Outdoor rugs suffer a great amount of mold because they are exposed outside to the elements. You might wonder, how do you remove mold from your outdoor rug effectively? You’re in luck, as we will discuss what our research has uncovered below.
Molds can be easily removed by using the most basic household supplies, such as combining water with mild detergent, bleach, baking soda, and/or white vinegar. These products also help remove odors and other stains accumulated on the rug.
There are several easy ways to remove mold from your rug that you might not know about. Keep on reading, and let's look at some of these methods and how to do them. So we can achieve mold-free outdoor rugs without much effort.
How To Remove Mold From An Outdoor Rug?
Outdoor rugs are great exterior decorations that we can add to our houses. A rug helps clean shoes before entering the house and can also contain quirky phrases or welcome messages that will immediately greet you and your visitors upon entering.
And because of this, outdoor rugs are prone to mold and dirt build-up due to the amount of moisture they get from outside and the shoes that step on them. Sweeping can quickly and easily remove dust, but mold forming in rugs' fibers can be a significant problem if not addressed.
You can use these methods to address mold formation in your outdoor rugs.
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Water and Mild Detergent
For light mold build-up, using a mild detergent in water will suffice to eliminate those unwanted molds in your outdoor rug. You can also experiment with stronger detergents if you feel that the mold you have needs heavy-duty cleaning action.
Just remember to avoid using too much detergent as this can be very difficult to remove from your rug, sometimes harder than the mold itself.
Bleach
If mold is tough to eliminate, using bleach might be the solution. However, it is important to use the right kind of bleach, such as a colorsafe variety, since bleach could completely destroy the color of your rug. Spot-test the bleach solution first.
You can also use this with water and detergent. Bleach does not only help in removing mold, stains, and build-up, but it can also help disinfect the rug.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another substance that can be used to absorb moisture. Sprinkle some baking soda over the area that is developing mold, and then wait a while for it to take effect. Scrub the area after adding a small amount of water.
This is a good method for eliminating stains as well as odors, and it is best at removing excess moisture.
White Vinegar
Vinegar is a natural cleaning product that may be beneficial in removing mold accumulation. White vinegar is one example that can eliminate mold build-up. Let the vinegar sit on the mold stains for a few minutes.
Add warm water before scrubbing it and rinsing it with water. You can also combine both baking soda and white vinegar. The method is the same. You only need to apply the baking soda and the white vinegar to the stain.
Can you pressure wash an outdoor rug?
Yes. The mold and grime on your rug can be simply scraped off with high water pressure. When using a power washer on your rug, follow these steps.
Step 1 - Determine Rug Materials
Determine the type of rug you intend to clean with your pressure washer so that you may choose the appropriate nozzle tip for your pressure washer.
It is critical that you are aware of the material that your rug is composed of and whether or not it can withstand the pressure of water, as some rugs are weaker compared to others.
Step 2 - Move the Rug to a Clean Surface Area
Place your rug face up on a level, dust-free surface located outside.
Step 3 - Apply Cleaning Solution
Apply the appropriate detergent with water, and let it soak for some time until the soap fully penetrates the rug. This will depend on how big and thick your rug is.
To thoroughly clean your rug, you can use any gentle detergent you want; however, as we said earlier, you should be careful not to apply too much soap, as this could make it more difficult to remove the detergent than the dirt itself.
Step 4 - Wash/Rinse with a Sweeping Motion
When washing a rug with a pressure washer, you should utilize a motion similar to sweeping or an up-and-down motion. Be sure to use caution when equipping it, and keep your feet a safe distance from it at all times.
Can I wash the outdoor rug in the washing machine?
There are a few factors that must be taken into consideration. It will be determined by the type and dimensions of the rug, as well as whether your washing machine can handle it. If your rug is woven or made of cotton material and is small enough to fit in your washing machine, then you can wash it.
However, it is possible that it will not get completely clean this way. Brushing the debris away by hand is still the most effective way to clear it completely.
Some outdoor rugs are made of durable woven materials, and if your washing machine is not equipped to handle fabrics of this type, your machine could break.
How do you dry a rug after washing it?
It doesn't matter whether you scrubbed your rug by hand, used a power washer, or put it through the washing machine to clean it. If it doesn't thoroughly dry, moisture can easily create mold again in no time.
The best way to dry out your rugs is to place them under the sun. That is why cleaning them on a sunny day is great, as you can take advantage of the clear weather. Air drying your rug is also another option.
If you have the means to, you can always contact or bring your rug to professional services to do a more thorough clean. That way, you can ensure they are washed, dried, and disinfected properly, especially if you have expensive rugs such as wool.
Such services use high-tech industrial heaters to quickly absorb moisture and have a separate area where dehumidifiers are used to drain excess moisture and speed up the drying process efficiently.
If you are on a budget, a DIY rack where you can hang your rugs is another brilliant way to help them dry properly. You should be okay as long as you have some nails and some sturdy poles or wood to work with.
See this affordable rack on Amazon.
In Closing
Outdoor rugs are great decorations for your home and also help lessen the amount of dirt entering your house from your shoes. They can survive a significant amount of time spent simply sitting on your patio and experiencing the elements.
However, you should not ignore the importance of cleaning it every once in a while to help it last you a long time. We hope that this article was helpful to you. For other rug-cleaning tips, check out our related articles:
