So there I was, standing over one of my many laundry hampers like it owed me money. Because my old favorite hoodie had mold spots the size of dimes! And that stink, you know, the kind that makes you feel like you shoved wet socks in a stale basement. Anyway, if you ever have let clothes sit wet on the floor for too long (who hasn’t?) you know that when mold appears, it spreads quickly and wrecks your day.
But before you pull out that old sweater and give it a funeral, there is actually an outré simple way to kick mold’s ugly butt. I have pieced this information together from more frantic cleaning adventures than I would like to admit; here’s what you need to do so you don’t end up angrily tossing half of your closet into the trash.
Evaluate the Damage!
First things first, you must determine the extent of the mold infestation. Please don’t just eyeball that one shirt you dug out, check the entire laundry hamper or any clothing you found the moldy thing! Mold is the worst roommate; if one thing is moldy, you can likely guarantee that it has organized a party with the clothes around it.
If your clothes are still damp, you need to layout the damp clothes somewhere the sun can actually get to them. The sunlight is your first friend when battling mold as it does not like UV. One thing I always forget, then immediately regret is to wear a mask and gloves because the last thing I need is a mad coughing fit, or a weird rash when I am wrestling moldy socks.
Preparing for Battle: Getting Your Mold-Busting Kit Ready
Okay, before you start scrubbing like a madwoman, just be sure to have your gear ready so you are not running around your home in wet, moldy clothing, making a mess everywhere you go. Here are the things I always gather up:
- Washing machine
- Protective mask (please just wear this)
- White vinegar or Borax (both will work, but I tend to use white vinegar unless I am out of borax)
- Big bucket (bigger is better if you have a big pile of laundry)
- Cleaning gloves
- Scrub brush — doesn’t have to be fancy, just needs to hold together while scrubbing
- Laundry soap
- Baking soda (for added deodorizing power)
- Disinfecting spray (in case you need to clean your laundry hamper or basket too)
The Soak: Drown Your Mold With Borax or White Vinegar
OK, now for the gross, but still satisfying part. Fill your bucket with warm water. Next, add either about a a half cup of borax or a full cup of white vinegar. You want the moldy laundry to be fully submerged in solution like they are in time-out for being bad. Let the laundry soak for at least an hour and if the mold is really stubborn I usually let it soak for a few hours.
Soaking does a lot of the work for us in loosening the bond between the mold and fabric. Once the laundry has finished soaking, take your scrub brush and get scrubbing on the worst spots. It may feel excessive, but a quick scrub in the same session as the soak makes a huge difference. And it is oddly satisfying to watch the black splotches slowly disappear.
The Washing Machine Showdown: Borax versus Vinegar
Now it is time to toss everything in the washing machine. Do not just move to your regular detergent cycle — we’re still exhibiting several traits associated with the original mold! Pick your fighter: either add one more scoop of Borax or a splash of vinegar right into the wash. They will both break down the mold and kill the spores.
Whatever you do, don’t go with cold water; that is not going to mess up the entire day for mold. I usually throw it on the hottest cycle my clothes can physically endure without turning them into doll clothes. After your washing machine is done, you will be amazed by just how much better everything already looks and smells.
Drying in the Sun: Nature’s Disinfectant
You cannot stop after the wash is done; the drying step is just as important. And the best dryer for mold cleanup is a bright, sunny day. The sun is nature’s bleach. If you can hang your clothes outside to dry, do it, because direct sunlight will help finish off any remaining mold spores and also eliminate that funky smell from being damp. If you do not have a backyard clothesline, you can always lay the clothes flat on a sunny balcony or porch. And if you can’t hang them up outside, at least hit the hottest dryer setting to ensure everything is as dry as a bone.
The final inspection: smell and sight
Once everything is dry, you can’t just fold it up and call it a day. You need to inspect the clothes again. Check to see if there are any remaining mold stains, and by all means, please conduct a smell test. If they smell fine, you are golden. However, if there is a trace of mustiness, that indicates some of the mold was able to survive, and you should probably repeat the washing and drying process. You do not want to put stuff back in your closet that has mold clinging for dear life!
Also, if your shirt ended up with an extra coffee stain on it because life has a funny way of piling up, search for a quick reference guide on how to remove coffee stains — it’s saved my day more than once when my moron self spilled everything on my shirt instead of drinking it.
Storing is just as important as removing the evidence of mold, so take care to not mess it up! Mold thrives in warm dark and humid spaces, so it is vital that you store your clothing in a clean, dry, and airy spot. Closets or dressers are the favorite places for mold to develop because they hold a lot of humidity. I now put a packet of moisture absorber in my closet since I had to rescue a second batch of clothes from mold hell. If you live somewhere humid, it is 100% worth it. You should also keep space between the clothes for air movement and certainly do not forget to toss in your sweaty gym clothes in the hamper for a week (thankfully I have learned that the hard way).
Nothing is rocket science when it comes to removing moldy clothing. What it takes are a bit of time, some scrubbing, and a dedication to destroying stubborn code brown. The end result? Fresh, clean clothing that smells nothing like a forgotten basement. And I think that is all anyone wants!
