If your outside gazebo curtains become soaked by the rain and stay moist for hours — or you reside in a humid climate — mold and mold can creep in. Mold and mildew stains aren’t just unsightly; inhaling the spores may cause headaches, nasal congestion, coughing and eye or skin irritation. Most gazebo curtains are too large to fit in the washing machine, but you are not stuck with mildew stains indefinitely. Spot-cleaning using a disinfectant, such as bleach, functions just too.
Bleach and Borax
Eliminate the gazebo curtains, if possible, and lay them out in sunlight. The rays of the sun are a natural mold and mildew inhibitor. Laying out them makes the curtains easier to wash.
Rub the curtains with a stiff-bristle brush to scrape away loose mildew spores. Do this step outside, not indoors, to avoid spreading the spores into your home.
Dip a cloth or sponge in chlorine bleach, then blot the mildewed stains with it if the curtain is still white. If you can’t use chlorine bleach onto the curtains, utilize all-fabric or perborate bleach instead. Scrub the bleach in completely and let it set for a couple of minutes.
Wet another cloth with warm, soapy water. Squeeze out the excess water, then scrub the curtains with the cloth. You are going to see the mildew coming off on the cloth as you scrub. Rinse the fabric thoroughly with fresh water.
Combine 1/2-cup borax using 2-cups hot water if any mildew remains. Soak a sponge in the remedy, then rub it in the mildew stains. Permit the solution to place for a couple hours. Rinse well.
Option Approaches
Lay the gazebo curtains down flat, if possible. Scrape the mildewed stains using a stiff-bristle brush to eliminate loose spores.
Moisten a cloth with undiluted white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide, which helps disinfect and deodorize fabric; blot the mildew with the cloth until the blot lightens.
Combine equal parts table salt and lemon juice in a small bowl. Dip a clean cloth in the paste, then rub it in the mildewed area. Rinse the region thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Dissolve 1/2 cup of washing machine, also called sodium carbonate, in two gallons of lukewarm water if any stains remain. Scrub the solution into the mildew with a fresh stiff-bristle brush. Rinse well.
Place the curtain in the washing machine if it is going to fit. Insert 1/2 cup of baking soda during the wash cycle, then add 1/2 cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle. Permit the curtain to air dry, preferably outside in sunlight.