Mold on Clothes: How to Get It Out (and When to Toss)

Mildew is a mold. UF/IFAS Extension describes it as recognizable by its musty odor and black, brownish, or reddish fuzzy discoloration, and notes it grows best in moist, warm air and grows well on damp clothing.

That describes a lot of Texas. The Gulf of Mexico is the primary source of moisture, which is most readily available to the eastern part of the state.

The usual triggers are simple:

• Clothes put away damp or sweaty
• Wet towels or workout clothes left in a pile or a hamper
• A load forgotten in the washer
• Clothes stored in plastic bags or sealed bins
• Closets on an exterior wall, or with a leak behind them
• Flooding or a roof leak

These steps combine guidance from UF/IFAS Extension and University of Georgia Extension. Always read the care label before trying any stain removal method, and pretest each cleaning agent on an inconspicuous area first to check for color loss.

1. Take it outside and brush it off

UGA Extension's first step is to brush off mildew out of doors. Its flood bulletin gives the reason: clean mildewed items outside to avoid spreading mold spores inside.

Wear gloves. The CDC says do not touch mold or moldy items with bare hands. If you're sensitive to mold or have asthma, let someone else handle heavily moldy items.

2. Pretreat and wash

UGA Extension says to apply detergent to stain and launder. Follow the care label for water temperature. For heavily soiled or flood-exposed items, UGA's flood guidance says to wash the clothes in small loads.

3. Use bleach if the fabric can take it

If a stain remains, there are two routes, depending on the fabric.

Bleach options for mold stains on clothes

UGA's flood bulletin warns that bleach is harsh on wool, silk, spandex, and leather. Check the label on anything stretchy or delicate.

Never mix bleach with other cleaners. UGA says bleach should NEVER be mixed with ammonia, vinegar, or other acids because the mix creates a toxic gas. If you're weighing vinegar against bleach, our vinegar vs bleach for mold guide covers it, but never use them together.

4. Rinse, rewash and dry completely

After a bleach soak, rinse and launder again. Kentucky Extension adds that if bleach stays in a garment, it can create yellow spots and/or weak areas, so it recommends extra rinse cycles for items going into storage.

Then dry the clothes fully. For flood-exposed clothes, UGA says if you have a dryer, use the highest heat setting (if the care label allows), and that sunlight helps too.

Some stains won't come all the way out. UGA warns that mildew weakens fibers, so heavy scrubbing can tear a fabric that mold has been growing on for a while. If a stain survives two rounds of washing and bleaching, you'll have to decide whether the faded mark matters to you.

Upholstery and non-washable fabrics need a different method. UGA's textile page gives separate steps that use commercial fabric cleaners and alcohol and ends with chlorine bleach if safe for fabric. For anything valuable, a professional dry cleaner is the safer route.

A musty smell means mold or bacteria have been growing, even if you can't see a stain. The steps above usually remove it. A few extra tips from extension services:

• Air and sun. UF/IFAS suggests placing musty bedding in the sunshine for several hours. If mildew remains, it suggests sponging with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 cup of water, then drying thoroughly.
• Don't let damp clothes sit. UF/IFAS says to make certain clothes are dry before putting them in the dirty clothes hamper.
• Check the washer. If everything that comes out of the washer smells musty, the machine itself may be the source. UGA recommends running an empty wash cycle with hot water and bleach to sanitize the machine after washing flood-soiled items, and the same idea helps here.

If the smell comes back within days of washing, the problem is likely where the clothes are stored, not the clothes.

Washing is mainly about removing mold, not sterilizing fabric, and that's the right goal. The EPA says killing mold isn't enough: dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people, so it must be removed. Detergent, agitation and rinsing do that.

Bleach adds a disinfecting step where the fabric allows it. For clothes that sat in floodwater, a regular wash isn't enough. UGA says that for items submerged in floodwater or further contaminated, you must use a strong disinfectant, such as an EPA-registered liquid chlorine bleach, and that colorfast bleach is not an EPA-registered disinfectant.

Clothes that were near mold but never grew any are simpler. TDLR says personal belongings can be kept if there is no mold growth on them, though they may need a deep cleaning to remove spores that settled in the fabric.

Texas floods are a major cause of moldy clothing. Hurricane Harvey dropped between 4.62 and 56 inches of rain across the Houston area, and the Harris County Flood Control District estimated nearly 136,000 structures were flooded.

The EPA says that if a flooded home and its contents weren't dried within 24-48 hours, you should assume you have mold growth. It specifically notes you may see or smell mold on clothing.

For flood-soaked clothes, UGA Extension recommends:

1. Wash in small loads.
2. Use an EPA-registered liquid chlorine bleach, following the bottle's directions. UGA says read the bleach's directions on the bottle. Don't guess.
3. Wash a second time with laundry detergent.
4. Dry on high heat where the label allows.

For clothes you wore during cleanup, the EPA advises that after leaving a mold site you shower and change your clothes so you don't carry mold back to where you're staying.

Our mold after flood Texas guide covers the rest of the house, including drywall, insulation and insurance timing.

Some items aren't worth the risk or effort. Based on EPA and extension guidance:

When to throw out moldy clothing and fabrics

For irreplaceable items such as a wedding dress or a family quilt, the EPA guide points to Smithsonian conservation guidance rather than home bleach. A professional textile cleaner is worth a call.

Prevention is mostly about air and dryness. Kentucky and Florida extension services recommend:

• Never store clothes damp. Kentucky Extension says to make sure laundered and dry-cleaned clothes are completely dry before storing.
• Skip plastic bags. Plastic can create a moist-rich environment that may lead to mildew.
• Don't overpack. Do not overfill closets or drawers. Permit air to circulate among and between items.
• Open closet doors. UF/IFAS says to open closet doors so air will circulate and not to hang sweaty garments in the closet.
• Air clothes after wearing. Kentucky suggests airing for several hours or overnight before putting them away.
• Control humidity. The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent). A dehumidifier for mold can help in a closet or laundry room that stays damp.

Call in help if:

• Clothes in one closet keep getting moldy after you've cleaned them
• You see mold on the closet walls, ceiling or baseboards
• There's a musty smell you can't trace
• The home flooded or had a long leak

The EPA says that if the moldy area in your home is less than about 10 square feet, you can usually handle it yourself. Larger or hidden growth is a job for professionals.

In Texas, finding and measuring mold is done by a licensed mold assessment company, and cleanup by a separate licensed remediation company. State law says a license holder may not perform both mold assessment and mold remediation on the same project. Start with a mold testing company in Houston (or your city on our Texas page) if you need to find hidden mold, and a mold removal company for the cleanup. You can confirm any company's license with our license check tool.

If you or your family have symptoms you think are linked to mold, see a doctor. A mold test can't diagnose illness. The CDC says that individuals with persistent symptoms should see their physician.