How to Remove Mold & Mildew From Clothes
Mold and mildew can grow on clothes left in a damp, dark and humid location. The mold and mildew will have a musty and unpleasant odor. The mold and mildew will continue to thrive until you treat the clothes. Instead of throwing the clothes away, you can salvage them by removing the mold and mildew yourself.
Treat the moldy clothing as soon as possible to prevent the fungus from deteriorating the fabric.
Things You Will Need
- Scrub brush
- Rubber gloves
- Face mask
- Lemon juice
- Table salt
- Chlorine or color-safe bleach
-
Place the clothes outside on a flat surface. The mold spores on the clothing can spread around your home and stick to other clothing and fabrics.
-
Brush off the spores with a scrub brush. Wear gloves and a face mask to protect yourself from the harmful spores.
-
Apply lemon juice to the mold stain to dampen the area. Place table salt over the stain, and hang the clothing in the sun to dry.
-
Wash the clothing with either a chlorine bleach or color-safe bleach. Use chlorine bleach for white clothing and a color-safe bleach for all other clothing. Bleach will kill the mold spores. Add the appropriate amount of bleach according to the instructions on the product.
-
Hang the clothing to dry. Avoid placing the clothing in the dryer because it will cause the mold and mildew stains to become permanent. If you still notice the stains, repeat the cleaning process.
The Drip Cap
- Mold and mildew can grow on clothes left in a damp, dark and humid location.
- The mold and mildew will continue to thrive until you treat the clothes.
- Apply lemon juice to the mold stain to dampen the area.
- Use chlorine bleach for white clothing and a color-safe bleach for all other clothing.
Writer Bio
Angela LaFollette holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising with a minor in political science from Marshall University. LaFollette found her passion for writing during an internship as a reporter for "The West Virginia Standard" in 2007. She has more than six years of writing experience and specializes in topics in garden and pets.
Photo Credits
- laundry image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
- laundry image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
More Articles
