skip to main content

How to remove mold and mildew

7 years ago

How do you remove mold and mildew from large amounts of clothing? My son's baby clothes were stored in a shed for a while when we went to get some things out of there we noticed heavy water damage to the box. Pulled his clothes out and I'm afraid they may not be salvagable. Large white spots on the clothes and some small black dots. What is the best most effective way to remove these? So far I have washed in hot water with lysol (allowed one hour to soak.) Washed again with white vinegar, borax, washing soda and Calvin (allowed one hour to soak.) And then ran through a normal wash cycle with tide detergent all on the hottest setting.. have not smelt of them yet to know if it has worked.

Sort by:Oldest

Comment (1)

georgect
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Even if the clothing items are color, you can safely use a little liquid chlorine bleach.

For a front loader, premix in a container 1 or 2 Tablespoons of bleach with like a quart or so of water. Put the said clothes in the washer and use a delicate or hand wash cycle (so there's more time for the items to soak between tumbles) using warm water temp.

After the washer has filled up with water and tumbled for a few minutes, SLOWLY add your bleach/water mixture into the bleach dispenser so it dispenses into the wash drum. Follow that with a cup of water into the same bleach dispenser to flush it out. This should help kill the mold and release it's staining.

For a old fashioned top loader (that uses a LOT of water), do the same thing but use 1/8 to 1/4 cup of bleach per container of water. Slowly pour the mixture into the bleach dispenser.

I don't know if you can do this on a machine with out a agitator (the type with the wash plate) since the lid locks and you can't access the detergent drawer (since it usually inside the machine).
Related Discussions
Help with how to rid patio bricks of mildew, mold or moss
Q
Comments (1)
My son used a pressure washer to clean the cedar fencing around my house, and the dark discoloration on the fence was a combination of mold/ mildew. He didn't put anything in the water since the pressure was strong enough to remove it. I"m thinking it would be the same on brick.
...See More
seeking carpet mold and mildew removal procedure
Q
Comments (3)
In my quest to find a product to remove urine/urine odor from a concrete slab, I came across a product called MM2. It is a bacterial/enzymatic cleaner. I just used this product and have seen improvement - but do not have enough experience to endorse the product 100%. Per the container, it also is used for mold/mildew. I think it is both a cleaner and will continue to prevent mold/mildew for a period of time. If you want to research, the website is www.orisonmarketing.com. Oh, and they have been very good about answering my many, many questions.
...See More
removing mildew/mold from exterior paint
Q
Comments (3)
Thank you, trailrunner. I've never heard of Jomax but I will look for it or a suitable substitute. Yes, brick.., that side of the bldg is in shade and the woods are right behind it. But, this is also a notorious area for mildew because of the humidity. I was hoping just bleach and water would be sufficient, but, if not, that means a trip to town...when I wanted to get started on it tomorrow first thing...oh well. Grocery store, etc. nearer did not have it, nor anything else of the sort. Thanks.
...See More
mold or mildew and is it a problem?
Q
Comments (4)
Here's what we did post-Katrina in New Orleans. 1. Scrubbed the framing (and anything else) with bleach. The scrubbing helps get inside the wood pores to kill the mildew. Some pros say to use something else besides bleach, since it corrosive. I liked this step as a safe guard and it evaporates. 2. Had it professionally treated. The treatment should kill the mildew and have a residual effect. Not really all that expensive. Get various prices and ask a bunch of questions. 3. Then, had it tested to ensure that there was no mildew present after treatment. Keep that clear certificate forever. Even if you sell the house. Here, this test costs about $700 for a 2400sf house.
...See More

Related Stories

DISASTER PREP & RECOVERY How to Combat Mold in a Flooded House

Before you rebuild or restore your water-damaged home, take these steps to keep mold at bay

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Household Mold

Find out how to work with a pro to stop mold from damaging your house and health — and how to prevent it from forming

OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES Care Guide: How to Clean Your Patio Cushions

By Jennifer Christgau-Aquino

Ready your furniture for spring and summer with these tips for removing sunscreen stains, mildew and more

CEILINGS How to Remove, Hide and Play Down a Popcorn Ceiling

By Toronto Interior Design Group

When it comes to dealing with stucco overhead, you’ve got options

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Bring Out Your Home’s Character With Trim

By Steven Corley Randel, Architect

New project for a new year: Add moldings and baseboards to enhance architectural style and create visual interest

KITCHEN DESIGN 9 Molding Types to Raise the Bar on Your Kitchen Cabinetry

By The Inman Company

Customize your kitchen cabinets the affordable way with crown, edge or other kinds of molding

REMODELING GUIDES Crown Molding: Is It Right for Your Home?

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

See how to find the right trim for the height of your ceilings and style of your room

REMODELING GUIDES How to Size Interior Trim for a Finished Look

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

There's an art to striking an appealing balance of sizes for baseboards, crown moldings and other millwork. An architect shares his secrets

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Creative Design Moves Rescue an Island Cottage

By Becky Harris

Facing down mold and nicotine, two industrious Canadian designers transform an uninhabitable wreck into an artful getaway

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen Confidential: 11 Islands With Furniture Style

Break the mold with these nontraditional kitchen islands

Sponsored

More Discussions

Dryer is taking too long to dry!!!

14

Washing Machine Draining Question & Laundry Room Design

7

Seeking comments on Laundry Room renovation

3

New Miele Washing Machine- WXR860- Need Help

2

finished edge for LVT around a floor drain

0