1. Bleach. A very strong chemical, bleach can be very effective at killing mould and removing mildew stains. However, it will also fade any colours, so use bleach only on whites, or test your garment first on an inconspicuous part of your clothing (such as the inside hem).
Most mold spores will die at temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), so cold and warm water cycles won't work. Add laundry detergent (regular detergent is fine). Add any other disinfectants, like vinegar, bleach or baking soda. Run two complete cycles on hot water.
Wash at the highest temperature possible.
Mildew likes a little warmth, but usually can't survive a very hot wash. Check your garment care label to find out what the maximum wash temperature is, and then pop it in the machine with a high-quality stain-removing detergent, like Persil liquid.
You can get mold out of clothes with white distilled vinegar, as the acetic acid will kill the spores. The vinegar must have an acetic acid level of 4.0%−4.2% or higher to kill the mold. 2 However, when used at full strength, vinegar can cause dark-colored fabrics to fade.
A note about Borax for mold.
Borax is a detergent enhancer and works on mold and mildew.
OxiClean™ Bleach Mold & Mildew Bathroom Stain Remover makes it easier to clean mold stains because it has bleach, which helps to remove mold and mildew stains on non-porous bathroom surfaces such as tiles, sinks and tubs.
Tide Simply Pods Odor Rescue Liquid Laundry Detergent Pacs are the best laundry detergent for removing odors. If you are trying to get rid of cooking odors, pet smells, mildew, or sweat and body odors, these are a must-have.
In this video, she shares that her secret to keeping her shower so clean is that she uses just white vinegar and Dawn dish soap. She pours this solution into a dishwand and uses this every so often to clean her shower wall, floors and glass doors.
Hydrogen peroxide kills mold effectively on materials such as clothing, floors, bathroom fixtures, walls and items such as kitchen appliances. Pour 3% concentration hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle. Spray the moldy surface completely to saturate the area with hydrogen peroxide.
Drying in high humidity
If it is too humid or rainy to dry clothes outside, hang them on a rack inside with space between each garment. Use a fan to help circulate the air, or a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture. After you've done a load of washing, ensure as much moisture is removed from the clothes as possible.
So, how do you get that mildew smell out of clothes? Luckily it can be done with two ingredients you probably already have in your pantry: distilled white vinegar and baking soda.
Clothes that have been exposed to mold spores should be washed immediately and dried for a longer time than usual (20 minutes) to keep them clean and avoid any further contamination. Make sure you first rinse the clothes thoroughly and soak them for 5 minutes in two cups of bleach or sodium hypochlorite before washing.
Mold generally looks slimy or fuzzy, tends to have a raised texture, and can come in a rainbow of colors, including deep green and black. Mildew is powdery, looks white or gray, always appears flat, and grows on surfaces.
Distilled white vinegar is non-toxic but acts much more slowly than chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. While it will kill the mold, the discoloration and stains may remain and require additional scrubbing with a household cleaner. Distilled white vinegar can be used safely on most porous and non-porous surfaces.
To clean mold, use regular white distilled vinegar, typically sold with five percent acidity. You can also use “cleaning vinegar” with its six percent acidity. Both are effective at killing mold.
Removing Mildew From Clothing With Vinegar and Baking Soda
Create a soak solution that is 1 part white vinegar to 4 parts water. Soak the clothing for 15 to 30 minutes. Put clothes in the washer. Add 1 cup baking soda in addition to detergent on the longest cycle.
Adding one cup of vinegar to the water, let fabric soak for no less than two hours.
Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a spray bottle. Spray mixture in the shower stall or other non-porous surface and leave to dry for an hour. Rinse the area with clean water and allow it to air dry.
Removing Mildew Stains
Fill a sink, bucket or bowl with warm water and add half a scoop of Tide Powder Detergent. Mix up the solution by hand until the detergent completely dissolves. Add your mildew stained garments to the solution and leave to soak for two hours.
While it is possible to use bleach to kill mold as well, experts agree that vinegar is a much better option. Unlike bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, which means it's less likely to return. Vinegar is also less toxic than bleach, making it a better choice for household use.
Does Hydrogen Peroxide Kill Mold? Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.
Most yeasts and molds are heat-sensitive and destroyed by heat treatments at temperatures of 140-160°F (60-71°C). Some molds make heat-resistant spores, however, and can survive heat treatments in pickled vegetable products.
Don't use OxiClean on wool, silk, or other off-limits fabrics.