Removing Mold from Places You Store Laundry
The laundry basket may carry not only dirty clothes, but microscopic organisms known as mold. Spores thrive in places that store laundry because they provide ample nutrients. Removing the mold from these areas is critical to preventing the spread of indoor mold and preserving health.
Why does mold grow in laundry hampers?
Mold belongs to the fungi kingdom and is present throughout the natural environment. Outdoors, the spores feed off of decaying organic matter, such as dry leaves and dead trees, breaking them down. Moist places with abundant oxygen are the perfect habitat for mold.
Indoors, however, mold should be eliminated. Despite being an unwanted nuisance, mold spores can grow inside places that provide a consistent source of moisture. Laundry baskets, and other areas laundry is regularly stored, give mold the nourishment they need to survive and thrive.
Places that hold laundry are moist, due to the clothes being drenched in sweat or the bath towels having been recently used. This moisture is just one of three nutrient sources mold spores require to multiply. An organic food source and oxygen round out the spores’ requirements for nourishment.
The typical laundry basket provides mold with an assortment of food: moisture from wet clothes; an organic food source from the dirt, dust and body oils found on clothing; and oxygen. The lavish banquet found in places laundry is commonly stored invites mold spores.
Washing the clothes and towels stored in the laundry basket removes the moisture source from the damp materials as well as the organic food source. Mold spores may look elsewhere for their next feast. However, the spores may linger if the laundry basket itself offers plenty of nourishment.
Cleaning areas where laundry is stored will effectively remove the mold. Laundry shelves, including fabric ones, and laundry cabinets should be regularly cleaned to prevent mold. Maintaining the places laundry is stored is as important as laundering the clothing inside.
How is mold removed from cloth laundry bags?
Removing existing mold starts with scrubbing off as much mold as possible with a dry scrub brush. Perform this task outside where ventilation is optimum. The last thing a homeowner wants to do is spread the airborne mold spores to other areas inside the home.
Spray the cloth laundry basket with equal parts white vinegar and water. Vinegar features antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it an effective way to kill many types of mold spores. Saturate any visible mold stains with the solution. Allow the basket to soak for five minutes.
Next, a full soak in a bathtub or washer filled with one cup of vinegar and hot water breaks down any lingering mold spores. Prior to this step, read the care instructions on the laundry basket to determine the temperature of water required for cleaning.
Wash the laundry basket liner in the washing machine along with a heavy-duty laundry detergent. A powerful detergent will break down the enzymes in the mold spores or stains. If the laundry basket cannot be laundered, hand wash it using a sponge soaked in warm water and detergent.
Dry the cloth laundry basket in the sun, where the rays will kill off the mold spores. Along with brightening the fabric, the sunlight removes mold stains. Lingering mold stains can be lightened with a spritz of lemon juice and then leave the basket in the sun to dry.
How are laundry baskets kept clean?
Routinely cleaning the laundry basket will keep mold infestations at bay. Plastic hampers can be hand washed outside with hot, soapy water and rinsed clean. Dry the hamper in the sun. Make sure the hamper is fully dry before tossing clothes into it.
Clean a wicker laundry basket by vacuuming it inside and out. Mix one gallon of warm water with one cup of baking soda and scrub the basket using a soft brush. Clean between cracks, wipe with a wet cloth and dry with a towel. Complete the drying under the sun.
How is mold in laundry baskets prevented?
Damp clothes sitting inside a dark hamper create the perfect breeding ground for mold colonies. Prevent mold invasions by washing the clothes regularly. Mold develops quickly, often within 24 to 48 hours; so, it is important to avoid leaving dirty clothes in the hamper for extended periods.
Another way to mold-proof the laundry basket is to dry wet materials, like towels, before throwing them into the hamper. Clean the laundry basket at the same time the clothes are laundered. Cloth laundry baskets can be thrown in with the load of laundry. Wipe down laundry shelves regularly.
Mold growing inside places where laundry is stored can be unnerving. The spores spread rapidly, making bigger mold invasions a likely threat. As soon as you see or smell mold inside your property, consult mold remediation experts.
Crews of IICRC certified technicians will pinpoint all hidden and visible mold growth using advanced technology. Mold can be sneaky, growing behind walls, under carpets and beneath wallpaper. The equipment and techniques used ensure that all traces of mold are found and eliminated.
Mold requires moisture to survive. Specialists locate the water source feeding the mold growth and repair it. Once the moisture problem is resolved, the mold issue can be corrected. Another integral part of mold cleanup services is to repair and restore mold damaged goods.
It is important to address a mold problem as soon as possible so that it does not have an opportunity to spread. Mold growth compromises a building’s structural integrity by eating away at the organic materials. It also causes a range of health problems to the home’s occupants. Professional mold cleanup efforts will return your property to a mold-free condition.
