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Mike asked: How can I keep mildew and cleaning of mildew from leather furniture? I have a patio that is enclosed, but not air conditioned. In the summer, it gets humid in the room. I have been told that mildew will form, but I can treat it and clean it.
If mold or mildew has developed on your leather pieces, it can be removed with a few simple steps. The removal method is outlined in our guide How to Remove Mold/Mildew from Leather Shoes. Although the guide was originally written for shoes, the same removal methods apply to leather upholstery surfaces.
Additional Tips and Advice
- Help prevent moisture build up with a quality dehumidifier. These are available in a range of sizes and will remove the excess moisture that allows the mold and mildew to grow.
- Treat any mildew or mold growth right away before it develops deeper into the cushions. Once it reaches the cushions, they will need to be replaced.
How do I clean the fungus marks from the leather seat covers?
How do I remove mold and mildew from a van?
Victoria,
Mold and mildew require moisture to grow, so the key to removing them will be identifying and eliminating the moisture source. If the moisture is simply from the air (as opposed to a damp carpet from snow boots or a spill), this may mean placing some kind of a dehumidifier in your garage (either a commercial or homemade one) or placing a small, portable dehumidifier in your van.
Other than that, you will need to remove the mold and if possible, remove the mold spores. Clean the leather seats as described in the article, How to Remove Mold/Mildew from Leather Shoes, and you can use the article on How to Remove Mold from Car Carpeting to clean the carpet. Then, either wipe all other surfaces with an anti-fungal (such as diluted white vinegar or Lysol – test a small hidden area first though to look for any damage from the cleaner before using it) or vacuum all surfaces to remove any loose mold spores. If you choose to vacuum, be sure to use only a vacuum that has a HEPA filter though or else vacuum outside; otherwise you will end up blowing the spores out into your garage.
Source: Bowden’s Own – The BIG Wet – Controlling Mould in Your Car
Source: DoItYourself.com – How to Remove Mildew Under a Car Carpet
Source: repourposeful – Don’t buy it; make it: Charcoal briquette dehumidifier
Source: eHow – How to Dehumidify My Home Without a Dehumidifier