Leather furniture is one of the most treasured items in many homes. From its aesthetic looks to its durability, there are a plethora of benefits that come with leather furniture. In fact, many people usually find leather more welcoming and inviting. Coupled with its homey smell and luxurious comfort, you can be sure that this item will remain at the forefront of the market for ages.
Although leather furniture comes with this treasure, there is a need to keep your leather in pristine condition. After all, no one would want to find his leather furniture with molds. However, this is not always the case as molds can grow on your leather furniture from time to time. In this article, we shall take a closer look at how to remove mold from leather furniture alongside other related ideas.
Why is my leather sofa going mouldy?
Are you wondering why you may find mildew on leather? Chances are that you are not the only one with this concern. When your precious leather furniture is left unchecked, mold is bound to grow on it and thus ruin the much-desired aesthetics.
Consequently, its monetary value may depreciate. Knowing the reasons why your leather furniture may get moldy can help you avert such problems in the future. Here are the reasons why your leather is going moldy:
1. Leather possess porosity properties
Just like any other porous material such as fabrics, leather is generally porous and thus can absorb moisture in the air. Better still, leather can absorb sweat from the body of a human being and thus become wet or drenched.
Such usually happens when the humidity is very high. Once the leather material comes into contact with your skin, be sure that it will become wet over time and thus can be a perfect breeding ground for molds.
2. Presence of heat
Besides having porosity properties, poor ventilation can make molds and mildew grow on your leather items such as the leather couch, leather purse, leather boots, and so forth. Ideally, it is recommended that you store your leather item in a cool dry place.
For instance, if you store your leather item in a plastic bag or in any other container, be sure that heat will be trapped. And thus, you might mold on the leather item after some time. To keep white mold on the leather couch at bay, it is imperative that you keep your room well ventilated so that heat is not trapped there for long.
3. If you leave your leather for a very long time without using it
Sometimes, you may leave your leather furniture for several months without being used. This is usually the case when you have traveled to enjoy your vacation or you have proceeded on a holiday with your family.
Earlier, we had indicated that leather items that come into contact with body fluids such as sweat, tend to have molded over time. However, if you have not come into contact with the sofa for a very long time, the chances of mold formation are very high. This is because leather cannot keep itself moist for a long period of time in a bid to remain healthy and in a pristine state.
Remember that body oils acts as a deterrent to the formation of molds and mildew. Since the leather item is not coming into contact with the body oils, there are high chances that you will find mold on your leather item.
4. Failure to treat the leather item
If you want your leather item to remain attractive for ages, you have to take care of it regularly. For optimal results, you should always clean and condition your leather every 3 to 6 months. By doing so, you will be able to prevent mold formation among other kinds of damages. However, if you fail to condition or treat your leather as expected, be sure that mold attacks will be imminent.
5. Use of mold water to clean the leather furniture
Although cleaning your leather furniture regularly can help keep molds at bay, using mold water can make the situation worse. Whether you use mold water to clean treat or even treat it, be sure that mold will form on your leather furniture. Worse still, if you are using tap water or chlorinated water, the chances of mold formation are very high.
6. Presence of molded items near the leather furniture
If there is a molded item near your leather furniture, chances are mold will start forming on the leather item after some time. Also, if you store your leather furniture in places that are moldy, these microorganisms will find their way on your leather item. Be it leather boots, leather purses,s or even a leather jacket, molds will form on it.
7. Airborne mold
Apart from the above-mentioned reasons, molds can also start forming on your leather as a result of air movements in your house. To put it into perspective, molds can also get into your house through the vents, air conditioning systems, and so forth.
Since this type of mode is airborne, chances are that it may end up on your precious leather jacket, purse among other leather products. Therefore, you should be careful or mindful of your surroundings as they may contribute immensely to mold formation.
How to remove mold from the leather furniture
Since we have established some of the main reasons why molds may form on your leather furniture, time is ripe for you to know how you should remove these molds on the go. The following are some of the essential steps that you should follow:
1. Preparation
As you purpose how to remove mold from your couch, there are a series of preparatory steps to make. First and foremost, you should take your leather furniture outside. Cleaning it in an outdoor environment not only helps to release mold spores into the air but also helps to kill the existing molds faster. Remember that molds can be dangerous if they are released in an indoor environment. As long as you have a spacious compound, be sure that you are good to go.
Once the leather item is outside, do not start removing the molds immediately. Instead, you should allow the leather furniture to sit in the sun for several hours. By doing so, you will allow the leather furniture to dry out.
Since molds and mildew are fond of thriving in damp environments, be sure that the sun will play a critical role in killing the molds before the actual cleaning starts. As the leather dries up, it is imperative that you clean and vacuums the area where the leather furniture stays. Be thorough in your cleaning so that all the existing spores get eliminated.
