Mold is one of those annoying things that can sneak up on you out of nowhere.
And getting mold on clothes is one of the worst things that can happen because if you wear those clothes, you will smell like mold yourself.
Not to mention mold can irritate your skin and cause rashes.
So if you’re dealing with mold on clothes, you’ve come to the right place.
In this short buying guide, we’ll give you some practical strategies for how to get mold out of clothes and then talk about some of our favorite products for fighting mold!
Top Products For Removing Mildew From Clothes & Recommendations For 2021
Below you can read through some short mold remover reviews for some of our favorite products for killing or preventing mold.
Siamons International Mold Control Spray
This is an extremely powerful mold killing spray from Siamons International. And it’s a large enough bottle to last you for a long time.
This is great for fabric, upholstery, and pretty much any surface in the home. So you can keep mold under control everywhere, not just your wardrobe!
You can use it on clothes, drywall, wood, plastic, concrete, metal, stone, grout, brick and anything else in your home, car or boat!
And all you have to do is spray it on and let it dry. For clothes, you may want to wash them after the product has dried to get rid of the mildew smell.
But for other surfaces, you can just leave it as a protective seal against mold!
Features
- Large 32 oz. bottle with enough product to cover up to 100 square feet.
- Suitable for all surfaces
- Kills the mold and eliminates moisture to prevent new mold growth.
- Just spray on and wait.
- Creates an invisible shield to prevent new mold growth.
DampRid FG83LV Hanging Moisture Absorber
This convenient little pouch is perfect for keeping mold out of your closet. It smells great and keeps humidity under control.
All you have to do is hang the pouch in your closet and then let it work. It will take moisture out of the air and trap it inside its pouch.
At the same time, it’s removing mold spores and replacing that bad air with clean, fresh smelling air. And once it’s done, just toss it and put in a new one! It’s easy, convenient, and super effective!
Features
- Lavender vanilla scent
- Eliminates odor and humidity from air
- Each pack contains 3 pouches
- Keeps working for up to 60 days.
Microfiber Pros Cleaning Cloths
These are some of the best washcloths you can have in your home. They are so handy and effective.
If you thought the washcloth couldn’t be improved just wait till you see this one work! Not only is it safe and gentle on clothes, it can be used as your regular cleaning rag for around the house!
Features
- Microfiber with patented SilverClear to kill microbes and bacteria on fabric.
- Safe to use in other parts of the house because the cloth actually kills and prevents mold growth. So cross-contamination is not an issue.
- No harsh detergents or chemicals
- Soft, nonabrasive texture is safe for all fabrics.
- Super absorbent cloth can hold up to 8 times its weight in water.
CleanTools Single Absorber
The synthetic chamois used for this washcloth is one of the most impressive cloths you could ever use to clean up moisture.
This is an impressively absorbent wash cloth that can whisk moisture away from any surface, even your clothes. It’s great to use with the baking soda and vinegar method we described earlier!
Features
- Ultra soft texture is gentle on every surface
- Convenient storage tube for taking on the go
- Mold and mildew resistant
- Safe to wash in the machine
- Extremely absorbent
Common Causes Of Mold On Clothes
The major reason that clothes will become moldy is because they get wet and stay wet too long.
Within just a few hours, they can start to smell like mildew. And within just 24 hours, they will already have the beginnings of mold.
- Leaving clothes wet clothes in the machine too long.
- Not washing (or at least hang drying) sweaty clothes immediately
- Hang dried clothes aren’t drying fast enough.
- Putting the wardrobe or dresser flush against the wall. Mold and condensation from the wall can easily transfer into the dresser this way.
These are the 4 most common ways that you will get mold on clothes.
How To Prevent Mold On Clothes
The best ways to get mold out of clothes is to prevent it from getting there in the first place.
So if you’re trying to figure out how to remove mold from clothes, you might as well also learn how to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Here are a few tips:
- Don’t put in a load of laundry before leaving the house. You want to be able to move it to the dryer or a hanger as soon as it’s done.
- Move your wardrobe or dresser a couple inches away from the wall.
- If hang drying indoors, open windows or turn on a fan to promote air circulation for faster drying.
- Don’t toss sweaty clothes in the hamper. Hang them or lay them flat until dry. Then put them in the hamper.
This will help avoid more mold on clothes in the future.
2 Natural Ways To Remove Mold From Clothes
There are actually quite a few natural ways for how to get mold out of clothes.
Here are a few thing you can try at home:
Baking Soda & Vinegar Method
This is one of the most powerful ways for how to get mold out of fabric. It’s pretty much the best home remedy for mold no matter where it is located.
You’ll learn more about how to use it later on!
Does Heat Kill Mold?
This is a good question. And if you’re asking “does hot water kill mold?” then you’re on the right track.
Most molds will actually die at any temperature above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 celsius). This is a temperature that many washing machines can get to.
So you can use hot water to kill mold. But it’s not the best way for how to get mold smell out of clothes. For that, you need cleaners that will actually remove the dead mold spores.
How To Remove Mold Statins From Clothes
Here’s how to wash moldy clothes:
- Separate clothes carefully by color. You’re using the hottest water setting so you don’t want colors to run.
- Add laundry soap along with a ½ tablespoon of baking soda.
- Set temperature to 150 F (65 C). You can go higher if you want.
- Wash.
- Remove immediately from machine and dry.
If the mold smell or stain is still there, try soaking in a mixture of baking soda and vinegar for 15-20 minutes before washing.
Best Ways To Get Rid Of Mold From Clothes In Closet
Here is our favorite way for how to get mildew out of clothes, smell and all!
The Baking Soda & Vinegar Method
- Add 1 Tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle (about 12 oz).
- Fill the bottle with white vinegar.
- Shake until dissolved.
- Spray onto moldy clothes.
- Use a brush, sponge, or wash cloth to gently massage the solution into the clothes.
- Rinse the clothes out in the sink or tub.
- Spray again.
- Let dry.
- Wash in the machine as you normally would.
How To Remove Mold Smell From My Clothes
In addition to the more natural home remedies mentioned above, there are also other ways to get rid of mold and that terrible mold smell.
Here are a few tips:
- Get the item dry cleaned.
- Use bleach (for white clothes only)
- Hang dry after washing (outdoors if possible).
- Add an odor removal product in with your laundry soap.
- Get a detergent designed to remove odors.
The most important step is killing the mold. Then, getting rid of the mold is just a matter of washing out the dead mold spores that are lingering on your clothes.
Tools Needed To Get Rid Of Mold From Clothes
The specific tools you need will depend on exactly what method you are using.
But here are some of the items you can probably expect to use in the process:
- Mold killing agent (natural or store bought)
- Spray bottle
- Microfiber washcloth (which should then be immediately washed and dried after use itself to prevent mold growth there).
- Clothes line or hanger for hang drying.
- Moisture absorbers to prevent new mold.
Armed with a set of tools like these, you’ll be able to kill any mold currently on your clothes and stop new mold from appearing in the future!
Final Word
Mold is both annoying and dangerous if left to its own devices. So it is important to act fast and be thorough.
Whatever method or product you choose, make sure you do it as soon as possible. Kill the mold and wash out the smell before it ruins your clothes permanently!
