If the moisture level around your house is higher than the normal, then there is very much possible to have mold in your clothes and fabrics. Having mold on clothes is a pretty harmful thing because several health problems are associated with that like rash on-screen, allergy, illness, and sometimes we get clueless of how to get mold out of clothes and fabric. Clothes contain materials like wool, cotton, which are considered the best food source of mold. For that reason, mold can quickly grow on clothes and fabrics and can harm your body. The main problem of having mold on your clothes is that if it stays longer, then it gets harder to remove and becomes more smelly.
Table of Contents
Reasons For Mouldy Clothes
- Moisture and humidity: As we all know, high moisture in the room or house can increase the possibility of growing mold on clothes. It is found that, if the moisture level in the room is above 65%, then this environment is perfect for mold to grow faster on clothes. Sometimes, people hamper their clothes in the washroom for a very long time. As the washroom and bathroom environment is not dry enough and has inadequate ventilation systems, there is a very high possibility of having mold in those places. The number one criteria not having mold on clothes is to have a proper air circulation system. If the clothes are stored in the basement or blocked closet, then mold can be found.
- Food source: Mold is basically one type of fungus which needs a food source to live for. Mold food mostly found on materials like paper, wood, fabrics, etc. So, if molds are not detected early on your clothes, it can destroy the cotton and color very fast of your favorite dress as it is getting its food for living to grow. Cutting the food source of mold can be a way to remove it from your clothes.
- Darkness: Mold can not stay alive in a heated, dry place and has enough room for air circulation. If there is no ventilation in the room, and the closet is placed in an area that is not dry, there is an imminent possibility of having mold on those clothes and fabrics. Darkness promotes the mold to grow at a faster rate than usual.
Effects of having mold on clothes
The number one problem with clothe’s mold is that it creates some serious health problems. The inhalation of mold can cause severe breathing problems among older people. The adult people can face allergic reactions and can have bad skin rashes. If someone inhales mold for a longer period, that person may suffer anxiety, depression, etc. It is better to clean them when it is just on the surface of the clothes. But if it spreads among the fibers, it creates some acute health issues because, on that stage, it is difficult to clean.
How to get mold out of clothes?
There are several ways to remove mold from clothes. You can use any of the following methods to clean mold out of fabric and clothes.
Using Hot Water: Hot water is the number one natural remedy for removing mold from clothes. In hot temperature, mold can survive, and you have to keep your clothes in warm-hot water for at least 10-30 minutes. Before cleaning the clothes with hot water, make sure your clothes are suitable for that type of wash by checking the level of clothes.
Try to keep the water temperature around 50-60 degrees celsius. Try to wash it around in two cycles. If there is any stain on the clothes due to mold, it won’t go away by washing it with hot water. In that case, it is better to take professional help or use any other type of chemical solution. After finishing the washing, dry it on the sun. The UV of the sun is helpful in killing the mold on clothes.
Using Bleach: If you want to use any chemical for removing the mold and stain from your clothes, then using bleach can be the best solution. Some kinds of wool and cotton are not too flexible to comply with bleach, so first, use the bleach on a specific area to do a test. Soak the clothes on the bleach for around one hour and then wash it with hot water. Do not mix the bleach with any other type of chemical.
You can use the bleach if the mold is deeply rooted in your cloth’s fiber, but it can easily shorten your fabrics’ lifespan. Before using the bleach solution, make sure that area has enough air circulation and uses masks and gloves as a protection measure.
Dry-Cleaning: It is considered an easy solution to get rid of the mold, but it is expensive. Most of the time, people don’t have enough time to go for laundry and dry-clean their clothes. Some types of clothing are not compatible with dry-cleaning. So, make sure you read the labels attached to your fabrics. The heat used during the time of dry-cleaning is as effective as the UV of the sun. Remember, any stain caused by mold on your clothes will not be eradicated just by getting a normal dry-cleaning service.
Brushing the Clothes: Most of us don’t want to go for any expensive solution like dry-cleaning or never want to use any chemical on our clothes as it reduces the lifespan of clothes. For them, just by having a brush can be enough to get rid of the irritating mold. Brushing will only work if the mold is just on the surface of the cloth. Brush above the cloth and remove mold as much as you can. Some of the molds will remain, but sun temperature will eventually be killed automatically when you hang them out.
Using Vinegar: Vinegar is another active chemical that can be used against mold on your clothes. Take two or three cups of vinegar and add it to the washing machine during the time of washing clothes. You can also use baking soda with vinegar, which will be more effective. Take one cup of baking soda with two cups of vinegar and mix it with hot water. Then soak the clothes in that water and keep it for two hours. Wash it and make sure you properly rinsed. Dry the clothes under the sun, and your clothes will be mold-free.
Mold Killing Detergent: There are many types of mold-killing detergents like Clorox and Oxiclean available on the market. Don’t mix it with the normal type of detergent, which we usually use to wash our clothes. Mix two cups of Clorox with hot water and wash your clothes with that solution. Don’t forget to check your clothing label to see whether the cotton can absorb that type of detergent or not.
Removing Mold with Borax: Borax is a non-toxic chemical that can be used to remove the mold from clothes. First, take a load of laundry with regular laundry detergent. Take one spoon of borax powder and fully dissolve it with a bowl of hot water. Once the washing machine is filled up with your laundry, then add the dissolved borax solution on it. Run the washing machine as usual. If possible, dry it in the sun. It will kill the remaining mold, if any, after washing.
Using Lemon Juice: It is not as popular as other methods, but it works best to remove the stain caused by mold on clothes. Use 1 spoon of salt with lemon juice and mix it in a cup. Apply that mixture on the stain place and rinse. Dry the cloth under the sun’s heat. There will be no stain on your clothes caused by mold after that.
How to prevent mold on clothes?
If you come from outside and throw your sweater clothes on a corner of the house for a long time, there is much possibility of having fungus on your clothes. Clean it as early as you can. Sometimes people don’t dry their clothes properly after washing and keep them wet. If the clothes are kept wet for a long time, then there is an imminent possibility of having mold on the clothes’ surface.
Use the UV of the heated sun or drier to dry the clothes properly. Also, wet clothes increase the moisture and humidity level of your home. If you are using a dryer, then keep the room ventilation system perfect so that the moisture released from drying clothes can not get stuck in the room.
Conclusion
Having mold on clothes is not an uncommon thing. Knowing how to get mold out of clothes will help us to be safe and protected from its harmful effects. As it can cause some serious health issues, it should not be taken so lightly. After applying the methods which are discussed above, mold will be diminished. But still, if you face the recurrence of mold in clothes, it is advised to take professional help from the expert.
Also read,
How To Remove Mold From Wood & Furniture-A Complete Guide