fabric you want on your cover.