Mold on Clothes: Homemade Recipes to End the Problem

With the cold seasons approaching, it is time to take the cold clothes out of the closet. The problem is that clothes that are stored for a long time, especially the heaviest ones, constantly come out of the closet with that nasty musty smell and sometimes even mildew stains.

Some more complicated mold spots can be so hard to solve that you want to give up and throw away. But take it easy: it won't take an expert to get it. There are a number of inexpensive and effective home recipes that promise to bring back the liveliness of clothes so you can dress quietly this winter or any season.

Like every problem to be solved, to get rid of mold on your clothes you must first know what the cause is. There are some aspects that favor mold and each can be solved differently: where you live, the relative humidity, the season, the type of closet, the location of the house where the closet is , the way you store your clothes, among many other reasons.


Mold develops in an environment that is also conducive to dust mites and these two usually walk together. Therefore, besides leaving the clothes smelling bad, it is also the cause of dermatological and respiratory allergies. More than an aesthetic problem, mold must be tackled for your and your family's health.

Let's look at some of the best tips that promise to end mold on clothes and also keep them from coming back:

Read also: Learn how to troubleshoot humidity at home


1. Bleach

The oldest and still one of the most used solution is bleach. A powerful weapon against mold and stains on clothes. You can use it in different ways depending on the type of stain or fabric. Check out two recipes, but beware: bleach can fade clothes, so it is recommended to test on a very small piece of the piece.

Bleach + water: For sturdy white fabrics, soak your clothes in bleach diluted with water for a few minutes. Use 100ml for every 5 liters of water. Soak for about 15 minutes and then wash normally.

Bleach + sugar: For each liter of bleach, add a cup of sugar. That's right, bleach attacks sugar, preventing less resistant fabrics from being damaged. Soak the laundry in this solution for about half an hour or until the stain disappears.


2. Vinegar

Vinegar is very effective in removing the strong smell and stains of mold without the risk of damaging the fabrics. It is also excellent for cleaning shoes or leather bags that have been hit by mold.

Pure Vinegar: With a clean, damp cloth, apply white alcohol vinegar over the stain and rub slowly. Let it dry well (in the shade) and then wash normally.

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Vinegar + Water: You can also soak the pieces in water and vinegar for about 20 minutes and the stains will come out on their own. This is a good choice for wool pieces. After the process, wash the clothes as usual.

Leather Vinegar: For leather, boots, jackets or purses, wipe the mold on the outside with a vinegar-soaked cloth. After cleaning, wipe off any excess vinegar with a clean damp cloth, let it dry well, then moisturize with petroleum jelly or almond oil.

3. Boiled Milk

Boiled milk is indicated for removing mildew stains from more sensitive, colored, silk or synthetic clothing. It has the power to detach the stain easily without major scratches to the fabric.

Step by step: Pour boiled milk over the stain and wait for it to clear. Then wash your clothes normally.

4. Sodium bicarbonate

To resolve stubborn stains on long-stored clothing, a good option is baking soda. Mixed with water, it has the power to loosen fabric stains without leaving damage or stains.

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Step by step: Add about one teaspoon of baking soda to each liter of water and boil the laundry in this solution. Then wash the garment as usual.

5. Sun

For those lucky enough to be able to hang their clothes in the sun, this is the most important and simple tip. The sun is a powerful tool against mold and dust mites. A sunbath may be the simplest way to remove the smell of clothes, blankets and comforters.

Step by step: For clothes with just that unpleasant musty smell, put them on for a long sunbath, remembering to hang colorful clothes on the wrong side. That should be enough for the odor to disappear.

6. Lemon Juice

Suitable for white and colored clothing, lemon can be a natural bleach and therefore also serves to remove mildew stains.

Step by step: Pour some lemon juice over the spots and leave in the sun for a few hours to act. You can also mix lemon juice with salt to enhance the mix. After the process, wash clothes normally.

Read also: 50 tricks every housewife needs to know

It is important to note that the older the stain, the harder it is to resolve and more time or other care may be required. Be sure to test any homemade recipes on a piece of fabric before continuing the process.

How to prevent your clothes from molding

Better than cure is to prevent. So you don't have to worry about having to clean stains on clothes, some steps can be taken to prevent or at least delay the proliferation of mold on clothes, shoes and inside the closet. It's worth investing in these simple tips and avoiding more work in the future:

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