How do you get mildew out of something like a futon cover... My room mate and her boyfriend always sleep on this futon cover in the living room when he sleeps over and i think they spilled water a couple times under one corner and now it smells terrible..any advice on what to do...Id rather not throw it away but if I have to I will...
2007-04-02 11:50:32 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
wash it with regular detergent, borax, and chlorine bleach if that bleach is safe for it. if it's not, soak the futon cover in hot water with your regular detergent, borax, and colorsafe bleach. then wash. if some of the stain remains, use hydrogen peroxide then wash it again. dry it in the sun, which is a great germicidal treatment and natural bleacher and odor remover.
if your only problem is smell, you should have no trouble at all. borax is great as a laundry booster and an odor remover. you can also try soaking in hot water with baking soda.
2007-04-02 12:03:02 · answer #1 · answered by dorkotron 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, I wonder if the mildew is growing into the actual futon cushion... I hope not. But the best thing for mildew, besides bleach, is vinegar. It does a great job of killing mildew and stink. Test a small area of the cover to make sure the vinegar doesn't affect the coloring. If you don't see a problem, I would dab some straight vinegar on the area and then wash it with a good detergent. Pour a cup of vinegar in at the rinse cycle. Do a second clear water rinse and then throw it into the dryer. By the time it's fully dry, you won't smell the vinegar at all. I know because I use it occasionally for towels and stinky socks. Works great!!!
2007-04-02 14:02:25 · answer #2 · answered by angel82672 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bleach is a highly effective mildew killer, but I suspect this will not be an ideal option for you.
There are laundry cleaners and additives that are designed for this purpose, and should be in your local laundry aisle. This one claims to not contain bleach...
http://www.improvementscatalog.com/home/improvements/27546-mold-mildew-cleaner.html
Last resort: Formaldehyde. You don't need to apply it direct, just seal the futon in a big bag, even a christmas tree bag would work, with a jar of Formaldehyde for several days. Air out for several more, and launder normally. The vapor kills everything! (Military uses it for Anthrax and CDC for Ebola!) Follow the MSDS precautions. We successfully did this to an old pickup truck bench seat that had seen better days before the cab leaked. Two years later and no return of odor or activity!
2007-04-02 12:10:35 · answer #3 · answered by KirksWorld 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well bleach will kill mold and mildew. If you can get the cover off, just put it in the washing machine and add a little bleach to it. That should do it.
2007-04-02 14:38:55 · answer #4 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off it may not be "water" yuck and second wash it three times. Twice with Vinegar and once with some H-E detergent which is about 3 dollars more than the regular but its is just a stronger more potent soap, GOOD LUCK!
2007-04-02 11:57:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get rid of the roommate. Other step is to have her buy a new cover and get rid of the old one--or try spraying with lysol spray it will kill germs--or try vinegar water on it and dry with a hair dryer, then spray with lysol.
2007-04-02 11:57:10 · answer #6 · answered by lilabner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On a clear day, take it outside and let the day air dissippate the smell. Be careful not to let it sit overnight.
2007-04-02 12:34:53 · answer #7 · answered by robertspraguejr 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get some Febreez preferably the kind that kills the germs that cause odor.
2007-04-02 12:19:36 · answer #8 · answered by missbellacherie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a spray bottle and spray it with hydrogen peroxide? This not only freshens the fabric but may help remove any stains it may have.
2007-04-02 12:00:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
warn them not to use your futon
2007-04-02 11:54:55 · answer #10 · answered by Ash c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