How to Get Mold Out of Clothes
Mold is unpleasant at the best of times, but finding it on your clothing feels personal. Luckily, there are a variety of methods available to remove even the most stubborn stains. In this guide, we will take you through the signs of mold, how to remove them from clothes, and how to prevent future staining. Let’s jump in!
Recognizing the Signs of Mold
Mold is a nuisance at best, a health risk at worst. Luckily, there are multiple warning signs that your house has been infested. By identifying it as soon as possible, you minimize the risk of it ever reaching your wardrobe. Listed below are some of the key signs of mold in your home:
- Smell: There is no denying it; mold smells unpleasant. If you have noticed a new, unidentifiable scent in your home, it could be mold.
- Darkened Shower Tiles: If the space between your bathroom towels has gotten darker or looks almost black, it is probably mold. There is nothing mold loves more than warm, damp environments, and that’s exactly what your shower provides.
- Peeling Wallpaper: Discoloration is the first sign, but when wallpaper actually starts to peel from your walls, you know you have a problem.
- Dark Spots: In the corners of your rooms and on your ceiling, if dark, damp patches start to appear, it is likely to be mold
- A New Cough/Cold: If you have a cold that seemingly won’t disappear, it could be mold spores irritating your respiratory system
Any of the above indicate a mold infestation in your home. The sooner you catch it, the sooner you can get rid of it before it causes any damage.
How to Remove Mold From Clothes
There are many ways to effectively remove mold from your clothing, depending on the severity of the staining. The most appropriate technique can also vary based on the material. If you want to have any hope of salvaging your garment, you still need to adhere to the appropriate techniques.
Machine-Washable Clothing
Yes, it is possible to machine-wash mold out of your clothing, but this is only possible with two requirements. First, the item in question is machine-washable. Second, that the mold hasn’t gotten totally out of control. A washing machine can only do so much, but it can remove mold in the early stages.
To achieve this, you need to wash the clothing at a high temperature. Most fungi species die when exposed to heat over 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Most washing machines will have a designated ‘high-heat setting for this purpose. If not, you can always manually set the temperature yourself.
An important step in this method is to wash the item by itself. If you attempt to wash it with other clothing, the mold spores could transfer, and you may end up with even more moldy clothing. You should keep the clothing in a high-temperature wash for two full cycles to be absolutely certain the mold has been removed.
Once the washing process is complete, hang the affected clothing up in direct sunlight to dry. The sun is a natural mold killer, so if there are any spores that the water can’t wash away, they should be taken care of when drying. If you live in a wetter climate, then you can use a drier for this. Just make sure to put the clothes in immediately after washing. Otherwise, the moist climate may result in further mold growth.
Hand Wash Clothing
If the item of clothing is non-machine-washable, then hand washing is your best bet. To do this, fill a bucket or large bowl with hot water and add laundry detergent. Leave the item to soak for twenty minutes before cleaning it thoroughly. For worse infestations, you can leave the garment for up to an hour.
If you feel like hand washing may not be enough, you can do a hand-wash followed by two cycles in the washing machine. This should completely clean out even the most stubborn of mold stains. If this doesn’t work, there is a third option available.
Dry Cleaning
Some items can only be dry cleaned anyway, but sometimes mold is too persistent to handle alone. All you need to do is brush away as much of the mold as possible, bundle the clothing into a plastic bag, and let the experts take it from there.
You must inform the dry cleaner about the mold, and it could be beneficial to point out where the staining has occurred specifically. This will give the cleaner a clear idea of where they need to target.
How to Prevent Mold on Clothes
The best way to prevent mold growth on clothes is to dry them as quickly as possible. You should never leave damp clothes in a pile for any period of time, as this will certainly attract mold growth. Though it can be tempting to leave the laundry for another day, the quicker you deal with it, the less likely you are to suffer some unpleasant consequences.
Additionally, if you want to take it a step further, you could purchase specially designed fungicide sprays that can be used on clothing to add a new level of protection. This isn’t always necessary, but in homes that naturally accrue a lot of moisture (especially older homes), it can be a good preventative measure!
Read more: What to do with water-damaged clothes?
Conclusion
If you are concerned about mold growth in your home potentially affecting your wardrobe, contact All Dry USA today! Our experts can answer any questions you may have and are fully experienced in removing mold for good.
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