# Cleaning mold from leaves **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-mold-from-leaves/408782 "2007-06-20T22:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TonyF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@TonyF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonyF)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-mold-from-leaves/408782/1 "2007-06-20T22:57:53Z")
(An odd question from my girlfriend, who is too busy playing Zelda to log in :D) Is there a way to clean mold off of leaves? Her brother went to the Mahabodhi Temple in India and collected a few leaves fallen from the Bodhi Tree there. They have since grown mold. Is there any way to get rid of the mold without damaging the leaves? ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-mold-from-leaves/408782/2 "2007-06-21T00:26:58Z")
One group says to clean mold off of paper, you just [use soap and water](http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/01500043.html) (very carefully). One professional site I found said that [they](http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=879) use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush on low settings to get mold off of paper. And [another site](http://www.mrscleannw.com/tips/mold-stain.html) says you are doomed: “Mold and mildew stains on paper or paintings cannot be removed without damaging the paper or the painting. The paintings that are damaged by molds can hardly be restored to original glory. For this reason, take particular care of your period paintings to ensure that they are not damaged by mold. Here the prevention is the only cure.” ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-mold-from-leaves/408782/3 "2007-06-21T02:41:05Z")
If they aren’t too ganky with mold, I’d wipe them off with a mild soapy solution, then immediately dry with paper towels. I’d imagine that they are right dry and brown now. Yep? Since they are a special relic, keep them in a dry place, perhaps with some sort of essential oil as a protective, tea tree or lavender are good…