How to Get Rid of Mold From Every Home Surface

How to Remove Mold from Fabric

If your home has been flooded and mold and bacteria have been left to grow for many days, it may be impossible to salvage fabric items and clothing. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most machine-washable fabrics.

1. Brush Away Visible Mold

   Take the item outside and brush away the visible mold off with a soft-bristled brush. Brushing the mold off outside will keep the spores from spreading throughout your home and making the issue worse.

2. Wash or Dry Clean the Fabric

   Wash the garment following the care label instructions using the hottest water setting recommended and a laundry disinfectant. Use oxygen-based bleach to remove mildew stains. If the item is dry clean only, take it to a professional and point out the spot. Most fabrics can be restored even with some mold or mildew.

How to Remove Mold from Leather

1. Brush Away Visible Mold

   Take the leather shoes, purse, or clothing outside and use a soft-bristled brush to brush away any surface mold.

2. Wipe Away the Mold

   Saturate a soft cloth with distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol. Wring until it is not dripping. Wipe down the leather item inside and out. Rinse the cloth in hot water often as the mold is transferred and redampen it with vinegar or alcohol.

3. Clean, Dry, and Condition the Leather

   Once the visible mold is removed, mix a solution of leather soap and warm water. Dip a clean soft cloth in the solution and wipe down the leather item. Allow it to air-dry away from direct sunlight or heat source. Follow the label direction on a leather conditioner and apply it to the leather to keep it soft and supple.

How to Remove Mold from Household Appliances

1. Washing Machine

   Add two cups of chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide (do not mix the two) into the washer drum and run a hot water cycle without any clothing. Dampen a cloth with a bleach solution or hydrogen peroxide to clean door seals and gaskets. Leave the washer door open to allow the interior to air-dry.
   

   Clothes Dryer

   To remove mold from the interior dryer drum, dip old towels in a chlorine bleach and water solution and wring out excess moisture. Toss the towels in the dryer and tumble on the air-only cycle for five minutes. Remove the towels and rinse the interior with a sponge dipped in plain water.

   Dampen a cloth with the bleach solution and clean the door seals and gaskets and the exterior of the dryer. Leave the door open to allow the appliance to air-dry.

   Refrigerator

   Remove all items from the fridge and wipe down the interior surfaces, gaskets, and exterior with undiluted distilled white vinegar. Rinse your cloth often as you work.

   Coffee Maker

   Fill the water tank with distilled white vinegar and run a brewing cycle. Discard the vinegar and run two cycles of plain water through the coffee maker to rinse the interior. The vinegar solution will also help to descale mineral deposits that affect the taste of the coffee.

How to Remove Mold from Tile and Grout

1. Mix a Cleaning Solution and Increase Ventilation

   In a plastic bucket, mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water. To help the fumes from chlorine bleach dissipate, open bathroom windows, turn on the bathroom fan, or add a circulating fan.

2. Apply the Solution

   With rags or a soft-bristled brush, apply a liberal amount of the mixture to the mold-affected areas. Let the bleach mixture sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing the surfaces with the brush. Rinse well with fresh water and repeat as needed.
   

How to Remove Mold from Interior Walls

1. Mix a Cleaning Solution

   To clean mold from porous surfaces like wood and drywall (including ceilings), mix one part dishwashing liquid, 10 parts bleach, and 20 parts water.

2. Apply the Cleaner and Air Dry

   Apply the solution with a sponge or mop, trying not to over-saturate the surfaces. Do not rinse away; just allow the surfaces to air dry. Repeat, if needed.

How to Remove Mold from Concrete, Brick, and Stone

Bleach works best on exterior home surfaces. Be sure to take proper precautions to avoid getting bleach on any surrounding fabrics or plants.

1. Mix a Cleaning Solution

   In a bucket, mix one cup of chlorine bleach with one gallon of water. Following the directions of the manufacturer, this can be added to a garden sprayer or power washer or can be applied by hand with an abrasive mop or brush.
   

2. Wet Surfaces and Apply Solution

   Wet the moldy surfaces with plain water using a garden hose or by hand, then apply the bleach and water solution. Allow it to sit on the surface for 15 minutes before scrubbing to remove the mold growth., and allow it to sit on the surface and work for several minutes.

3. Rinse and Air-Dry

   After scrubbing, rinse the surfaces rinse and any surrounding areas (especially plants) that may have been inadvertently splashed with bleach. Repeat steps, if needed.

Dangerous Mold vs. Mildew

All mildew is mold, but not all molds are mildew. Mildew can discolor and slowly harm surfaces but there are much more dangerous molds that can damage the structure of your home. The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like your bathroom, on fabrics, and books stored in damp basements.

Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony. It will turn black or brown if not removed promptly and often looks like soil accumulation.

To test if the surface is covered with mildew or just dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it's mildew. If not, it's probably just dirt.

Discovering Mold From Smell

If you detect a musty smell anywhere in your home, then you have a high concentration of mold. It can be coming from a hamper filled with damp towels, from a damp crawlspace under your home, or from carpets that have mold growing in the padding. If you smell that odor, it's time to take action to get rid of the problem.

Additional Tips to Keeping Surfaces Free of Mold

• Keep humidity levels in your home low to discourage mold from developing. Using a dehumidifier or air conditioning helps to keep humidity levels hovering around the ideal mark of 50% throughout the day.
• Always use exhaust vent fans when showering in the bathroom and when you cook in the kitchen to prevent the build-up of moisture and humidity.
• Ensure that your dryer has a vent and that it vents to the outdoors, not indoors.
• Use mold-killing cleaners in your bathroom to keep spores away.
• Avoid using wall-to-wall carpeting in areas that may become wet or moist, such as basements, bathrooms, and kitchens.
• Prevent mold formation by fixing leaks anywhere in your home as quickly as possible.
• Investigate your storage areas for mold, particularly storage bins for clothing and fabric.