If you happen to smell something musty coupled with dark spots on your couch, that is a call to learn how to remove mold from couch cushions. Drop your frustrations because this guide will give you easy steps to follow.
Once you have spotted the presence of mold, make sure to not delay the cleaning process as this will only give the mold an opportunity to spread and penetrate deeply into the material. Check this article for easy mold identification and this one if you are wary of the possibility of black molds.
If you are wondering how mold thrives on your couch cushion, you might have left your cushion outdoors in wet weather or you accidentally spilled something of a liquid on it. The moisture it has will serve as a breeding ground for mold colonies.
Before anything else, be reminded that you are dealing with a mold-infested area. Molds are known to cause respiratory issues and trigger allergic reactions. As such, make sure to clad yourself in safety gears such as gloves, goggles, N-95 masks or P-100 respirators.
This taking of safety precautions especially applies to people with compromised immune systems. If you think the mold removal process is too dangerous for your health, then it is highly advisable for you to leave the task to a mold remediation specialist. This article can guide you on what to know before hiring mold removal experts.
Removing Mold From Couch Cushions
Step #1. Dry the cushion
Place the cushion in an area with direct access to sunlight. Through this, it will dry the affected area naturally since it is not only exposed to the sun but also to outdoor air circulation. However, this process may take several hours or days, depending on how the moisture has penetrated on the surface of the cushion.
If you happen to not have an area suitable for this process, use a portable heater to dry your couch cushions. This step is important as you are getting rid of one of the main sources of breeding ground for mold contamination.
Step #2. Brush away the spores
While waiting for the couch cushion to completely dry, brush the mold spores away using a clean broom. You have to do this step at such a moment because the mold spores can be potentially active again later.
Pair the broom with a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment or a handheld vacuum to remove the spores that cannot be brushed away by broom. These spores have likely been absorbed into the material deeply.
Step #3. Apply a cleaning solution
If any mold or stains persist on the top of the couch cushions, pour a drop or two of liquid detergent into a cup of warm water. Mix 1/2 cup water with 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol as an alternative.
Denatured alcohol is available in home maintenance and paint shop retailers. Scrub an unnoticeable part of the couch or cushion with an alcohol solution to ensure the fabric is not stained. Keep to the soapy-water approach if the alcohol affects the color.
Step #4. Scrub the mold away
In the alcohol or soap solution, dip a clean, soft sponge. To prevent leakage, squeeze out the sponge as firmly as possible to remove all extra moisture.
With your wet sponge, scrub the couch cushions. Scrub away any remaining soap or alcohol with a second damp sponge.
Step #5. Dry it further
Dry the cushions again. If sunlight is insufficient, a portable heater will suffice. Only bring the cushions back inside after you’ve gotten rid of all the mold.
Discard the cushions if the mold reappears in the next few days or weeks. This indicates that the mold colony is too deep within the material to be removed efficiently.
Preventing A Similar Situation
Of course, no one wants to waste their time, effort, and drops of cleaning agents for something that is not worth it! To not let your cleaning efforts go to waste, there are a few prevention tips you can try to keep those mold colonies at bay.
Apparently, you have to keep your couch cushion as dry as possible. A spill should be dried right away.
The same goes with any contact with liquid. Moisture is one of the potential breeding grounds for mold. It is easy for them to thrive in a damp environment.
When you are trying to dry your wet couch cushion, make sure to do so in an area with sufficient sunlight or good ventilation. This will keep the invisible mold spores from regrowing. Also, you can try applying a fungicide that works well for upholstery or you can check these FAQs on Concrobium Mold Control.
It is also highly recommended that you throw away a couch cushion that is too moldy to be cleaned. It is useless to be thrifty when you are putting your health on the line. Just purchase another and try to follow the other tips mentioned above.
Conclusion
Now you can enjoy a lazy afternoon on your couch as you have already learned how to remove mold from couch cushions. The cleaning process might take most of your time and energy, but it is definitely worth the effort.