How to Get Mold Out of Clothes: Washing Steps That Work

How to get mold out of clothes: take them outside and shake off loose mold, check the care label, pre-soak, wash on the hottest setting the fabric allows with detergent plus white vinegar or an oxygen bleach, then dry in direct sun or a hot dryer. Do not use chlorine bleach and vinegar together.

If a stain or smell remains after two washes, or the item is delicate, take it to a cleaner or discard it.

How to get mold out of clothes: act fast

Mold on fabric starts as musty smell or small gray, green or black spots, and it spreads quickly in damp conditions. The sooner you wash, the easier it is. Wear gloves and a mask when you handle moldy items, because spores come off easily, and keep them away from clean laundry.

Quick facts: how to get mold out of clothes
Time	One or two wash cycles plus drying
You need	Detergent, white vinegar or oxygen bleach, bucket, gloves, mask
Never	Mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners
Best dryer	Direct sun or a hot dryer, if the fabric allows

Step by step

1. Go outside. Shake or brush the clothes outdoors, away from windows, so spores do not spread through the house.
2. Read the care label. Use the hottest water the fabric allows.
3. Pre-soak for at least 30 minutes in a bucket of warm water with a cup of white vinegar, or oxygen bleach as directed. Do not combine them.
4. Wash alone with a full dose of detergent. Do not mix the load with clean clothes.
5. Check for stains and smell before drying. If any mold or odor remains, wash again.
6. Dry in direct sun if possible, or in a hot dryer. Sunlight helps kill remaining spores and freshen fabric.
7. Clean the washer by running an empty hot cycle with cleaner afterward.

Fabric guide

Fabric	What to do
Cotton, linen, polyester	Hot wash, detergent plus vinegar or oxygen bleach
Wool, silk, delicates	Use gentle cycles, cool water; professional care if valuable
Dry-clean-only items	Take to a cleaner and tell them it is mold
Leather, suede	Wipe gently; use specialist care; heavy mold may be unfixable
White cotton	Oxygen bleach can help; chlorine bleach only if care label allows

Do not use these together

Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, because it releases chlorine gas, and never mix it with ammonia or other cleaners. If you use chlorine bleach, use it alone in a well-ventilated space and only on fabrics that allow it. Oxygen bleach and vinegar are safer separate choices.

When to throw it out

If the fabric is rotting, the mold covers a large area, the smell stays after repeated washes, or the item is cheap and heavily affected, discarding it is reasonable. Items stored in damp places for long periods may be beyond saving. Bag moldy items before moving them through the house.

Stop it coming back

Never leave wet laundry sitting in the machine. Dry clothes fully before storing them. Leave the washer door open after use and clean it monthly. Keep closets ventilated, use a dehumidifier in damp areas and avoid storing clothes in plastic bags or boxes in a basement.

Cleaning the source

If clothes in one closet or room keep growing mold, the room has a moisture problem. Check for leaks, condensation on outside walls and humidity above about 60 percent. Fix the source, or the clothes will be affected again.

When to call a professional

If you find mold on many items, on walls or in a room after a leak or flood, call a mold or water damage company. Knowing how to get mold out of clothes is useful, but the room needs fixing too.

How to get mold out of clothes: act quickly

Shake the item outdoors first to remove loose spores, and brush off any visible mold without rubbing it into the fabric. Learning how to get mold out of clothes works best when you wash the item soon after you find it. Use the hottest water the fabric can take, a full-strength detergent, and a cup of white vinegar in the rinse. Dry the item in sunlight if possible, since sun helps remove stains. Check it before drying in a machine, because heat can set a stain that is still there. Repeat the wash if the mold or the smell remains.

When you know how to get mold out of clothes made of leather or wool, use a specialist, since water and vinegar can damage those fabrics. Keeping damp clothes apart from the rest of the laundry stops how to get mold out of clothes from becoming a regular job.

If you are deciding whether to keep an item, ask yourself whether how to get mold out of clothes is practical for that fabric.

Related reading

• How to Clean a Washing Machine: Front-Load and Top-Load Steps
• Dehumidifier Smells Like Mildew? Causes and How to Fix It
• Mold After Water Damage: How Fast It Grows and What to Do
• Black Mold vs Mildew: How to Tell Them Apart and What to Do

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