Developing efficient cleaning agents for textile relics affected by mold stains

Abstract Mold causes significant damage to textile-relics, yet specific cleaning-agents are underdeveloped. This study systematically evaluated surfactant-bio-enzyme-bacteriostat ternary systems for cleaning textiles infected with Trichoderma SM4, Aspergillus SM12, and Rhizopus BF3 . The optimal formulation was highly dependent on the mold-fiber combination. Rhamnolipid achieved 93.32% removal rate for Rhizopus-infected textiles, while C₈E₉ showed over 94.35% efficacy on cellulose fibers infected with Aspergillus SM12 or Trichoderma SM4. Alkaline protease was broadly effective on protein fibers (>73.17%), whereas cellulase demonstrated wide-spectrum efficacy on cellulose (>80.77%). Meanwhile, studies also demonstrate that surfactants alone removed surface mycelia, while the ternary system eliminated mycelia, mucus, and pigments, restoring the fiber’s microscopic morphology. The optimization system was successfully applied to the Qing Dynasty Miao-ethnic embroidered pieces, achieving near-complete removal of mold without causing any damage to embroidery. Therefore, this study presents a rationally designed, effective, and safe cleaning methodology for mold-affected textile relics, offering significant potential for conservation.