How To Get Mold Out Of Clothes And Fabric [Spores & Stains]

We will be looking at how to get rid of mold and its spores from your clothes and fabric

If you thought mold only grew on interior and exterior building surfaces, then you are wrong. It can also grow on fabric, as long as the conditions are perfect.

For general tips on getting rid of them in your home, here is a guide on mold removal.

How To Remove Mold From Clothes

One of the major causes of mold growth is moisture, and if your clothing is placed in a room or closet with excessive dampness, then mold can thrive on it too.

The worst part is, clothes made of organic material such as cotton don’t just serve as a home for mold, they also serve as a food source.

If you have mold on your clothes and not sure what to do about it, then you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll be discussing how to get mold out of fabric, so keep reading!

About Mold Spores And Mold Stains On Clothes

Before we get into the steps you can take to remove mold on shirts, trousers, skirts, gowns, suits, and other clothing in the closet, you have to keep something in mind first – You will not be able to save all your clothes from mold infestation.

Some really wooly clothes that have taken in too much mold are no longer worth saving as the mold has gone too deep and has already compromised the fabric. It would be best to get rid of such clothes and buy new ones.

However, you can follow these steps if your clothes can still be saved.

Here’s how to get mold stains out of clothes.

Products For Cloth Mold Removal

To effectively rid your clothes of mold, there are a few vital products you will need. Luckily, all of them can be bought in stores near you. There’s probably some in your kitchen already!

These products include –

• Borax
• Bleach
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Mold kill detergent

How to Clean Clothes Exposed to Mold Spores

Besides having the right product, it would also be wise to follow this extra tip –

Wash your clothes with hot water, as it is known to kill mold more effectively than cold water. Hot water can also kill the mold spores faster and can remove the allergens.

This doesn’t mean you should boil the water to the point where it will damage your clothes. Just keep it warm enough to kill the mold.

Another vital tip is to wash the infested clothes with at least two full cycles, after which you can spread them out in the sun to dry.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are so powerful they can kill mold in a matter of minutes. It also has what you can call a “bleaching ability”, as it can also fade out mold stains.

Keeping these tips in mind, let us begin.

How To Remove Mold From Clothes With Bleach

When you wash your mold-infested clothes with bleach, you won’t just kill the mold, their stains will also fade away. This is what makes it an ideal mold stain removal option for white-colored fabric.

• Colored Vs Plain Color Clothes

Be warned though, before you wash your clothes with bleach, ensure that you check the tag for any anti-bleach warnings. If you find any such warnings on it, then it means bleach will damage the fabric.

You should also do a spot test on a small part of your cloth before you dump it in the whole solution, just to make sure the bleach won’t damage its color.

How to wash your clothes with bleach:

• Put your clothes into a washing machine and add the right amount of detergent
• Fill the machine with water then add the right amount of bleach (the recommended amount can be found on the label)
• Let the machine run
• Finish the cycle and repeat if need be

Note – If you discover that the colors on your clothes have begun fading, then turn off the washing machine, take them out, and give them a proper rinse.

You can so soak the clothes in a bleach solution for a few hours before dumping them in the washing machine. The solution should be half a cup of bleach mixed with a gallon of water.

Monitor your clothes as they are soaked to ensure they aren’t fading along the way. The only thing that should be removed here is the mold stain and any other stains, not the original colors of your clothing.

How To Remove Mold From Clothes with Borax

Borax is a great product for removing mold from surfaces and clothes. They don’t give off any toxic fumes either so they are safe to use.

All you have to do is add it to your laundry and let it do the work.

More specifically, put your clothes into the washer, add your preferred detergent, then fill it up with water. Now dissolve about half a cup of borax in hot water, then add the solution into your washing machine so that it can work on the clothes.

Now allow the machine to do its cycle then take out your clothes. That’s all.

How To Remove Mold From Clothes With Vinegar

Vinegar is so powerful, it can kill as many as 82% of mold species, including the ones growing on your clothes.

Vinegar has the power to kill odor molecules, so it won’t only remove the mold from your clothes, it will also eliminate the smell.

Here’s how to wash moldy clothes with vinegar –

• Dump your clothes in the washing machine, add detergent, then fill with water
• Add about two cups of vinegar to your washer
• Let the machine do its normal cycle

You can also soak your clothes in a vinegar solution for an hour or so to remove mold stains. After that, you can run it through your washing machine’s normal cycle to get rid of the mold.

Repeat the process one or two more times as required to ensure all the mold stains are completely gone.

How To Get Mold Out Of Clothes With Baking Soda

We love baking soda for so many reasons, and its ability to remove mold from surfaces and clothes is one of them. Also, it is a non-toxic substance so it’s great to use around pets and kids.

For those asking can you wash mold off clothes with baking soda? The answer is yes!

Although you’d still need your regular detergent for support. Here’s what you need to do.

• Place your clothes in the washing machine
• Add some detergent
• Add the right volume of water
• Add half a tablespoon of baking soda
• Let the machine do its cycle

The good thing about using baking soda to remove mold from clothes is that it doesn’t fade as bleach does. This means you can be sure your clothes will not be discolored after they have been washed.

Mold-Killing Laundry Detergents For Clothes

Does laundry detergent kill mold? Yes. Some brands are effective.

Mold-killing detergents are ready-made laundry solutions that can be used to kill and remove mold stains from clothes. They are similar to regular detergents, only with a touch of mold-removal abilities.

You can purchase them from a store near you and wash your mold-infested clothes with them. Make sure you read the instructions on the box before use, just so you don’t damage your clothes in the process.

Follow these simple steps –

• Dump your clothes in the washer
• Add the detergent in the recommended amount (check the pack for instructions)
• Allow the machine do a full cycle

One cycle may be enough to get rid of the mold from your clothes, but you can do another cycle if it isn’t.

How To Prevent Mold On Clothes

Knowing how to use the above-mentioned substances to wash mold of your clothes is one thing while preventing them from ever-growing in your fabric is.

There are simple steps you can take to stop mold growth on your clothes.

1. Dry Your Clothes After Each Wash

If after you wash your clothes, you leave them piled up in a laundry basket without taking them out to dry in the sun, then you are creating the right conditions for mold to grow on your fabric.

Mold loves damp surfaces and dark corners, so wet clothes in a basket are just perfect.

After each wash, spread your clothes in the sun to dry or place them in the dryer immediately. Leaving them damp for as short as 24 hours can cause mold to start growing.

2. Fix Water Problems In Areas Where You Keep Your Clothes

If your walls are damp and your clothes are nearby, then they’d probably collect some moisture too.

Your walls can become damp as a result of a pipe leak or any other water issue. Whatever it is, be sure to fix it so it won’t trickle over to your clothes rack!

3. Proper Ventilation

Mold loves dampness, and dampness hates ventilation!

Make sure the room where your clothes are being kept remains properly ventilated to reduce the moisture levels, which will, in turn, reduce the chances of mold growth.

Conclusion

There you have it guys, that’s how you get mold out of clothes. Be sure to use hot water when you wash for better results!

Good luck!