Removing Mold Stains

Mold is a fungus and can grow almost anywhere there is moisture. Fungus can be a health hazard, and needs to be dealt with carefully. Mold can also be unpleasant to look at, so you want to clean it away as quickly as possible.

You can get rid of those white mold stains on your bathroom tile or your kitchen tile by using a chlorine bleach solution. This will also kill off any mildew. While wearing rubber gloves, scrub any affected areas with a solution of one part chlorine bleach and three parts hot water. After cleaning, dry the areas carefully with paper towels. This will kill and clean away the surface mold. If you have had the mold problem for a while, you may need to clean deeper using a biological cleaner or a fungicide to get rid of the mold permanently. Read the directions on the packages carefully, as chemicals that kill mold/fungus may be harmful to children or pets.

To get rid of mold from fabric, there are a variety of cleaners you can use. Take the article of clothing outside and brush or beat off any mold on the outside. Make sure any airborne mold does not end up back on you or your clothes.

If it is safe to wash the clothes with bleach, toss the clothes in the washer with some chlorine bleach. This should kill off any mold and get rid of any stains. Do not put the clothes in the dryer; instead hang the clothes to dry outside on the line. This allows you to check for the stain, as well as kill off any mildew with sunlight. If stains persist, try rinsing them in a mixture of lemon juice and salt, gently rubbing the fabric against itself.

If you have mold in wood, or mold in cement, in may be impossible to wash out. Try spraying the wood or cement with a fungicide, following the directions of the fungicide.

For mold in your carpet, rugs, or furniture upholstery, first vacuum as deeply as possible to get rid of as much of the mold as possible. Throw away the vacuum cleaner bag immediately. Next, have your carpets steam cleaned or shampooed, being sure to dry them as quickly as possible afterwards, either by moving the furniture and rugs outside, or by opening all the doors and windows. Sunlight will kill off some types of mold.

Occasionally, if possible, spray any areas that held mold with a fungicide to prevent a re-occurrence of the mold problem. Keep your house and clothes well ventilated to prevent moisture buildup.