When cleaning your leather, there are a number of items that you will need. Some of them include:
- A facemask
- A leather cleaner, white wine vinegar, or soap
- A soft piece of cloth.
With these supplies ready, you are good to start. In case you are allergic to spores, ensure that you administer an allergy tablet or drug beforehand.
2. Cleaning
When it comes to mold removal, most people have been asking, will vinegar kill mold on leather? Yes. In fact, vinegar is one of the most preferred cleaning agents as far as mold removal is concerned. In this case, you should put vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
For optimal results, you better mix them in the ratio of 1:1. If you do not have vinegar, you can mix mild soap instead and you will be good to go. In case, you are worried about the kind of cleaning agent that is suitable for your leather, perform a spot test first so that you can know whether your preferred cleaning agent is good for your leather or not. Ideally, your cleaning agent of choice should not damage your leather.
Once you are satisfied that the cleaning agent is safe, you can now spray it all over the leather couch and then start focusing on the areas where molds are visible. If you want to get good results, let the cleaner soak into your leather for about one minute or thereabout. Thereafter, wipe it using a soft piece of cloth.
In case there are some mold stains left on the leather furniture, repeat the process. Besides spraying the leather furniture with the cleaning agent, you can opt to soak the microfiber cloth in the cleaning agent and then start rubbing on the moldy spot directly. Continue doing so until the leather furniture is free of molds and smells clean.
3. Return the leather furniture in the house
Once you have eliminated all the mold stains on your leather furniture, you can let it sit in the sun for a while before you take it back into the house. You can even apply some leather conditioner so that it remains in pristine condition.
FAQs
Q: What kills mold on leather?
Molds can be killed by a number of cleaning agents. A good example is a vinegar. All you need to do is to mix with an equal proportion of water and then get started. Better still, use alcohol or mild soap. As long as the cleaning agent does not damage the leather surface, you can go on without concern and expect rapid results.
Q: What causes mold on leather furniture?
Molds are usually caused by moisture. Therefore, if you place your leather furniture in a humid environment, be sure that it will be vulnerable to mold attacks. If possible try to reduce the humidity of your room so that you can keep molds at bay. Better still, put the leather furniture in the sun for some time so that the sunrays can kill molds.
Q: Can you use vinegar to clean mold off leather?
Yes. As we speak, you can now use vinegar to clean molds off your leather furniture. All you need to do is to dilute or mix vinegar with water in the ratio of 1:1. If this method does not please you, consider soaking a soft piece of cloth in the vinegar mixture and then using it to rub off the mold stains. When using vinegar to clean molds off your leather, you should avoid over-moisturizing your leather with it as it may damage your precious leather furniture.
Q: What kills mold better bleach or vinegar?
Well, both vinegar and bleach are great options as far as killing molds is concerned. However, vinegar has more advantages than bleach. To start with, vinegar is largely safer than bleach.
Besides this, vinegar can easily penetrate deep into the leather pores, this killing molds more effectively. In case you are presented with both cleaning agents, choose vinegar, but if vinegar is not an option, you can go for bleach.
Q: What causes white mold on leather?
In most cases, white molds are caused by fungi. This microorganism likes feeding on moist surfaces such as drywalls, paintings, wallpaper and so forth. Since they like moist surfaces, they are able to use the moisture present to multiply and grow in large colonies commonly known as mildew.
Q: Can mold on furniture make you sick?
Yes. Mold on your leather furniture can make you ill. If you usually have asthma or allergies, you can become the easy prey. Besides these kinds of illnesses, prolonged exposure to molds can irritate your eyes, throat, skin, lungs and so forth. Therefore, the sooner you keep molds at bay, the better your health will be.
Q: What are the signs of mold toxicity?
Some of the common signs of mold toxicity include wheezing, coughing, skin rash, nose stuffiness, and red eyes among others. It is good to be vigilant and watch out for these symptoms.
Q: What’s the difference between mildew and mold?
Although most people think that mildew and molds are the same, there are a number of differences that separate the two. Comparing color, mildew is usually gray, white, or yellow while a mold is black or green in color. Mildew is like growing on moist and warm surfaces. However, molds tend to grow underneath the surface of anything that is literally wet. Sometimes, its texture can be slimy or fuzzy.
Final words
Leather furniture is a good investment for your home. Therefore, keeping it clean will help to make it retain its color and luster. However, it is not immune to mold attacks in case you keep it in an area that is wet or has high humidity levels. In case, your precious leather furniture has been molded, it is important that you consider the above-mentioned procedure on how to remove mold from leather furniture and you will be good to go. Consequently, you will change the outlook of your leather furniture and thereby make it look more appealing to the eye.
