How to Remove Mold from Fabric and Clothing

If your home has been flooded and mold and bacteria have been left to grow for many days, it may be impossible to salvage fabric items and clothing. However, if mildew has developed due to dampness and is caught early, it can easily be removed from most machine-washable fabrics.

Brushing the mold off outside will keep the spores from spreading throughout your home.

Take the item outside and brush away the visible mold with a soft-bristled brush.

For leather, saturate a soft cloth with distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and wring it until it is not dripping. Then, wipe down the leather item inside and out.

Warning

Brushing or shaking items when cleaning them can potentially aerosolize mold spores. Always wear protective equipment such as safety glasses, gloves, a face mask, and protective clothing when handling mold.

Once the visible mold is removed with a brush, mix a solution of leather soap and warm water.

Dip a clean, soft cloth in the solution and wipe down the leather item.

Allow it to air-dry away from direct sunlight or heat source.

Follow the label directions on a leather conditioner and apply it to the leather to keep it soft and supple.

Hard surfaces include appliances, wood furniture, tile and grout, and interior and exterior walls made of concrete, brick, and stone. You can use bleach in most cases, although vinegar or hydrogen peroxide are other good alternatives. Never mix bleach with vinegar or peroxide. Review these recommendations for cleaning mold from a variety of surfaces.

Deep clean your washing machine and clothes dryer at least once every three months—whether you have mold or not.

Add two cups of chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide (do not mix the two) into the washer drum and run a hot water cycle without any clothing.

Dampen a cloth with bleach or hydrogen peroxide to clean door seals and gaskets.

Leave the washer door open to allow the interior to air-dry.

You can't pour materials into a clothes dryer, but you can wet rags or old towels with a bleach solution to clean the machine.

Interior drum mold removal: Dip old towels in a chlorine bleach and water solution and wring out excess moisture. Toss the towels in the dryer and tumble on the air-only cycle for five minutes. Remove the towels and rinse the interior with a sponge dipped in plain water.

Door seals and exterior mold removal: Dampen a cloth with the bleach solution and clean the door seals, gaskets, and dryer exterior. Leave the door open to allow the appliance to air-dry.

Bleach is not food-safe and can be toxic if introduced into foods; instead, use a vinegar solution to clean the fridge.

Vinegar will remove mold and help descale mineral deposits that affect the taste of coffee.

Use bleach for tile and grout. To help the fumes from chlorine bleach dissipate, open bathroom windows, turn on the bathroom fan, or add a circulating fan.

Mix one cup of bleach with one gallon of water in a plastic bucket.

With rags or a soft-bristled brush, apply a liberal mixture to the mold-affected areas.

Let the bleach mixture sit for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing the surfaces with the brush.

Rinse well with fresh water and repeat as needed.

Here's how to clean mold from porous surfaces like wood and drywall (including ceilings):

Mix one part dishwashing liquid, 10 parts bleach, and 20 parts water.

Apply the solution with a sponge or mop, trying not to over-saturate the surfaces.

Do not rinse away; allow the surfaces to air dry. Repeat, if needed.

For exterior home surfaces, bleach works best. Be sure to take proper precautions to avoid getting bleach on any surrounding fabrics or plants.

Mix a cleaning solution: Mix one cup of chlorine bleach with one gallon of water in a bucket. Add this to a garden sprayer or power washer, or apply it by hand with an abrasive mop or brush.

Wet surfaces and apply solution: Wet the moldy surfaces with water using a garden hose or by hand, apply the bleach and water solution, allow it to sit on the surface for 15 minutes, and then scrub it to remove the mold growth.

Rinse and air-dry: Rinse surfaces or any surrounding areas (especially plants) splashed with bleach with water. Repeat if necessary.

All mildew is mold, but not all molds are mildew. Mildew is a common surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like your bathroom, fabrics, and books stored in damp basements. It begins as a gray or white powdery colony and will turn black or brown (it can often look like soil accumulation) if not removed promptly.

To test if the surface is covered with mildew or dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it's mildew.

Remember to call a professional if you have a serious mold problem in your home. The rule of thumb is to call if the mold covers 10 or more square feet.