Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Removing mold from fabric
• Method 2 of 3: Remove mold with bleach
• Method 3 of 3: Removing mold with borax
• Tips

The growth of mold on fabric is quite common, especially if the fabric was stored in a damp place or simply did not have time to dry completely. Externally, mold appears as colored spots on the fabric. To remove mold from clothes, they must be washed with a cleaning product such as a store-bought stain remover, bleach, borax, or baking soda.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Removing mold from fabric

1. 1 Clean the mold with a toothbrush. Take an old toothbrush and scrub the mold on your clothes thoroughly. Remove as much mold as possible. Throw away your toothbrush immediately after cleaning the fabric.
   • Work in a well-ventilated area, or better yet, outdoors. Airborne mold spores can settle on other clothes, or worse, in your lungs.
2. 2 Apply a stain remover to the mold. After brushing off as much mold as possible, apply the stain remover to the moldy part of your clothing. Stain removers take time to absorb into the fabric, so wait at least 30 minutes before washing your clothes.
   • Stain removers are sold everywhere. Check out the household chemicals section at your local grocery store or supermarket.
3. 3 Wash the garment in hot water and separate from other clothing. Set the washing machine to "full" or "maximum" load and start washing at the maximum temperature. Do not add anything else to the washing machine to prevent mold spores from spreading to other clothes.
   • If the washing machine is estimating load size based on the volume of fabrics inside, add some old rags or towels for extra weight.
4. 4 Add vinegar to the washing machine. To get rid of mold, add vinegar to a water-filled washing machine. Pour ¾ cup (180 ml) of white vinegar into the detergent drawer.
   • The vinegar will also remove the unpleasant mold odor that has accumulated on your clothes.
5. 5 Air dry your clothes. You will not be able to make sure there is no mold left until the garment is dry and the fabric takes on a natural color.Spread items out on a flat surface, place them in a drying cabinet, or hang them on a clothesline.
   • If it's a fine day outside, dry your clothes in the fresh air, in the sun. The heat from the sun will help kill mold residue on your clothes.

Method 2 of 3: Remove mold with bleach

1. 1 Run the washing machine on a high temperature setting. Washing in hot water is a must to remove mildew from clothing or any other fabric. Hot water can both kill and remove mold, while warm or cold water cannot.
   • Only use bleach on white clothes, as it will discolor dyed fabrics. If mold appears on a colored garment, try another method.
2. 2 Add washing powder. When the washing machine is full of hot water, add the detergent to the dedicated compartment.
3. 3 Add bleach to the washing machine. As soon as the detergent starts to foam, pour 1 cup (240 ml) of bleach into the washing machine. If your washing machine has a bleach drawer, put it in there.
   • Different manufacturers recommend adding different amounts of bleach. If the instructions on the package say add more or less 1 cup (240 ml), do so.
4. 4 Wash your clothes. Wait for the washing machine to fill up with water and detergent and bleach, then add moldy clothes. At the end of the wash, no mold should remain on the clothes.
   • Do not dry your clothes if mold remains, as this will not remove it.

Method 3 of 3: Removing mold with borax

1. 1 Run a high temperature wash cycle. Hot water is most effective in removing mold stains from clothing. Place moldy clothes in the washing machine and add detergent. Wash it separately from other dirty clothing.
2. 2 Dissolve 1/2 cup (120 ml) borax in hot water. Fill a large saucepan or bowl with hot water. Pour half a glass (120 ml) of borax there. Stir the borax with a spoon until it is completely dissolved in hot water.
3. 3 Add the solution to the wash. When the borax is completely dissolved in a bowl of hot water, slowly pour this solution into the washing machine.
4. 4 Wash your clothes. The last rinse cycle should remove any cleaning agents that have been added to remove mold stains.
   • Hang the washed garment to air dry.

Tips

• Be sure to get bleach (or any other caustic stain remover) in your eyes or on your skin.
• If you are having trouble removing mold from your clothes, have it dry cleaned. After dry cleaning, not a speck of mold will remain on your clothes.