How to Get Mold Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric
How to Get Mold Out of Clothes Without Damaging the Fabric
You pulled a box of summer clothes from the basement and found white and black spots blooming across a cotton jacket. The musty smell hits you before you even open the box. Mold has been growing for weeks, and the fabric is stained in places you can’t scrub away with a regular wash.
Mold on clothes is a living fungus that grows on fabric fibers when moisture and warmth are present. It feeds on organic material in the fabric, leaving stains and a persistent musty odor. Unlike mildew smell, visible mold requires killing the spores and removing the stain, not just deodorizing.
To get mold out of clothes, brush off loose spores outdoors, pre-treat with white vinegar or a stain remover, wash in hot water with heavy-duty detergent, and dry in the sun if possible. For severe mold, the garment may need to be discarded for health reasons.
Safety First: Don’t Spread the Spores
Before treating moldy clothes, take them outside. Brush off loose spores with a stiff brush while you’re outdoors, so the spores don’t spread inside your home. Wear gloves and a mask if the mold coverage is extensive.
Never shake moldy clothes indoors. The spores become airborne and can settle on other fabrics, walls, or furniture, creating new mold problems.
Method One: White Vinegar Soak
White vinegar kills about 80% of mold species, making it the best first attempt for most washable fabrics.
Fill a bucket or sink with cold water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Submerge the moldy garment and let it soak for 30 to 60 minutes. The acid in the vinegar penetrates the fibers and kills the mold spores.
After soaking, wring out the garment and wash it in the hottest water the care label allows with your regular detergent. Tide Free & Gentle is a good choice because its enzymes help break down the organic matter mold leaves behind.
The drawback: vinegar may not remove the mold stain itself, even after killing the spores. You may need a second treatment with oxygen bleach for the stain.
Method Two: Oxygen Bleach for the Stain
After killing the mold, you need to remove the stain it left behind. Oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) is the safest option for colored fabrics.
Dissolve a scoop of oxygen bleach powder in hot water, soak the garment for 1 to 2 hours, then wash in hot water. OxiClean Max Force Spray can also be applied directly to mold stains before washing.
The flaw: oxygen bleach is not safe on silk, wool, or leather. For those fabrics, professional cleaning is the only safe option.
Method Three: Chlorine Bleach for Whites Only
For white cotton fabrics with severe mold, chlorine bleach is the most effective option. It kills mold spores and removes the stain in one step.
Add 1 cup of chlorine bleach to a hot wash cycle. Make sure the garment is 100% cotton and completely white, as bleach will remove color from any dyed fabric.
Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar or ammonia. The combination creates toxic gas.
Sun Drying: The Secret Weapon
After washing, dry moldy clothes in direct sunlight if possible. UV light from the sun kills remaining mold spores and naturally bleaches out mold stains on light fabrics.
This is one of the oldest and most effective mold treatments. A few hours of direct sun can do what chemicals can’t, especially on light-colored fabrics.
The drawback: sun exposure can fade dark colors over time. For dark garments, limit sun exposure to 1 to 2 hours.
When to Throw It Away
Some moldy clothes aren’t worth saving. If the mold has been growing for weeks, the fabric is thinning or developing holes, or the smell persists after two full treatments, the garment is likely beyond rescue.
Porous fabrics like cotton and linen hold mold more deeply than synthetics. If you can see mold growing into the fiber structure (not just on the surface), the spores may be impossible to fully remove.
Comparison: Which Method Works Best?
| Method | Kills Mold | Removes Stain | Safe Colors | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White vinegar soak | Yes (80% of species) | No | Yes | Most washable fabrics |
| Oxygen bleach | Partially | Yes | Yes | Colored fabrics with stains |
| Chlorine bleach | Yes | Yes | No (whites only) | White cotton |
| Sun drying | Yes (UV) | Yes (natural bleach) | Fades darks | All light fabrics |
FAQ
Can you get mold out of clothes? Yes, most washable clothes with surface mold can be saved. Brush off loose spores, soak in white vinegar, wash in hot water with detergent, and dry in the sun. Severe mold that has eaten into the fabric may be permanent.
Does vinegar kill mold on clothes? White vinegar kills about 80% of mold species. Soak the garment in a mixture of cold water and 1 cup of vinegar for 30 to 60 minutes before washing in hot water.
Can you wash mold out of clothes with regular detergent? Regular detergent alone usually isn’t enough to kill mold spores. You need an additive like vinegar, oxygen bleach, or a laundry sanitizer to kill the mold before it can spread to other clothes.
Is it safe to wear clothes that had mold on them? After proper treatment (vinegar soak, hot wash, and thorough drying), moldy clothes are safe to wear. If the musty smell persists after treatment, the mold is still present and the garment should be treated again or discarded.
Can mold spread from one piece of clothing to another? Yes. Mold spores transfer between clothes in a hamper or wash load. Always wash moldy clothes separately from clean clothes to prevent cross-contamination.
Does bleach kill mold on clothes? Chlorine bleach kills mold effectively but is only safe on white fabrics. For colored clothes, use oxygen bleach (like OxiClean) instead, which kills some mold and removes stains without damaging color.
How do you prevent mold on clothes in storage? Make sure clothes are completely dry before storing. Use breathable storage containers, not airtight plastic bags. Add silica gel packets or cedar blocks to absorb moisture. Store in a cool, dry place.
References
- Consumer Reports. “How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes.” consumerreports.org.
- Tide. “How to Remove Mildew Stains.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Use Baking Soda in Laundry.” thespruce.com.
- OxiClean. “How to Remove Blood Stains from Clothes.” oxiclean.com.
