black mould on curtains.

[paulcooper]

Last year I fitted some new cream curtains to keep prying eyes out of the cabin.
Just been to check on the boat and give it a spring clean and found black mould spots on the curtain material. Took one curtain home and put it in the washing machine but it did not remove the black spots.
I feel sure that I not the only one to have this problem, have any of you forumites solved this problem??
Grateful for any help.

 

[alahol2]

For black spots the only thing I've had any success with is bleach. Placed directly on the spot. Problem is, depending on the material, you may end up with a white spot or even a hole. Like always, try it in an inconspicuous place. 3 in 1 mould remover is good for killing mould but I've never had any luck with it removing the black.

 

[pvb]

After washing, you could soak in a mild bleach/suds solution for a while. If that fails, you could try spot application of neat bleach using a cotton bud. But be prepared for a patchy result (which might still look better than the black spots!).

 

[awol]

Swap for black curtains that won't show the mildew.

 

[bert49uk]

had sucsses with that pink stuff they advertise on TV (cant remember name)

 

[Billjratt]

Try and hang the curtains so they don't rest against the window or anything else that may have condensation on it.

 

[RobinBirch]

I'd say this is one for MrsCooper or your partner

 

[VicS]

As suggested diluted chlorine bleach with care. Its not recommended for synthetic materials though.

The choice might be between black spots and shortened life of the curtains.

The "Pink stuff" referred to above is I guess Vanish. A peroxide based bleach available in various forms including a spray.
http://www.vanish.co.uk/

Try before resorting to a chlorine based bleach!

 

[bert49uk]

vanish thats the stuff, i left curtains in bowl of the stuff for hr or so then rinsed hay presto mould gone

 

[richardbrennan]

I had exactly the same problem. On advice of SWMBO, soaked overnight in bio washing powder, sprayed on Vanish and then washed in machine. Results were excellent!

 

[prv]

vanish thats the stuff, i left curtains in bowl of the stuff for hr or so

I read the first word there as "varnish". Certainly after soaking your curtains for an hour in a bowl of Epifanes' finest, a few spots of mildew are the least of your worries

Pete

 

[VicS]

I read the first word there as "varnish".

Shouldn't have gone to Specsavers.

 

[cagey]

curtains

Try Napisan always worked for me
Keith

 

[VicS]

Try Napisan always worked for me
Keith

A bio washing powder and an oxi action bleach rolled into one I think you will find.

 

[simonfraser]

Chuck the curtains, put up a note:

"enjoy the view or look away"


Life's too short to worry about those things.

 

[VicS]

A useful discussion

I am going to try a combination of Vanish and bio-detergent on the shower curtain

 

[Tintin]

I find soaking in bio-tex works really well before washing

 

[VicS]

A useful discussion

I am going to try a combination of Vanish and bio-detergent on the shower curtain

Did not work!

 

[theguvnor]

Soak in Milton ( that stuff used for sterilising babies bottles) then wash - worked for me

 

[VicS]

Soak in Milton ( that stuff used for sterilising babies bottles) then wash - worked for me

But chlorine bleaches tend to be detrimental to fabrics and are definitely not recommended for synthetic materials. They can turn polyesters such as Terylene and Dacron permanently bright yellow, as one or two people have discovered when trying to get mould spots off sails.

As I said earlier in the thread use with care and perhaps choose between black spots and a shortened life for the curtains.
The trouble is that you can use a chlorine bleach and be pleased with the immediate good results but won't realise that the life of the fabric may have been dramatically reduced.