Can you wash mold out of clothes? Experts say yes – here's how

If you're experiencing mold on your clothes, either from poor storage, your washing machine, or exposure to dampness, you might be worrying how best to remove it.

While it's a common laundry issue, knowing how to proceed is crucial to saving your garments before mold takes hold and spreads, causing irreparable damage, odors and staining.

We spoke to laundry experts for their professional tips on whether you can wash mold out of clothes (spoiler alert: you can) and how to do laundry to do so successfully.

Can you wash mold out of clothes?

If you've discovered mold or mildew on your clothes, don't worry, your clothes can be saved with a little know-how of the common types of household mold, and how to tackle them.

'You can wash mold out of clothes, but typically not using the same methods you would with any other laundry,' says Carolina Kazimierski, co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service. This is because mold spores are stubborn, and typically penetrate fabrics deeply, so they need to be completely removed to prevent them spreading further, avoiding bad habits that increase the risk of mold.

What you will need to wash mold out of clothes

• White vinegar: Such as the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar available at Walmart.
• Baking soda: Such as the ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda available at Amazon.
• Laundry detergent: We recommend the bestselling ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean Odor Blasters Liquid Laundry Detergent available at Walmart.
• A soft-bristled brush: Such as the BFWood Laundry Stain Brush available at Amazon, which gently works to remove deep-set mold.

How to wash mold out of clothes

'While it's certainly possible to remove mold from clothing, it will be a difficult process and may even permanently damage the material,' says Ken Doty, COO of The Maids.

If you do wish to attempt to save your clothes, here's Doty's expert-approved method, which is best to do in a well-lit room, with natural sunlight if possible.

Step 1: Act quickly

'You should act as quickly as possible when you spot mold on your clothes,' says Doty. 'Make sure the mold hasn't spread to any other articles of clothing and take the affected piece outside or in a well-ventilated and lit room.'

This will help stop mold growth in a laundry room and protect against breathing in harmful mold spores.

Step 2: Brush off visible mold

Next, grab your scrubbing brush. 'Remove any loose and outstanding spores,' says Doty, which will make the cleaning process easier.

Step 3: Soak in vinegar

'Create a cleaning solution of water (preferably hot) and 1-2 cups of white vinegar,' says Doty, in a 1 cup to 1 gallon ratio. Soak the clothes for one hour, then scrub the impacted areas again with a brush.'

This will help to neutralize odors and kill bacteria, as cleaning with vinegar is a natural disinfectant that can be used to kill mold. It can be added to your washing machine cycle, too, just ensure you know where to put it and when to add it.

You can also use aspirin as a mold-killing stain remover, instead of, or alongside, vinegar. Our expert-led guide dives into the details.

Step 4: Wash your clothes in the washing machine with baking soda

Doty recommends using baking soda in laundry to wash mold out of clothes, to further neutralize odors, which is also a simple hack you can use for your closet.

'If mold is still visible, run the clothing through the washer with another 1-2 cups of white vinegar alongside your regular detergent,' he says. 'Add 1/2-1 tablespoon of baking soda to help with the deodorizing process if the smell of vinegar or the mold itself is too strong.'

Step 5: Air-dry outdoors

There are so many benefits of air-drying laundry, and Doty recommends it to banish odors.

'Dry your clothes outside once you're finished, preferably in a sun spot,' he says. There are some reasons why you should never wash laundry outside, such as pollen allergies, so if any of these apply to you, dryer your laundry in your tumble dryer if you have one, or on a clothes airer, such as the Joseph Joseph Eclipse 3-Tier Adjustable Laundry Drying Rack available at Amazon which I love for drying laundry in tiny spaces.

FAQs

Does washing clothes kill mold?

Yes, but in order to effectively kill mold, wash affected clothing on the hottest washing machine setting. Mold spores will die at temperatures upwards of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), so cooler setting won't work.

Can mold in the washine machine transfer to clothes?

The reason it's important to clean your washing machine regularly and remove mold from the rubber seal is that neglecting to do so can lead to mold particles attaching themselves to your washing, particularly if you tend to do laundry at lower temperatures. Avoid this by adding washing machine upkeep to your achievable cleaning routine.

Ensuring you know how to check for mold in your house will mean you can tackle outbreaks before they take hold of your home or wardrobe.