How to Remove Mould from a Sofa (and When to Throw It Out)

For surface mould on a fabric sofa: take the sofa outside or open the windows, vacuum the spores with a HEPA vacuum, treat the area with diluted white vinegar or isopropyl alcohol (test first), blot, and dry it completely with fans or sun. If the mould is coming from inside the cushion foam, cleaning the surface won’t fix it.

Surface mould or deep growth?

How to remove surface mould (fabric sofa)

1. Protect yourself: wear a mask and gloves, and open the windows.
2. Vacuum the affected area with a HEPA vacuum to remove loose spores. Empty the vacuum outdoors.
3. Check the cleaning code on the tag. For W or SW fabrics, mix 1 part white vinegar with 1 part water. For S fabrics, use isopropyl alcohol on a cloth and avoid water.
4. Dab, don’t soak. Apply with a cloth, leave 10 to 15 minutes, then blot.
5. Dry fast and fully: fans, the aircon’s dry mode, or a few hours of indirect sun. Drying is the most important step.
6. Vacuum again once dry.

Leather sofas

Wipe the mould off with a cloth dampened in equal parts isopropyl alcohol and water, dry it, then condition the leather. See how to clean a leather sofa.

When to throw it out

• Mould covers a large area of the foam or frame
• The smell stays after cleaning and drying
• Someone in the home has asthma, a mould allergy or a weak immune system
• The sofa was water-damaged, for example in a flood or a leak

Stop mould coming back

• Keep the room’s humidity below about 60%, using a dehumidifier or the aircon’s dry mode
• Leave a gap between the sofa and the walls
• Don’t close up rooms for weeks at a time, or put a dehumidifier in before you travel
• Avoid DIY wet cleaning that soaks the foam

Not sure if your sofa is salvageable? Send us photos. See sofa and mattress mould removal.