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Getting rid of mold stains on clothing never seems easy – but this DIY mold remover recipe works great! Itโ€™s natural, cost-effective, and it leaves your clothes looking like new.

Scrubbing mold loose from a shirt.
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How to know you have mold on your clothing?

Picture the scene. 

You open the closet, feeling inspired to wear that summer dress thatโ€™s been hiding away all winter.

Out it comes, you try it on, glance in the mirror, and, no! 

Your dress has become a home for mold spots – everywhere.

Itโ€™s grim, and youโ€™re equally mortified that youโ€™re wearing that mold. 

Black mold with a mottled appearance doesnโ€™t seem easy to clean either, and your mind goes into overdrive, desperate to remove it. 

Iโ€™m sure youโ€™ll love this post if this is a somewhat familiar narrative.

Youโ€™ll discover how to get mold out of clothes the safe way without resorting to harsh cleaners of any sort.

Why should I do it myself?

  • Fewer ingredients: Youโ€™ll be surprised to know that what kills mold is a few essential ingredients that you likely have in the back of your cleaning cabinet. 
  • Easy to use: Thereโ€™s nothing complicated in this process. But, like many DIY methods, you need to have patience and allow time for clothing and fabrics to soak. 
  • Natural and toxin-free: No nasty, machine-created ingredients are used in this recipe!
Pouring vinegar into a bowl.

What does mold on clothes look like?

Mold appearances vary so much, and some patches might not even look like mold. 

The key things to look out for when questioning if something is mold or not are:

  • Color: Mold is often seen as black on walls and shower tiles, but on clothing, it can be any shade of green, blue, grey, or a mixture of colors. 
  • Shape: Mold grows erratically, so look for non-linear borders or a fuzzy outline. 
  • Texture: Mold typically has a velvety, almost powder-like texture, but this always depends on the type of mold youโ€™re dealing with. Some mold can even be watery in texture or hard if itโ€™s been allowed to sit for long periods. 
  • Smell: If mold is not removed quickly, mold spores will develop. This is the mold attempting to grow (and the bit that makes mold health hazardous), so if you smell a foul odor, be sure to use recommended safety equipment when removing the mold. 
Soaking clothing in a bowl of mold remover.

Precautionary measures

Wear a mask to avoid breathing in any potentially harmful fumes. Of course, having gloves is not a bad idea either.

Do not attempt to treat the clothing if the moldy area has taken over a significant area of the fabric. This method should only be used as a spot treatment.

Always wash the article of clothing separately to avoid spreading the mold to other garments.

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How to get rid of mold on clothes

What you will need:

Instructions:

Pre-soak the clothing in a gallon of water and 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. The vinegar helps kill the mold.

Soaking a moldy shirt in water and vinegar.

After about 15-30 minutes of soaking, you can ring it out before scrubbing at the moldy spot with a scrub brush. 

Scrubbing mold on clothing with a scrub brush.

Wash on a hot cycle using your homemade laundry detergent, but also add 2 cups of vinegar directly to the washer. Adding the vinegar may be overkill, but we want to make sure to completely kill the mold!

Putting an item of clothing into the washer.

Hang in the sun to dry before inspecting to see if any mold remains. You can also smell the area, and if any musty smells remain, repeat the first three steps.

Tip! Do not run the clothing through the dryer until the mold is gone, or you chance setting the stain onto the clothing.

You can also run the load with DIY laundry scent boosters to freshen up the smell.

What do I do if I still have mold remaining?

If there are still mold stains on your clothes after the first wash cycle, try spot-treating the area with homemade liquid laundry detergent with essential oils. Let it soak for 10-20 minutes before washing it a second time on a hot cycle.

Pouring mold remover onto a clothing item.

When I do this, and If Iโ€™m just spot-treating the stain (assuming the mold has been killed), Iโ€™ll wait until I have a full laundry load ready so as not to waste a whole cycle on one article of clothing.

The most important thing when dealing with mold is to be safe. Use gloves and, ideally, a mask if youโ€™re in an enclosed space without fresh air flow. 

What if the whole article of clothing is covered in mold?

If it becomes more than just a spot treatment, I suggest taking it to your dry cleaners and having it professionally cleaned.

Are there any types of clothing I canโ€™t use this on?

I always recommend doing a spot test first on a non-visible area of the fabric or clothing.

This is especially true if youโ€™re working with delicate fabrics. Iโ€™m consistently cautious about using vinegar on delicates and do not recommend this recipe on anything like silk or cashmere. 

The good news, though, is that on clothing like cotton, the vinegar helps to remove the mold stain without removing the colorfastness of the item. 

Always check the labeling before spot-treating stains

My best tip is to check the fabric labeling of the clothing. It usually gives guidance on what temperature the fabric or item of clothing can stand in the washer.

I would say, if it says โ€˜suitable for handwashingโ€™ on the garment label, that means itโ€™s a delicate item, so avoid using this type of mold remover in that case (better to be safe)

Final tips

Avoid leaving piles of dirty laundry to sit for long periods so as not to give mold any opportunity to grow.

You donโ€™t have to go out and buy any special equipment to kill mold. In most cases, hot water and a little vinegar will do the trick.

If you have any questions at all, please post them in the comments section, and if you made this recipe and loved it, consider leaving a review below!

And if you are interested in more posts like this, Iโ€™d suggest one of these next.

5 from 6 votes

How to get mold out of clothes

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 15 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Don't panic just yet. Vinegar makes a great mold remover! Follow along to remove mold from your clothing safely and effectively without any special supplies!
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Pre-soak the item of clothing in a gallon of water and 1 cup of distilled white vinegar.
  • After about 15-30 minutes of soak time, you can ring it dry before scrubbing at the moldy spot with a scrub brush.ย 
  • Wash on a hot cycle using your normal amount of laundry detergent, but also add 2 cups of vinegar directly to the washer.
  • Hang in the sun to dry before inspecting to see if any mold remains. You can also smell the area, and if any musty smells remain, repeat the first three steps.
  • Tip! Do not run the clothing through the dryer, or you chance setting the stain onto the clothing.

Notes

If there are still mold stains on your clothes after the first wash cycle, try spot-treating the area with liquid laundry detergent. Let it soak for 10-20 minutes before washing it a second time on a hot cycle.
Check the label on the clothing before treating mold, and always test a small inconspicuous area before spot-treating any stains.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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5 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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