How to Clean Mildew From Clothes

Clean mildew from clothes with bleach.

Mildew appears as small dark spots on clothing, leaving behind a musty odor. Wet towels, bathing suits or other moist clothing provides a breeding ground for mildew to form. Simple laundering may not kill the mildew spores, which need to be destroyed to keep them from spreading to other clothes or areas in the home. Normally mildew stains require a bleaching action to kill the fungus for an easier removal process.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Chlorine bleach
• Liquid laundry detergent
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Salt
• Cup
• Towels
• Stain remover

Instructions

White Clothes

1. Fill a bucket with warm water and place it in a bathtub. Mix 2 tbsp. of chlorine bleach into the bucket.

2. Place the section of clothing with the mildew stains into the water. Allow the rest of the garment to hang over the bucket onto the tub floor. Let the item soak for 10 minutes.

3. Remove the clothing from the water and empty the bucket outside.

4. Place the clothing in the washer and set the temperature to hot. Launder with 1 tbsp. liquid laundry detergent.

5. Pour 1/4 cup of white vinegar into the rinse cycle. Inspect the clothing after washing. If the mildew spots remain, repeat the cleaning process starting with the bleach.

Colored Clothes

1. Mix 3 tbsp. lemon juice with 1 tbsp. of salt in a cup.

2. Spoon the mixture over the mildew stains on the clothes. Grasp the sides of the fabric next to the stains, and gently rub together.

3. Lay towels on a patio or picnic table that gets direct sunlight. Place the clothes onto the towels with the mildew stains facing up. Allow the sun's rays to destroy the mildew spores for three to four hours.

4. Brush the salt mixture from the clothing with your hand. Spray a stain remover onto the affected area.

5. Place the garment in the washer and set the water temperature to cool. Launder the clothing with 1 tbsp. of liquid detergent. After washing, examine the stain and repeat the process with the lemon juice if the mildew spots remain.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use chlorine bleach on wool, spandex or silk fabrics, according to the University of Missouri Extension.

• Do not pour chlorine bleach down the drain if you have a septic system; pour the bleach into a gravel or dirt area.

References

• University of Missouri Extension: How to Prevent and Remove Mold -- Home Methods
• University of Illinois Extension: How to Remove Mold and Mildew