What should I do if mould is on clothes, curtains or furniture?

If mould has reached clothes, curtains or furniture, deal with the affected items and investigate the damp in the room. Cleaning a surface may remove visible mould, but it will not stop more damage if moisture is still getting in or collecting there. Start by recording what is affected and looking for the source. Do not assume that every item must be thrown away, or that every fabric can be restored by the same cleaning method.

Why belongings can be affected

Damp is a build-up of moisture in a property. Government guidance says it can affect furnishings and belongings, including carpets, curtains, furniture and clothing. Mould may grow where that moisture persists. A mark on a coat or the back of a chair can therefore be a clue about the room as well as a problem with the item itself. Look at the nearby wall, floor, window and any pipework instead of treating the fabric in isolation.

A musty smell can matter even where you cannot see mould. Government guidance says it may indicate growth behind wallpaper or furniture, or beneath a carpet. Record where you notice the smell and what is nearby. Avoid pulling apart a large affected area simply to prove what is hidden; the guidance advises caution when disturbing potential sites of mould growth. A proper inspection can help establish how much of the room is affected and where the moisture begins.

What to do with affected items

Photograph the visible mould and the position of the item before moving or cleaning it, especially if you need to explain the problem to a landlord or surveyor. Note whether the same wall, window or corner has been damp before. The record can help someone trace the moisture. Then consider the material: a hard surface and an absorbent fabric do not respond in the same way.

Government guidance says mould can be removed from hard surfaces with an appropriate cleaning product and that the surface should be left to dry completely. It prefers mould and mildew products to bleach. For absorbent materials such as carpets and soft furnishings, it says the item may have to be thrown away if mould cannot be removed completely. That is a possibility to assess item by item, not an instruction to discard all affected possessions. Sheffield City Council also suggests dry-cleaning mildewed clothes.

The guidance draws a line between very small amounts of mould and larger affected areas. It says larger areas should be addressed by qualified professionals. Whoever removes mould should follow the product instructions and use appropriate protective equipment. If an item is badly affected or you cannot tell how far the mould extends into it, get advice from an appropriately qualified person before deciding how to handle it. Avoid a hurried clean-up that hides useful evidence of where the damp has reached.

Find the moisture source before calling it fixed

The room needs attention as well as the belongings. Moisture may come from a leak or another building defect, or it may collect as condensation. Government guidance tells landlords to establish the source of reported damp, check whether a property defect is causing it and carry out appropriate remedial work. That sequence matters: washing a curtain while a gutter or pipe still leaks leaves the reason for the damp untouched.

Look for signs you can describe without guessing at a diagnosis: water damage, a recurring damp patch, condensation on a nearby surface, or belongings that become mouldy again in the same place. Check whether existing vents and extractors can do their job. The government ventilation guide explains that moisture from everyday activities can become condensation on cold surfaces when ventilation is ineffective. Keeping ventilation working may help with that source of moisture, but it is not a repair for rain or plumbing water entering a room.

If you rent, tell the landlord or managing agent about the room and the affected belongings, and ask for the cause to be investigated. Share your photographs and the places where you have noticed damp or a smell. If you own the home, use the same observations to guide an inspection. Where the cause is uncertain, an independent, suitably qualified surveyor can help avoid an incorrect diagnosis and direct the right repair. A follow-up check is useful if mould returns after work has been done.

Coats and curtains against a Yorkshire terrace wall

In a small mill-town terrace, storage may have to sit close to an external wall. If coats in a cupboard, a curtain and an upholstered chair beside that wall all develop marks, record the pattern before treating each item separately. Government guidance tells landlords to discuss leaving a gap between furniture and external walls. That can be a useful adjustment where space allows, while the wall and room are checked for the reason moisture is collecting there.

It is tempting to blame the stored clothes or the chair. Their position is useful information, but it does not establish whether the source is condensation, water entry or another defect. Look at the wall, the ventilation and any signs of a leak. If the source remains unclear, ask a suitably qualified surveyor to investigate. Treating the belongings and fixing the room are connected jobs; neither substitutes for the other.

Keep the record practical

A short record is enough to make the issue clear: which items were affected, where they stood, what the nearby surface looked or smelled like, and whether the problem has returned. Photographs taken before cleaning are particularly helpful. This is about finding and fixing the damp, not predicting what will happen to a particular possession. Once the source is dealt with, check the area and remaining items for any further signs of moisture or mould.

This page gives general information, not legal or medical advice. For your own situation, use the organisations listed under "Where this comes from" at the foot of the page.