Safely clean mold from porous surfaces
2009-02-01

Many times it is impossible to completely clean mold from porous surfaces such as paper, drywall and carpet pad-ding. These materials may need to be replaced rather than cleaned. Wood sur-faces can be cleaned, but may need to be sanded to complete-ly remove mold spores. Always wear personal protective gear and isolate the work area from the rest of the home. Here are some guidelines about cleaning mold from other porous surfaces:

Clothing and Textiles

Brush the fabric with a clothing or other soft brush, or shake to loosen and free mold. Then put fabrics in the sun. If the fabric is washable, launder the items with de-tergent and bleach when possible.

Leathers

Always perform a "spot test" in an inconspicuous area of the garment. Use equal parts water and isopropyl alcohol to wipe the moldy area. Allow the leather to air dry away from direct sunlight.

Carpet and Rugs

Discard pads contain-ing mold. It is nearly impossible to clean and destroy all the mold in a carpet pad. It is best to hire a professional carpet cleaner or restorer to clean wall-to-wall carpet that is contaminated with mold.

Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses

Brush surface mold away with a broom out-doors. Vacuum using an upholstery attachment. Discard the disposable vacuum cleaner bag. Use the services of a profes-sional upholstery cleaner, or sponge the item with detergent suds and wipe with a clean cloth. Avoid getting the stuffi ng wet. Wipe the furniture with a cloth moistened with a solution of equal parts denatured alcohol and water and dry thoroughly. Place the item in the sun for a few hours to dry or use a fan and indirect heat to dry.

Books

Stand books on end. Spread out pages to dry. Wipe off mold with a clean, dry cloth. After a few hours, stack and press to avoid wrinkling the pages. Alternate open-ing and stacking until completely dry. Sprinkle cornstarch on pages to absorb moisture. Place books in a closed con-tainer with moth crystals to stop mold growth.NOTE: If you are at-tempting to clean mold from an heirloom fabric, book, document, furni-ture piece or other item of value, proceed with caution.