How to remove mold from clothes: 4 homemade tips

How to remove mold from clothes? This is a question that first-time sailors often ask when they come across those unwanted stains on their clothes, sheets and other items in their wardrobe.

So, to find out this and other things, continue reading until the end.

Why does mold appear on clothes?

First, it is interesting to explain why mold appears on your clothes, and only then, address the central topic of the article: how to remove mold from clothes?

So, from the beginning: there are several factors that can cause mold (and mildew) stains to appear on fabrics. However, the most common, and therefore the most 'important' to understand, is humidity.

So yes, when your grandmother told you to be careful about moisture in your clothes, there was a reason. 

Older homes or homes near areas with lots of vegetation can accumulate moisture in walls, closets and in areas close to where you store your clothes. In these cases, mold is almost certain to appear.

In addition to stains, mold can cause health problems such as allergic reactions and can spread easily. However, initially, it is usually not serious. However, it is important to be aware of the signs of its appearance.

To prevent this from happening, avoid keeping your home closed and stuffy. Allowing the room to air out is one of the two best ways to prevent your clothes from getting moldy. The other is to never store damp clothes in your closet.

7 ways to prevent mold from appearing on your clothes

Although the two main ways to avoid mold are to promote an airy environment and not store damp clothes in your closet, there are other ways to avoid it.

So, consider some – or all, if possible – of the items on this list so that you don’t have to figure out how to deal with mold and mildew, otherwise you’ll need to actually learn how to get mold out of clothes.

The 7 ways to prevent mold from appearing on your clothes are:

• Keep your wardrobe organized, always trying to keep the place dry, with at least one weekly cleaning;
• Open your wardrobe doors at least once a day to let the wind circulate and air it out;
• Try to leave the clothes you are going to wear exposed to the sun a little before using them;
• Do not place your furniture where you store your clothes against the wall, leave it a few centimeters away from the wall;
• Use vacuum bags. It may seem strange, but to prevent mold from appearing, place those clothes that you wear less often (due to taste or change of season) in vacuum bags to avoid any mold problems;
• Never store damp or wet clothing in your wardrobe;
• If you've been caught in the rain, or your clothes have gotten wet for some reason, wash them immediately. Don't leave them for later.

These tips may seem a bit over the top, especially considering the immediacy of your items. 

However, it is important to prevent mold before it even appears, otherwise you will have a problem on your hands that, in addition to health problems, may lead to the need to discard your clothes.

Four tips on how to remove mold from your clothes

Your clothes are moldy, what now? For some reason in the rush of modern everyday life, some of your clothes have become moldy and you only realized it when it was too late to prevent the mold from spreading to other items. How do you remove mold from clothes?

The following list contains homemade ways to overcome mold and mildew, which are quick and accessible to anyone who needs to face this annoying problem – which can become a health issue if not treated correctly.

• Vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Boiled milk
• Baking soda

Although these options are simple and homemade, you can always opt for industrial options – which are even more efficient, but you will end up having to go to a store to buy them. However, sometimes this is not possible. 

Vinegar

Using vinegar is one of the oldest tips you will find on how to remove mold from clothes. However, it is recommended for dark clothes, as it can stain lighter ones.

The method of application is simple; apply a little vinegar to a clean, dry cloth and rub it on the moldy area of your clothing until all the mold is removed. 

However, if there is a lot of mold, soak the garment in a solution of water and vinegar for 20 minutes and then repeat the cleaning movement with a cloth soaked in vinegar.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice works as a natural bleach, so you can use it on any type of clothing. So, when you need to find out how to remove mold from clothes at home, using it is one of the best options you will find.

The way to use it is very easy: Apply the juice to the mold stain, then leave it in the sun so that the juice can act on the area. After that, wash it again and the stain will come out.

Boiled milk

This is an ideal option for more delicate fabrics. Boiled milk should be applied to the stain, then wait until the garment lightens a little. Then, wash it in the washing machine or by hand. The mold stain will come out during the final process.

Additionally, for sensitive and colored fabrics, you can also add a little water and vinegar when washing. By doing this, the mixture will remove mold and even eliminate any fungi that may be present.

Baking soda

Baking soda is an incredible tip for you who want to know how to remove mold from clothes, especially those older stains or those that are difficult to remove.

To do this, simply add a spoonful of baking soda to each liter of hot water in a container and let the item soak in the mixture. You can also add a cup of baking soda to your washing machine when washing.

And that's it, the mold stains will be removed from your clothes without much effort and in time for you to prevent the mold from spreading further.

Conclusion

In short, there are many home remedies to use when the question is 'how to remove mold from clothes', however, it is important to know which ones best fit your situation, so that you will have complete success when it comes to dealing with mold.

For more articles like this, or about How to cook corn in a pressure cooker, continue reading more articles here, at Manual da Cozinha.