How to Remove Mold From a Microfiber Couch

Though mold spores in the air are everywhere, they usually go undetected. If these mold spores find a damp place to settle it's a whole different story as they move in and accumulate, causing not only an unsightly mess, but a potential health hazard. If your microfiber couch is subjected to moisture, it may become a suitable target for mold to set up shop. In the interest of not having to replace your couch, removing mold is an unfortunately necessary task.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Newspapers or plastic sheeting
• Mask
• Gloves
• Protective glasses
• Nylon brush
• Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
• Fan
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Clean cloth

1. Take the couch outside if possible. If moving your couch outside isn't an option, lay down newspapers or plastic sheeting to catch residual mold.

2. Don a mask, gloves and protective glasses. Mold spores can lead to potential health problems, so be sure to protect yourself.

3. Use a brush to gently scrape away as much of the mold as you can. A nylon brush should work; just be careful not to use a brush that's too course so you don't damage the fabric.

4. Vacuum the area with the brush attachment of the vacuum cleaner to suck out more mold spores. Dispose of the bag or empty the canister as soon as possible. The sooner you can get the mold out of your home the better.

5. Dry the couch either by allowing it to air dry outside or by placing a fan nearby to circulate air around the room.

6. Visually inspect the area for signs of residual mold or stains. Sometimes just sunshine alone kills off the mold.

7. Mix equal parts water and isopropyl alcohol and water and dip a clean cloth in it to tend to residual mold and stains.

8. Scrub the area with the cloth until there are no traces of the mold left.

9. Again, allow the couch to air dry or place a fan nearby to help it dry faster.

Tips & Warnings

• If there is a residual odor from the mold, cover the offending area with baking soda and leave it overnight. Vacuum it up in the morning.
• If you use newspapers or plastic to collect residual mold, fold them up so the spores cannot escape, and dispose of them outside as soon as possible.
• Keep your couch in a dry, well-lit area until the couch dries to prevent new mold from coming.

References

• Mold Basics
• Cleaning Mildew from Mattresses, Rugs and Upholstery