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Image Credit: Cyano66/Getty ImagesMold thrives in damp, dark environments and feeds on body oils and stains. Whether it's a towel left in a hamper, seasonal clothes in a basement, or garments in a flooded closet, mold will settle in and grow. Fortunately, with the right approach, most clothes can be salvaged by eliminating the mold and treating the stains. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to remove mold from clothing thoroughly.
Things to Keep in Mind Before You Begin
- Check the clothing care label to find out whether the item can be hand-washed, machine-washed, or if it's labeled as dry clean only.
- For dry clean-only items, take them outdoors and gently brush off the mold spores using a soft-bristled brush. Afterward, place the affected garments in a plastic bag and bring them to a professional cleaner as soon as possible. Mold spores can damage fabric fibers, so be sure to inform the cleaner about the mold issue when you drop off the clothes.
- If you’re dealing with extensive mold growth or cleaning multiple pieces of clothing, wear an N95 mask to avoid inhaling spores, which can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. It's also wise to use eye protection and rubber gloves.
Essential Items You’ll Need
Tools and Equipment
- Soft-bristled brush
- N95 mask
- Plastic bag
Supplies
- Heavy-duty laundry detergent
- Chlorine bleach, pine oil, or phenolic disinfectants (such as Lysol)
- Oxygen bleach
- Distilled white vinegar
Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Remove Mold from Washable Garments
Take It Outside
- To tackle visible mold, bring the clothing outside and use a soft-bristled brush to remove the black, gray, or white spores from both sides of the fabric wherever you notice mold growth.
- Do not attempt to brush them indoors, as the spores could become airborne and potentially spread to other areas of your home, starting new mold colonies.
Treat the Mold Stains First
- Apply a small amount of heavy-duty detergent with enzymes (like Tide, Persil, or Kirkland Ultra Clean) directly to the stained areas.
- Gently work the detergent into the fabric using your fingers or a soft-bristled brush.
- Let it sit for a minimum of 15 minutes to help break down the stains before proceeding with washing.
Wash the Garments
- Regardless of whether you are hand-washing or machine-washing, choose the hottest water setting recommended on the fabric's care label.
- For best results, the water temperature should exceed 140 degrees Fahrenheit to effectively kill the mold spores.
- Use the appropriate amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent based on your load size.
Include a Sanitizing Agent in the Wash
- For white clothing and linens made from natural fibers, add one-third to two-thirds cups of chlorine bleach to the wash load to disinfect the fabric and eliminate fungal spores. Use your washer's bleach dispenser or wait five minutes into the cycle so that the detergent enzymes can break down stains first.
- For colored fabrics or synthetics, use pine oil or a phenolic laundry sanitizer (such as Lysol) to kill the mold spores. Always follow the label instructions for proper dosage and timing. Some sanitizers are meant for the rinse cycle.
Oxygen bleach is a powerful stain remover but doesn't kill mold spores, so reserve it for later steps!
Inspect for Stains Before Drying
- Chlorine bleach typically removes mold stains from white clothing, but other disinfectants might not be as effective. To tackle any lingering mold stains, use an oxygen bleach soak.
- Follow the product instructions to create a mixture of oxygen bleach and warm water.
- Place the stained garments in the solution and allow them to soak for a minimum of eight hours.
- Inspect the items for stains before drying in a heated dryer. If stains persist, prepare a fresh oxygen bleach solution and repeat the soak.
Additional Tips for Removing Mold from Clothing
- Although you might not spot mold growth on bath towels, the musty mildew smell is often noticeable. To eliminate the odor, add two cups of vinegar to the washer drum (without detergent) and run a hot water wash cycle. Dry the towels on high heat right after the wash cycle completes.
- Hydrogen peroxide and isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol can gradually kill mold spores, though they aren’t as effective as other disinfectants. Be aware that hydrogen peroxide has a bleaching effect, so it's a good idea to test it on an inconspicuous area before using it on colored fabrics.
- Prevent mold buildup in your washing machine (especially in front-load washers) to keep your clothes smelling fresh.
