Mold on clothes

ladylisalt

A friend of mine had a mold problem awhile back and she had all clothes in her home dry cleaned. She gave me a bin with some clothes and I still smell mold. I am washing them in hot water now. I also through out the bin since the plastic may have been locking the smell in. Can you ever get the mold smell out of the clothes if you wash a few times or does it somehow stay within the fabric? There are some real quality clothes for my DS but I am trying to weigh the options. I know many ppl would say, if your unsure toss them, but I wanted to check here first bc maybe its not so bad afterall.

carig63

It will probably take a couple of washes to get the mold smell out. The key would be to make sure they get dried completely, so if any mold remains, the clothes are dry enough that it won't continue to grow. And you might ask someone else (like a friend, DH, your mom) to smell them. You might be inventing the smell because you're looking for it.

ladylisalt

I hear you on making sure their thoroughly dry. I was more so wondering if anything can seep into LO's skin. I sound like a hypochondriac/new mom. lol

NotSharknado

I wouldn't even mess around with mold. Toss the stuff, it's not worth it.

ladylisalt

I did read about how you can wash them with a part vinegar and then rewash regularly so I am guessing in may be possible to get it out. I am still weighing my options. Any opinions are helpful.

erikaplustim

shanado:

I wouldn't even mess around with mold. Toss the stuff, it's not worth it.

This. Mold is nasty stuff. Throw it out!

AmandaJGoble

Vinegar does take out mold/mildew stains and smells most of the time.

nbbride06

shanado:

I wouldn't even mess around with mold. Toss the stuff, it's not worth it.

This. 

AMcLaws

carig63:

It will probably take a couple of washes to get the mold smell out. The key would be to make sure they get dried completely, so if any mold remains, the clothes are dry enough that it won't continue to grow. And you might ask someone else (like a friend, DH, your mom) to smell them. You might be inventing the smell because you're looking for it.

This. You can't live your life in fear. I buy all DD's clothes from Goodwill (I'm cheap, and she grows TOO FAST to spend money at Carters, Old Navy, Wal Mart, etc.) and after a few washes, they're just fine. You could always contact your pediatrician and see what he/she thinks.

dairygirl19

A trick I learned fromy my wise MIL.

Soak the clothes in 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. If there's mold stains swish and soak until gone...then launder as normal. Dry in the sun if you can. Sun kills everything.

If you're lazy...1.5ish cups of bleach in the wash will take care of it. Fill machine. Add bleach. Let agitate for a bit..then add clothes. Obviously easier if you have a toploader.

I get mildew/mold on LOs clothes sometimes if I let the laundry sit to long and her wet facecloths touch her clothes. SIL also sent me some clothes that were in a damp environment and got mold. The bleach takes care of everything..and following the solution guidelines I've only ruined one thing out of probably the 20 I've done and that was a crappy walmart onesie anyways.

ladylisalt

dairygirl19:

A trick I learned fromy my wise MIL.

Soak the clothes in 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. If there's mold stains swish and soak until gone...then launder as normal. Dry in the sun if you can. Sun kills everything.

If you're lazy...1.5ish cups of bleach in the wash will take care of it. Fill machine. Add bleach. Let agitate for a bit..then add clothes. Obviously easier if you have a toploader.

I get mildew/mold on LOs clothes sometimes if I let the laundry sit to long and her wet facecloths touch her clothes. SIL also sent me some clothes that were in a damp environment and got mold. The bleach takes care of everything..and following the solution guidelines I've only ruined one thing out of probably the 20 I've done and that was a crappy walmart onesie anyways.

 

Luckily, no mold stains(at least none that I have seen). I am no laundry expert, but I thought bleach could spot or change the color of some of my clothes. Is that a myth? I am willing to try it I just didnt want to open the machine and find polka dotted clothes. lol

dairygirl19

ladylisalt:

dairygirl19:

A trick I learned fromy my wise MIL.

Soak the clothes in 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. If there's mold stains swish and soak until gone...then launder as normal. Dry in the sun if you can. Sun kills everything.

If you're lazy...1.5ish cups of bleach in the wash will take care of it. Fill machine. Add bleach. Let agitate for a bit..then add clothes. Obviously easier if you have a toploader.

I get mildew/mold on LOs clothes sometimes if I let the laundry sit to long and her wet facecloths touch her clothes. SIL also sent me some clothes that were in a damp environment and got mold. The bleach takes care of everything..and following the solution guidelines I've only ruined one thing out of probably the 20 I've done and that was a crappy walmart onesie anyways.

 

Luckily, no mold stains(at least none that I have seen). I am no laundry expert, but I thought bleach could spot or change the color of some of my clothes. Is that a myth? I am willing to try it I just didnt want to open the machine and find polka dotted clothes. lol

It's not a myth..but the trick to avoiding it is to follow the solution suggestions exactly and make sure the bleach is well agitated in the cycle. Direct bleach will for sure, properly diluted bleach will not.

ladylisalt

dairygirl19:

ladylisalt:

dairygirl19:

A trick I learned fromy my wise MIL.

Soak the clothes in 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water. If there's mold stains swish and soak until gone...then launder as normal. Dry in the sun if you can. Sun kills everything.

If you're lazy...1.5ish cups of bleach in the wash will take care of it. Fill machine. Add bleach. Let agitate for a bit..then add clothes. Obviously easier if you have a toploader.

I get mildew/mold on LOs clothes sometimes if I let the laundry sit to long and her wet facecloths touch her clothes. SIL also sent me some clothes that were in a damp environment and got mold. The bleach takes care of everything..and following the solution guidelines I've only ruined one thing out of probably the 20 I've done and that was a crappy walmart onesie anyways.

 

Luckily, no mold stains(at least none that I have seen). I am no laundry expert, but I thought bleach could spot or change the color of some of my clothes. Is that a myth? I am willing to try it I just didnt want to open the machine and find polka dotted clothes. lol

It's not a myth..but the trick to avoiding it is to follow the solution suggestions exactly and make sure the bleach is well agitated in the cycle. Direct bleach will for sure, properly diluted bleach will not.

thanks so much!