When fabrics such as clothes and linen are left for long periods of time in damp places, mould growth occurs, leading to mold appearing in them. The bad news is that in addition to the surface, mold sticks deep into the fabrics, and it becomes rather hard to remove. If you have such a case, what you need are some tested working tips on how to remove mold from fabric.

The Tools you are going to need

Any cleaning job, and mold removal especially, requires supplies that are fitted to the requirements of the job. In your case, you are going to need:

• Rubber gloves to protect your skin
• An old toothbrush to gently brush and remove surface mold.
• Spray bottle for the cleaning solution you choose
• Distilled white vinegar or plain white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Chlorine bleach when you clean non-delicate fabrics
• Stain remover, mould stain remover, or household soap
• Hot water
• Washing machine
• A well ventilated area

What you need to understand about mold spores is that they make excess moisture environments their home. The mold causes much more than mere stains and mildew smell – it poses a very serious health risk. So you should be ready at all times to treat moldy clothes in a timely fashion to stop further mold growth, which can not only damage the fabrics, but also make you sick.

Step #1 – Safety Measures: Wear Rubber Gloves

Whenever you handle moldy clothes, you should always remember to wear rubber gloves. That will prevent you from direct contact with mold spores. Open a window and generally make sure to work in a well-ventilated area to prevent the inhalation of mold spores. It is best to clean moldy fabrics outside.

Step #2 – Remove Surface Mold: Remove Mould from Fabric

Get an old toothbrush and gently brush the visible areas affected by surface mold. Doing this outside will prevent mold spores from transferring to other surfaces in your home and aids in killing mould spores.

Step #3 – Pre-Soak

If you pre-soak the moldy clothes you are trying to salvage in hot water, you will get half the job done. Add hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar, a natural mould killer, to the water for optimal results. Just mix half a cup of white vinegar with the hot water. Or use one part hydrogen peroxide for one part hot water. It’s important to leave the fabric in the mixture awhile. Thirty minutes should work, but a full hour would be best.

Any stubborn mold stains can be additionally treated with a paste made from warm water or baking soda. For the quickest results, a mold stain remover added to the pre-soak mixture should do the trick.

Step #4 Wash The Clothes in Hot Water

It’s important to use hot water, not just lukewarm one, to make sure all mold spores deep in the fabrics are killed off. It’s best to skip washing the clothes by hand and directly go for the washing machine on a hot water cycle which works great for killing mould. You can add stain remover or regular household soap (liquid) in the machine tray for better results,

Side-note – Delicate Fabrics

In case you are treating delicate fabrics, you can try using the gentle wash cycle of your washing machine. That one uses warm water, instead of hot water, and will not damage the clothes. You might need to repeat the process a few times. Even if you don’t see visible mold, there still might be spores left deep into the fabrics. When dealing with delicate fabrics, it’s always a good idea to test spot a solution before trying it on the whole item. You can use a hidden part of the fabric to spot test.

Step #5 – Additional Mold-Fighting Agents for Stubborn Mould Stains

You may run into really stubborn mould stains. In such cases, the regular methods might not work so well, and you might want to go for the heavy artillery.

Hydrogen peroxide should be the first solution to try in such tough cases. Use one-part hydrogen peroxide directly on the stain and let it stay for ten minutes. Don’t wait longer to avoid damage to the fabrics.

You can also avoid harsh chemicals like hydrogen peroxide. Just try sprinkling baking soda on the stain and then gently brush the surface. Rubbing alcohol also works in most cases. It’s best used in combination with baking soda to remove the unpleasant smell of the rubbing alcohol afterwards.

Step #6 – Drying

If you have a dryer at home, you can use it to dry the mouldy clothes. To naturally and effectively eliminate potential mold spore survivors, though, it’s best to leave the clothes to dry in the sun. Direct sunlight is the best natural mold killer and it even prevents further mold growth.

In Conclusion – Prevention is the Best Remedy

You don’t have to wait for mold growths to appear on your clothes to do something about them. Even though these tips on how to remove mould from clothes work, it’s best to never let mold appear on your clothes. To do that, just don’t leave wet clothes in your laundry basket. It’s a good idea to wash all clothes as soon as they get wet. And, of course, store clothes in a well-ventilated area. Last, but not least, consider investing in a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from your home.