Mold can be a significant problem for your clothes and house. It may permanently damage clothes. Therefore, always adopt proper actions against this infestation. However, such a grave problem can be solved using bleach.
Does bleach kill mold in fabric? Bleach can effectively remove mold from fabrics. However, bleach can fade and ruin colored clothes. That’s why you may use bleach for treating white items. Employ borax, vinegar, sunlight, hot water, lemon juice, or baking soda for other fabric types.
To know more, read this article and save your gorgeous gown and jeans.
How to use bleach to kill mold in fabrics
Method 1
- First, soak your clothes in a bucket full of water. Now, add bleach to the bucket according to the instructions mentioned on the bleach package.
- Now, leave the clothes in a bucket for three to four hours.
- Lastly, launder clothes as usual with powerful detergent. You may machine wash or hand wash fabrics, whichever suits you better.
Method 2
- Put your clothes in washing machine along with powerful laundry detergent.
- Once the machine is ready to start, add ½ spoon of bleach to washer.
- As the cycle finishes, take clothes out and rinse them properly.
- Lastly, air dry or use a dryer.
Cautions for using bleach
You should follow some instructions while dealing with bleach. Bleach is harmful to skin as well as human health. Therefore, be careful. Most importantly, it may fade colored clothes. Therefore, use bleach for white items only.
Never use concentrated bleach as it may ruin even white garments. Before using, perform a spot test. Just apply a tiny amount of bleach to a small area of fabric to check whether it fades or not. Most importantly, read the garment care label.
Causes of growing mold in fabrics
Sometimes you may notice mold on your walls and tiles and don’t bother to pay attention to it. However, this matter shouldn’t be neglected. Like walls, mold can grow on your fabrics and affect your wellbeing. Surprisingly, mold can trigger allergic reactions and weaken the body’s immune system.
Two main factors behind mold growth are dampness and improper ventilation. Sometimes, you may prefer to store clothes in closet without drying them properly. As a result, mold attracts those wet clothes quickly in just 24 to 48 hours.
That’s why always try to air dry clothes properly. Or, throw them in dryers. But, most importantly, never leave your items in the washer for too long. As a rule of thumb, remove garments from washer as soon as the cycle finishes.
Humid weather is another reason behind mold growth. Therefore, always keep the humidity level of your house below 50%. Mold can grow massively in an above 50% humid environment.
What does mold on fabrics look like?
Mold is a fungus that thrives on mainly moist organic materials. You may find them both inside and outside of your house. Their most common nesting places are leaks in pipes, roofs, windows. They may grow rapidly on wood, paper, cardboard, fabrics, upholstery, carpets, and wallpapers.
As mold develops in various conditions, you may observe them in different colors: white, green, orange, purple, and black. However, you might notice mostly white and sometimes greenish-black mold on fabrics.
Fabrics like cotton and linen are their favorite place to grow. So, always take special care of those items. Also, take quick remedial actions whenever you notice molds, as they may create holes in your clothes.
How to Remove Mold from Clothes
Vinegar
Distilled white vinegar is a wonderful and organic cleanser and disinfectant. It can perfectly remove mold from clothes. Some of you might worry about the vinegar smell. However, this weird odor will disappear as soon as you wash fabrics.
- First and foremost, pre-soak clothes in a bucket full of water.
- Now, add one cup of vinegar to it.
- Launder the clothes as usual.
Alternatively, you can add 1-2 cups of vinegar to washer when you wash fabrics.
Wash with hot water
Hot water can effectively kill mold and its spores. However, all fabric types may not adjust well with hot water. That’s why read the garment care label and use the hottest temperature that your garment can endure.
Tea tree oil
Another effective mold remover agent is tea tree oil.
- Take a spray bottle and add one teaspoon of tea tree oil and one cup of water to it.
- Now, spray the affected area properly. But don’t rinse the surface.
Hydrogen peroxide
- Take one part of hydrogen peroxide and water.
- Now, make a paste and spray this solution on the affected areas.
- Wait for a few moments to let hydrogen peroxide work.
- Lastly, wash your dress as usual.
Borax
Borax is one of the best alternatives to remove mold. Under this method,
- Firstly, dissolve borax in boiling water. Add 2 cups of borax to two liters of water.
- Now, pour this water into washing machine and wash items as usual.
Baking soda
- Add 2 cups of water to two tablespoons of baking soda
- Now, transfer this solution to a spray bottle.
- Spray this solution on the affected areas. After an hour, scrub the surface.
- Rinse the zone and apply the solution once again.
- Lastly, air dry clothes as usual.
Lemon juice
- First, prepare a paste of lemon juice and salt.
- Rub the paste on the affected spot and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
- Now, brush the paste and mold off with an old toothbrush.
Mold killing detergent
- Add warm water and mold-killing detergent in a tub.
- Now, soak your clothes in it for at least an hour.
- Lastly, remove clothes from tub and rinse them properly.
Sunlight
You may already know that dampness is heaven to mold. That’s why utilizing sunlight is a pragmatic way to fight against fabric mold growth. If this trick doesn’t work, apply any method mentioned above.
Tips for mold prevention
Preventing mold can be a challenging job to do. That’s why you must have to ensure the following. Take a look-
- Install a humidifier to control the humidity level of your house.
- Ensure proper ventilation and keep windows open during the daytime.
- Don’t store wet clothes in closets or drawers.
- Solve water leaking problems whenever you notice this problem.
- Always try to keep your house dry and clean.
