How to Remove the Musty Odor From Vintage Clothes

Remove musty odors from vintage clothes promptly.

Vintage clothes stored in damp, warm, dim, or poorly ventilated environments often attract molds and mildews. Molds and mildews harm vintage clothes by rotting the fabrics and causing the garments to develop a musty odor. Remove the musty odor from vintage clothing by brushing off the mildew spores and then washing the garments in white distilled vinegar and hot water. Treat vintage garments as soon as possible to prevent mold and mildew from causing further damage.

Things You'll Need

• Cleaning brush
• 2 cups white distilled vinegar
• Air ionizer

Instructions

1. Take the garment outdoors. Brush off the mildew and mold spores from the garment with a cleaning brush.

2. Pour 2 cups of white distilled vinegar into a washing machine. Wash the garment on a gentle cycle with hot water.

3. Allow the garment to air-dry in direct sunlight. Once the garment is completely dry, inspect it for remaining odors.

4. Place an air ionizer in a room with the vintage garment if the musty odor remains. Turn on the air ionizer and shut the room's door.

5. Allow the air ionizer to purify the air in the room for one day. The air ionizer will remove any lingering musty odors from the vintage garment.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not put vintage garments with rubber, elastic, or vinyl materials in the room with the air ionizer, as these materials will disintegrate.

References

• FinnFlair: How to Get A Musky Smell Out of Vintage Clothes
• UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences: Mildew Prevention and Removal
• Vintage Clothes: How To Clean Vintage Clothes