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Aussie woman details her thorough mould cleaning process after discovering her leather jacket covered in mildew

Rachael Gavin
Rachael Gavin

An Aussie woman has been bombarded with requests to reveal how she removed mould from her clothes after posting an image of her mildew-covered leather jacket on social media.

Content creator Lisa Patulny revealed the stained jacket in her Instagram stories. She asked her followers to let her know if they wanted her mould removal advice after spending the whole day cleaning her wardrobe.

With the torrential rain and high humidity plaguing the east coast of Australia right now, it's not surprising Lisa's message box "exploded" with people asking for tips.

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"Seems like we're all dealing with the same situation (can confirm Bing Lee was doing a roaring trade in dehumidifiers today)," she posted on Instagram.

Lisa first gave her steps for cleaning mould from leather before explaining how she tackled the rest of her clothes.

Mould removal cleaning clothes leather jacket

This is a common sight after humid and wet weather. Instagram/@lisapatulny

The first step for cleaning the leather jacket, and possibly the most important, is to take the item outside so that there is plenty of ventilation. This is in case mould spores are released during the cleaning process.

Then you'll need isopropyl alcohol, water, castile soap, cloths and cotton buds.

Mould removal cleaning clothes leather jacket

Lisa Patulny's guide for removing mould from leather. Instagram/@lisapatulny

"Use a white cloth and 1:1 isopropyl alcohol and water to wipe it off. Go inside pockets. Use a cotton tips to get into seams — don't leave any [mould] behind," Lisa's caption read.

"When dry, wipe with a fresh white cloth dipped in Dr Bronner's or any castile soap and water. Then use another (yes another) white cloth to wipe down with plain clean water."

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The final step, after the leather is completely dry, is to use a leather conditioner to get the jacket back to its former glory. Lisa warned skipping this step may result in the leather cracking or flaking.

Mould removal cleaning clothes leather jacket

A vinegar-scented jacket is better than a mouldy one. Instagram/@lisapatulny

Unfortunately cleaning that one mouldy item is just the start because there could be mould spores lurking in your wardrobe without you realising.

"Anything else hanging in the same space needs to be laundered. All it takes is one spore left behind to cause the situation to recur," Lisa said in another caption. "I know. I hate it too."

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For the rest of her clothes Lisa soaked them in a mix of one part vinegar and three parts water. Then pop them in the washing machine using hot water if possible before drying them in the dryer.

Mould removal cleaning clothes leather jacket

Lisa's steps for cleaning mould from clothing. Instagram/@lisapatulny

Once that's underway, you'll need to wipe out the wardrobe with vinegar rather than bleach, which just changes the colour of the mould instead of killing it.

And before you think you're finished, Lisa then recommends cleaning the washing machine with two cups of vinegar in the detergent dispenser.

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"Run it on its hottest cycle. Then tip half a cup of bicarb soda right into the drum and run the cycle again," she said.

Finally, Lisa suggested popping a moisture absorber container in your wardrobe to prevent further mould growth. These can be found at supermarkets and hardware stores from as little as $6.60.

After that mammoth cleaning effort Lisa was left with a leather jacket that looked as good as new, though it had a slight vinegary scent.

"She smells a bit like a salad but she'll be fine," Lisa said.

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