We all have faced problems associated with mould in our homes when there were lapses in our home cleaning and maintenance practices. You might have noticed that mould attacks more during winter and rainy seasons. Mould is irritating and smelly and can cause serious health and respiratory problems for you and your family members.
If you happen to see mould build-up on your
window curtains, don’t panic; we can show you how to remove it using simple home
remedies. However, if you have allergies, asthma or related respiratory illnesses,
never forget to wear a mask while cleaning mould affected curtains. If your
health issues are complicated, we recommend calling professional house cleaners
to remove the mould.
When You Can Clean the Curtain in a Washing Machine
You can use a delicate washing cycle in the
washing machine if both your curtain and its thermal linings are fabric
material. Add some soap powder or
liquid soap into the warm water in the washing machine. When the soap fully
dissolves, put your curtain in the washing machine and make a normal wash cycle
without letting the machine to spin. Once the washing cycle is over, fill the
laundry tub with water and rinse well.
Now take out
the curtain and hang it straight on the clothesline, don’t fold. Don’t use clothespins
to hang curtains, always use the curtain hooks. You should double check to
ensure that the thermal lines are not touching each other. If there was more
dirt in the first curtain piece you washed, then you’ll have to drain the
washing machine and refill with fresh water. Otherwise use same water for two
or three curtains till the water gets dirty.
When the Curtain Needs to Be Hand-washed for Mould Removal
Remember, if you use washing machine to clean your
curtains which are thermally backed/patterned thermal fabric, be cautious, you
could spoil the show and damage your curtains beyond repair. If you act carelessly,
the thermal lining in the curtains can get stuck together and damage it. If you
try to untangle the linings, they’ll just peel off.
So, use the following cleaning methods to
safeguard your curtain:
First vacuum the curtains, or try shaking the
curtains to remove dust, dirt, and loose mould spores. You may use this
opportunity to give the windows also a quick wipe with a microfiber cloth and
plain water after you have removed the curtains. Ensure to wash the hooks,
strings and other attachments before fitting the curtains back.
Condition 1
If you notice that the mould has affected only
the base and corners of the curtain, then do the following. Mix half a cup of white vinegar with one cup
of warm water and pour it into a spray bottle. Mix well and spray the cleaning
liquid on the traces of mould. Wait for 20 minutes and wipe the area with a
plain cloth to remove the mould.
Condition 2
If mould is spotted at many areas of the
curtain, get it hand washed perfectly. Put the curtain in a bathtub with water
and 1 cup of vinegar. Wash it carefully without spoiling the thermal lines. If the wet thermal material (coating)
starts to stick to itself, then it’s difficult to save your costly curtain.
Now, take out the curtain from the bathtub and
hang it to dry in a straight position without folding. You may also spread it
flat over a clothes horse. The drying should be done in a well ventilated area,
and on a sunny breezy day, it’ll be quick to dry without getting damaged.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Even after washing properly, you may find mild
traces of mould stain in the curtain as it’s not possible to completely wash
away the whole mould presence. However, you can be rest assured that the
washing will ensure the mould spores are dead and won’t grow any further.
Again, consider the saying that prevention is better than cure. Make sure that
your windows don’t suffer from condensation and that the conditions for mould
growth are always avoided.
Call professional house cleaners for weekly,
bi-weekly, monthly or occasional home cleaning to get everything done efficiently
and thoroughly. This will prevent cleaning issues such as mould and mildew, stains etc.
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