Mildew is an unpleasant fungus that thrives in damp, warm conditions. It can cause whitish-grey patches on clothing as well as an unpleasant odor.
Mildew stains on clothing can easily be removed with a few simple steps. But before you begin any of them, be sure to clean your garments first thoroughly.
Salt and Lemon
If you live in a humid area and your clothes have mildew-infested spots, try using salt and lemon to clean them. Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with half a teaspoon of table salt to create a paste; apply it directly onto the mildewy spots and allow them to air dry under sunlight; repeat if necessary.
Fabrics like cotton respond best to this solution, but spot-test first to ensure your clothes can handle the treatment. Once approved, use hot water and the highest wash cycle for your garments.
Mildew spores thrive in damp, dark places, so it’s essential to keep clothing as dry as possible at all times. Additionally, adding mothballs to wardrobes and closets can be a preventive measure against mold and mildew growth.
Vinegar
If you’re searching for an organic way to remove mildew from clothes, vinegar is a great solution. Not only does it eliminate mold and odors from laundry, but it also disinfects surfaces in your home.
Vinegar is created through a fermentation process in which alcohol is converted to acetic acid by oxygen and bacteria known as Acetobacter. Although slow, this transformation occurs naturally.
Mildew, a type of mold, thrives in damp, dark places like closets and the undersides of dresser drawers. It can linger on clothes and cause health problems for those with asthma, sleep apnea, and other respiratory ailments.
To remove mold from clothes, mix white vinegar and baking soda. Spray the moldy area with this solution and scrub it clean; although this method requires some elbow grease, it works effectively for tough spots.
Bleach
Bleach is a chemical compound used to bleach fabrics or eliminate discolorations. It breaks down the chemical bonds in stain molecules, making them easier to separate from fabric or other materials.
Chlorine bleach is the most widely used type of bleach, and it’s used to eliminate stains from fabrics and nonporous surfaces. It contains sodium hypochlorite, which attacks the chromophore–part of the molecule responsible for giving a shame its color–by either destroying it or changing its double-bond network into single ones, blocking light absorption.
When using bleach, it’s essential to follow directions carefully so as not to damage your clothes or cause them to fade over time. Furthermore, wash your items in the hottest setting permitted by their care labels and dry them outdoors in the sun for a natural stain-removing effect (although this may leave some marks on the fabric).
However, it’s essential to know that bleach contains harsh chemicals, so you should handle it carefully. Even mild exposure to bleach on your eyes or hands can irritate the skin; thus, wearing gloves while working with this cleaner is recommended.
Borax
Borax is an organic laundry detergent booster that adds extra cleaning power to liquid soaps. It helps dissolve stains, brighten whites, and soften hard water for optimal efficiency.
It also reduces odors and removes mildew from fabrics, rugs, and carpets. Furthermore, its cleaning abilities extend further as it is an effective disinfectant, killing bacteria and fungi that cause strong smells.
If you live in a humid area, mildew will likely appear on clothing, upholstery, and other fabrics. Mold usually forms clumps of powdery material on damp cloths, which can be easily removed with borax.
Before tossing your clothes into the washer, pre-soak them in half a cup of borax per gallon of water. This will guarantee your clothes are thoroughly rinsed. While it may take some extra time, the effort pays off with clean and mildew-free garments.
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