While mild mold growth can sometimes be removed, the mildewed pillows may pose a risk to your health if the mold is severe or has eaten through the fabric.
Things You Will Need
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Check the pillow fabric for mold growth, which typically appears as green or black spots. Brush any spots away in an outdoor area to prevent the spores from spreading inside.
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Clean lightly mildewed fabric surfaces by saturating the spot with lemon juice and sprinkling a thin layer of salt over it. Rub the mixture on the fabric, lay it in sunlight for about 12 hours or until it dries, and rinse it.
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Launder feather or polyester pillows in the washing machine, using warm water, detergent and chlorine bleach. Use the extra rinse cycle. Wash foam pillows by hand with warm water and detergent.
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Dry feather or polyester pillows at a moderate heat setting, or wring water from them by hand and hang them in the sun to dry. Dry foam pillows in your dryer with no heat or hang them to dry away from sunlight.
The Drip Cap
- If your pillows were in a damp area and now smell like mold or mildew, you don’t necessarily need to throw them away.
- Brush any spots away in an outdoor area to prevent the spores from spreading inside.
- Use the extra rinse cycle.