Can You Wash Mould Out of Clothes? What Works and What to Avoid
Can You Wash Mould Out of Clothes? What Works and What to Avoid
You found mould on your clothes. Maybe they were left in the washer too long, stored in a damp closet, or left in a pile on the floor. You wonder if you can wash mould out of clothes. The answer is yes, but it takes more than regular washing. Mould bonds with fabric fibers and leaves stains that regular detergent alone won’t remove. Here’s what works and what to avoid.
Mould on clothes is a fungus that grows on fabric fibers in damp conditions. Mould feeds on organic matter (dirt, sweat, food) trapped in fabric. Mould leaves dark spots and a musty smell. Washing mould out of clothes requires killing the mould spores and removing the pigment and odor.
To wash mould out of clothes, take them outside to remove loose spores, soak in vinegar and water for 30 minutes, apply oxygen bleach for whites or OxiClean for colors, wash with enzyme detergent in hot water, add vinegar to the rinse, and dry in the sun. Don’t use cold water, don’t use chlorine bleach on colors, and don’t put mouldy clothes in the dryer until the mould is gone.
Can You Wash Mould Out of Clothes?
Yes, you can wash mould out of most washable clothes. But it takes more than regular washing. You need to kill the mould spores, remove the pigment, and eliminate the odor.
What Works
Vinegar kills mould. White vinegar kills most mould spores. Soak mouldy clothes in warm water with 1 cup of vinegar for 30 minutes before washing.
Oxygen bleach removes mould stains. For white clothes, oxygen bleach removes the dark spots. For colored clothes, use OxiClean.
Hot water kills mould. Wash mouldy clothes in the hottest water safe for the fabric.
Sun dries and kills mould. Dry mouldy clothes in direct sunlight. UV rays kill remaining mould spores.
Baking soda absorbs odors. Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash to absorb musty odors.
Enzyme detergent breaks down organic matter. Use Tide Free and Gentle to break down the organic matter that feeds mould.
Lysol kills bacteria. Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.
What to Avoid
Don’t use cold water. Cold water doesn’t kill mould spores. Use hot water.
Don’t use chlorine bleach on colors. Chlorine bleach strips color. Use oxygen bleach or OxiClean.
Don’t put mouldy clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat can set mould stains. Dry in the sun.
Don’t brush mould off indoors. Mould spores spread indoors. Take clothes outside first.
Don’t use fabric softener. It coats fibers and traps mould.
Don’t mix vinegar and chlorine bleach. Mixing them creates toxic chlorine gas.
Don’t store damp clothes. Damp clothes grow mould. Always dry completely before storing.
Step-by-Step: Washing Mould Out of Clothes
Step 1: Take Clothes Outside
Take the mouldy clothes outside and brush off loose spores with a soft brush.
Step 2: Soak in Vinegar
Fill a tub with warm water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. Submerge the clothes and soak for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Apply Oxygen Bleach (For White Clothes)
Make a paste of oxygen bleach powder and water. Apply to mould stains, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rinse.
Step 4: Apply OxiClean (For Colored Clothes)
Spray with OxiClean Max Force Spray. Let it sit for 15 minutes.
Step 5: Wash in Hot Water
Wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water. Add half a cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar to the wash.
Step 6: Add Lysol to the Rinse
Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse.
Step 7: Dry in the Sun
Dry in direct sunlight. UV rays kill remaining mould spores.
Step 8: Check Before Storing
Check that all mould stains and odors are gone before storing.
Mould on Different Fabrics
| Fabric | Can You Wash It Out? | Best Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| White cotton | Yes | Vinegar + oxygen bleach + hot water + sun |
| Colored cotton | Yes | Vinegar + OxiClean + hot water + sun |
| Polyester | Yes | Vinegar + OxiClean + warm water |
| Denim | Yes | Vinegar + baking soda paste + hot water |
| Towels | Yes | Vinegar + oxygen bleach + hot water |
| Silk | No | Professional cleaning |
| Wool | No | Professional cleaning |
How to Prevent Mould on Clothes
Transfer clothes immediately. Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer for more than 30 minutes.
Dry completely before storing. Even slightly damp clothes can grow mould.
Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid damp basements and hot attics.
Use breathable storage. Use fabric storage boxes, not plastic bins.
Add cedar or lavender. Cedar blocks and lavender sachets absorb moisture.
Clean the machine monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.
Use Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for food stains. Food residue feeds mould.
Use Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam for grease. Grease residue feeds mould.
FAQ
Can you wash mould out of clothes? Yes. Take clothes outside to remove loose spores, soak in vinegar and water for 30 minutes, apply oxygen bleach for whites or OxiClean for colors, wash with Tide Free and Gentle in hot water, and dry in the sun. Repeat if needed.
Does washing kill mould on clothes? Yes, if you use hot water and vinegar. Regular washing in cold water with regular detergent may not kill mould spores. Use hot water, vinegar, and oxygen bleach or OxiClean.
Does vinegar kill mould on clothes? Yes. White vinegar kills most mould spores. Soak mouldy clothes in warm water with 1 cup of vinegar for 30 minutes before washing.
Can you put mouldy clothes in the dryer? Don’t put mouldy clothes in the dryer until the mould is gone. Dryer heat can set mould stains. Dry in direct sunlight instead, as UV rays kill remaining mould spores.
How do you prevent mould on clothes? Transfer clothes from the washer immediately, dry completely before storing, store in a cool dry place, use breathable fabric storage boxes, don’t leave wet clothes in the washer, and clean the machine monthly with affresh.
References
- Tide. “How to Remove Mould from Clothes.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “Mould Removal Guide.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Mould Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- CDC. “Mould Cleanup Guide.” cdc.gov.
