How to Kill Mildew on Rugs

In order for mildew to grow it needs moisture, oxygen, a food source and the correct temperature range. By removing the moisture in the mildewed area, the mildew spores will die. The best weapon against mildew is prevention. Mold is in the air we breathe. Mildew is a microorganism that is developed from mold spores. Unfortunately, a musty-mildew odor can be smelled before the mildew has fully formed. If left unattended, the mildew can eventually damage your favorite rug.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Detergent
• Lemon juice
• Salt

1. Move the rug outside. Cleaning the rug indoors will release the mildew spores inside your home.

2. Remove the visible mildew. The mildew can be removed with a broom. Just sweep the area very well to get the mildew out of the rug. This will not kill the mildew that has taken root in your rug. Wash the broom very well before returning it back into the home.

3. Wash the area thoroughly with detergent and warm water. Use the least amount of water needed to make the detergent sudsy.

4. Wipe the detergent off the rug with a wet cloth.

5. Hang the rug out in the sun. The sun will dry out the mildew and the air will carry the spores away. If this does not totally remove the mildew, then use a mixture of lemon juice and salt to remove the remaining mildewed areas. The amount is not important. The lemon juice helps to kill the microorganisms and the salt acts as an abrasive.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot take the rug outside, use a vacuum to get the spores out of the rug. Throw the vacuum bag away after use. You can try to use a blow dryer to heat the area, and the vacuum to remove the spores a second time.

References

• Removing Mildew in Fabrics
• Cleaning Mildew from Rugs