Mildew stains on your clothes can be frustrating. That musty smell and discoloration seems impossible to remove at times. However, with some household products and elbow grease, you can get rid of those pesky mildew stains. This guide will provide helpful tips on how to remove mildew from fabrics.
What is Mildew?
Before learning how to remove mildew stains, it helps to understand exactly what mildew is. Mildew is a type of mold or fungus that grows on damp surfaces. It starts off as gray or white fuzzy spots but turns into brown or yellow stains as it grows.
Mildew loves dark, damp areas like clothes hampers, washing machines, and closets. If clothes stay wet for too long before drying or aren’t fully dried, mildew can start to grow. The discoloration and musty smell are due to mildew spores spreading across the fabric.
Check Care Label Instructions
When tackling mildew stains, always check the care label on your clothing first. Some fabrics, dyes, and treatments are sensitive to bleaches or stain removers. Using the wrong cleaning method can ruin the garment or set the stain.
Care labels indicate if the item is machine washable or needs special cleaning. Follow any warnings, especially related to bleach or heat. When in doubt, start with the gentlest stain removal method possible. You can always try something stronger if needed.
Act Quickly for Fresh Stains
It’s much easier to remove mildew stains when they are fresh. Long-set stains soak deeper into fabrics and become harder to lift. When you first notice light mildew spotting on an item, act quickly.
Start by brushing off any visible mildew fuzzies on the surface of the fabric. Avoid rubbing the stain at this point, which can drive spores further into the fibers. Move onto a cleaning solution next while the stain is still fresh.
Pre-treat Light Mildew Stains
For light mildew stains that you catch early, pre-treat the area before laundering as usual. This helps lift stains without the need for intensive cleaning methods that could damage fabrics.
One easy pre-treatment is lemon juice or white vinegar. Apply either to the affected area and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour before washing. The natural acids help dissolve and lift away light staining.
For tougher light stains, make a paste with equal parts baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and dish soap. Carefully dab the paste onto stains without rubbing it around too much. Let sit for at least an hour before washing as normal.
Launder with Hot Water and Bleach
Once you’ve pre-treated any light stains, laundering the item with hot water and bleach often removes any remaining mildew discoloration or smell. Check that the fabric, dyes, and care label allow bleach first.
Add an oxygen-based bleach like OxicleanTM or Clorox® Oxygen ActionTM along with detergent to wash water. Soak the clothing anywhere from 4 hours up to overnight before washing on the hottest setting allowed. This gives the bleach time to penetrate and lift stains.
Repeat washing cycles as many times as needed to remove all traces of discoloration and odor. Avoid overloading the washing machine, which can prevent proper agitation needed to remove stains.
Lemon Juice or White Vinegar Soaks
For delicate fabrics that don’t allow bleach, try soaking stains in lemon juice or white vinegar instead. The natural acidity helps dissolve staining without harsh chemicals.
Fill a bucket or sink with very hot water and add approx. 1-2 cups of lemon juice or white vinegar. For extra stain fighting power, also add some salt and liquid dish soap.
Submerge stained clothing and let soak anywhere from 30 minutes up to a few hours, depending on the severity of staining. For strong odors, you may need to soak overnight. Afterward, drain and rinse well.
Hang in Sunlight
If any discoloration remains after cleaning stains, take advantage of nature’s bleaching powers. Sunlight naturally brightens fabrics and lifts stains. The UV rays and heat work to break down staining residue.
Hang pre-treated clothing outside in direct sunlight. Flip periodically so both sides get evenly exposed. Leave for at least 6-8 hours for best results. If possible, repeat for a few days until all signs of the mildew stain disappear.
When to Discard Clothing
Despite your best efforts, badly mildewed clothes sometimes reach a point where stains and odors cannot be reversed. Know when to call it quits and discard heavily stained items.
Inspect closely after repeated wash and rinse cycles. If you still notice intense, set-in staining or permanent grayish discoloration, the mildew likely reached too deep within fabric fibers to completely remove.
Try one last extra strength bleach soak. If that fails and strong mildew odors linger, it’s best to throw out the clothing. At this point, that pervasive musty smell will never fully go away.
Preventing Future Mildew Growth
Removing existing mildew stains is challenging enough without continually fighting re-appearing spots. Take steps to prevent mildew growth so stains never form in the first place.
The key is keeping fabrics completely dry. Always check for damp spots before storing clothing. Don’t leave wet laundry bunched up for long periods before washing or drying. Make sure clothing gets fully dry in both washer and dryer cycles.
Store off-season clothing clean, dry, and well aerated. Add cedar blocks or sachets to storage bins to repel mildew spores. Check periodically for musty smells that indicate mildew growth.
With some persistence and the right stain removal methods, you can conquer stubborn mildew discoloration. Stop stains before they spread by acting at the first hint of fuzziness or discoloration. Avoid future issues by taking steps to keep all clothing completely dry and mildew-free.
References
American Cleaning Institute. “How to Remove Mildew Stains.” American Cleaning Institute, https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/how-remove-mildew-stains. Accessed 15 Jan 2023.
Michelson, Alyssa. “How to Remove Mildew Smell from Clothes.” The Spruce, Dotdash Meredith, 9 Nov 2022, https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-remove-mildew-smell-from-clothes-2146688. Accessed 15 Jan 2023.
The Clorox Company. “How to Remove Mildew Stains from Fabric.” Clorox®, https://www.clorox.com/learn/removing-mildew-stains/. Accessed 15 Jan 2023.
Whiting, David. “How to Effectively Remove Mildew From Fabric.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 12 Jan 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/how-to-effectively-remove-mildew-from-fabric/2022/01/07/0a1d96b2-6f4f-11ec-9cf5-ec6b5c47bace_story.html. Accessed 15 Jan 2023.
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.