Brushing off loose mold is the first step on how to remove mold from camping chairs. From there, apply your mold-killing solution, and it will do the rest.
What Causes Mold On Camping Chairs
Mold growth on camping chairs is generally caused by moisture. If you store your camping chairs without thoroughly drying them, then you run the risk of inviting mold on your camping chairs.
Another cause of mold on camping chairs is food debris or food stains. Camping is fun and all until it’s time to clean everything up and store them.
In this scenario, you may miss a small stain or a small piece of food attached to your camping chair. If so, you’re inviting mold spores to settle on your chair since this food debris will serve as their food source.
Your camping chair becomes more vulnerable to mold spores if you store it in a room with high humidity levels. We don’t want that; so, here’s an article on how to eradicate mold spores.
What Are The Effects of Mold?
Mold growth on camping chairs leads to the latter’s damage. This fungus tends to eat the surface it rests on.
Hence, the longer they are on a surface, the weaker the area becomes. Apart from damaging the camping chair, mold growth can lead to health problems.
Children are prone to the adverse health effects of mold. This fungus may trigger an asthma attack for those with asthma; for those who don’t, it may develop the disease.
Steps On Removing Mold From Camping Chairs
Step #1. Brush away the loose dirt and mold on the camping chair. Be sure to do this outside so the mold spores do not settle in any of your belongings.
If mold spreads to other camping objects (e.g. tent), here is an article on how to clean a tent with mold.
Step #2. After brushing loose mold, spray a diluted vinegar solution on the mold-contaminated chair. To make the vinegar mixture, mix two-thirds of vinegar and one-third of water.
Then, use a gentle brush to make the cleaning solution settle on the fabric. After it has dropped, rinse the camping chair with warm water.
Rinsing will rid the chair of the mold, dirt, and cleaning mixture.
Step #3. Afterward, sundry the chair and make sure it is completely dry before storing it.
Alternatives to the vinegar solution
Suppose the vinegar solution is not amenable for you because of the smell. Here are alternatives to killing mold:
Steam cleaning
First, fill the steam cleaner’s chamber with clean water and point its end on the stained areas. Use a portable steamer so it wouldn’t be too challenging for you.
Steam cleaning is ideal for camping chairs that do not have removable components. The steam is effective in removing and killing off the mold.
A drawback in using this method is that it requires electricity. Hence, you may need to use an extension cord to be able to work outside.
Alcohol
If you wish to remove mold and disinfect your chair, then this may be perfect for you. You only need to spray alcohol on the mold-contaminated areas of your camping chair.
Then, dry the camping chair under the sun. The drawback to this alcohol method is that you need to repeatedly spray alcohol on the camping chair before the mold is removed.
Washing machine
For camping chairs with removable fabric, you may put them in a washing machine. Check your camping chair’s label before doing this.
If it is allowed by the chair’s manufacturer, then wash the fabric with a mild detergent. Never use anything harsher than a gentle cycle because you’ll run the risk of ruining the material.
Hand wash
For materials that cannot be machine-washed, you can hand wash them in a basin instead. Pour in liquid soap or detergent and warm water into the basin.
Submerge the fabric and scrub the stains from the cloth. Use a gentle brush to prevent damage to the material.
You can also rub the fabric together instead of using a brush. Soak the material on the basin before rinsing it thoroughly.
Lastly, leave the fabric under the sun to dry.
Hydrogen peroxide
If you’re dealing with persistent mold stains, hydrogen peroxide is the way to go. It is effective in removing any mark, whether it’s due to mold or food.
Hydrogen peroxide also has a disinfecting property. To make a hydrogen peroxide solution, mix a third of hydrogen peroxide with two-thirds of water.
Then, pour the hydrogen peroxide mixture into a clean and empty spray bottle. After that, spot treat the mold stains on the camping chair.
Let the solution sit for ten minutes, and leave the mixture there.
Baking soda
To treat mold stains and kill off mold, you can use a baking soda paste. To make a baking soda paste, mix sodium bicarbonate with water.
Then, rub the paste on the mold stains and leave it there for a few minutes. Afterward, scrub the area with a toothbrush and rinse it with a spray of water.
Conclusion
Knowing and following through on how to remove mold from camping chairs is easy. There are several solutions for you to try, and we hope that they will be of help to you.