Why Your Curtains Might Be a Breeding Ground for Mould (And How to Fix It)

Mould. It’s nasty, it’s smelly and it looks downright disgusting. Now, imagine that one day, while cleaning your home, you discover that your beautiful lace curtains, the ones you paid a pretty penny for, are covered in ghastly fungi! Or maybe it has already happened to you? Well, no worries – we are here to save the day!

In this article, we are going to answer all of your questions on how to get rid of mould on curtains, including why it happens in the first place, and, as always – give you some helpful prevention tips.

Why do curtains get mouldy?

Both mould and mildew can appear easily on, well, almost anything. Fungi need only a little bit of moisture (like condensation on windows), a warmer environment and a food source such as dust, dirt or organic material.

So, if you have a draftier window hidden behind a nice pair of curtains, don’t be surprised if you find nasty mould spots covering the fabric.

What is the difference between mould and mildew?

Generally, mould is a term that includes several types of identical nuclei. One of the fungus’s main characteristics is that it can develop beneath almost any type of material, penetrate it, and inflict some serious damage as time passes. That being said, mildew falls into this category, slightly differing.

Mildew grows on top of items and unlike some sorts of fungus, is easier to treat. Remember those slippery orange stains you found while last cleaning your bathroom? That is live mould. The same fungus spots can turn grey, which means that the mould is hibernating. What can “activate” the spores is warmth and sunlight.

How to get rid of mould on curtains safely

Now that you know what exactly is mould and why it appears, we can talk about effective ways to remove it. Before you continue with the cleaning, note that not all curtains are made the same and have different washing requirements.

So, with this out of the way, here are the 4 easy steps to treat curtain mould successfully:

Step #1: Manually scrub as much mould as possible

The first part of the cleaning process is definitely not a pleasant one, but it’s still necessary. Get a hard bristle brush and start scrubbing the fungus. You need to remove as much of the nasty mould as you can.

We highly advise doing this outside, so the fungi spores don’t end up in another area of your home.

Step #2: Prepare the mould remover spray

Once you are done scrubbing, roll up your sleeves – we are making a DIY curtain mould killer.

If you are a fan of eco-friendly homemade cleaners, then we should definitely mention the white vinegar and water recipe. It’s that simple, you just have to mix equal parts of the two in a spray bottle and treat the mouldy areas on your curtains.

Vinegar has antibacterial properties, so it should be effective enough to kill the mould. It’s good to wash your curtains after a few hours, though, to get rid of the smell and freshen up the fabric.

Step #3: Wash your curtains

The next step of the cleaning process is to wash the curtains. You can do it by hand if you are dealing with net curtains which could be more delicate.

However, if your curtains’ label says they are machine washable, then this is the fastest and easiest way to deep clean them. Put them in along with your regular detergent and some fabric softener, and set your washing machine at a low temperature. 40 degrees will do the job.

Can mouldy curtains be dry-cleaned?

If you are handling very sensitive fabrics that do not allow cleaning with water, then consider dry cleaning them. Mouldy curtains can be dry cleaned and the fungus successfully removed from the delicate materials. This can be done safely without having to worry about damaging the fabric.

Step #4: Hang the curtains to dry

Finally, take out the curtains from the washer and hang them outside to dry. DO NOT use your dryer to speed things up – there is a chance that you could actually shrink the curtains.

Carpets, like curtains, can become a breeding ground for mould growth. If your textile flooring is affected, read our post on how to remove mould from carpets.

Preventing new mould growth on curtains

Dealing with any kind of mould on any kind of area, surface, or material is nasty. The stuff looks weird, smells funny, and let’s face it – you can get goosebumps only by the thought of touching the fungi.

So, if you want to save yourself the hassle of getting mould off your curtains, check the prevention tips we’ve provided below:

Kill the mould through professional cleaning!

Some house chores are more troublesome than others. Curtain cleaning, especially mould removal, happens to fall under this category. That being said, why not give our professional curtain cleaning services a shot?

We offer both dry cleaning and hot water extraction cleaning, which makes our services suitable for all types of curtains. The cleaning itself is performed by trained specialists, who will treat the piece on the spot, without even taking it down.

So, if you are looking for a sure way to get rid of mould on your curtains, give Fantastic Services a call today!

Takeaways

• Double-check with the label of your curtains for the fabric type or/and the cleaning method you should use.
• Be very careful when applying the bleach concoction to the mouldy curtains. Spritz a light mist over the fabric and make sure it’s from a distance, so you don’t damage the piece.
• Prevention is key. If you don’t want to clean mouldy spots, try to do your best to stop the fungi from developing in the first place.

And if you are searching for ways to remove mould from upholstery furniture, you might find our dedicated post useful.

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Have you ever had mold on your curtains? How did you get rid of it? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Image source: Shutterstock / Fevziie