What should I do if my clothes are moldy? Moldy fabrics should be taken to a dry cleaner or washed in hot water with borax... If you have mold growing on your clothes it may be an indication of high humidity...
If you have mold growing on your clothes it may be an indication of high humidity and mold in other areas of your home. This article will tell you how to clean the mold off of most fabric and how to prevent further mold growth.
Mold can be removed from most cotton and polyester fabrics. "Moldy fabrics should be taken to a dry cleaner or washed in hot water with borax" explains Kevin Bristol President of Advance Mold Remediation and is certified by the National Association of Mold professionals, International Association for Mold professionals, and the Environmental Protection Agency. If an article of clothing has a mold or mildew spot on it remove it immediately as it will be easier to clean. The older the stain the harder it is to remove. If the fabric is white you can bleach out the stain. If the fabric is colored you need to follow these steps. Use a brush and brush of the mold from the fabric, the bristles will loosen up the mold growing in between the fibers. Use a pre-wash spray and rub the soap into the stain. Soak the article in water and detergent for about 30 minutes. Wash with regular laundry detergent. Do not use your electric dryer to dry the fabric, lay it in the sun to dry. Artificial heat from the dryer can set the stain even further. The sun has a natural bleaching ability to brighten and whiten cloth. You can also try to soak a colored fabric in lemon juice and water.
If you have mold on the upholstery of your furniture the removal process starts much the same as clothing. Brush the moldy area with a brush preferably attached to end of a vacuum hose to prevent the mold spores from floating in the air. Wash the affected area with soapy water and a brush. Take the item out into the sun to dry.
You will not be able to remove mold from certain fabrics such as leather. "Leather is a very porous material. Mold will get into the hide and discolor the leather. So even though you clean it, you will find a lot of splotches or spots on it" explains Bristol.
If your clothes have a tendency to get moldy when they are hanging in your closet you need to do several things to rectify this. Make sure your closet has good ventilation. "If you have high humidity in your home or you pack your closet too tight...and your clothes have no room to breathe" this could be causing mold growth says Bristol. Since closets usually don't have windows, you need to make sure that you have proper ventilation in the closet area. If the door of your closet is really tight, meaning no air can get underneath; install a vent for air to circulate.
Check the humidity levels in your home; make sure it stays below 50 percent. Using your air conditioner can lower humidity levels. Open window and doors often to get ventilation.
