How to Remove Mold Smell From Clothes
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Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Remove Mold Smell From Clothes
Run a hot wash cycle with 1 cup of white vinegar added to the rinse cycle, then rewash with your regular detergent plus Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (about $4). If the smell persists, add 1/2 cup of OxiClean Odor Blasters (about $13) to the wash. Dry in direct sunlight if possible. UV light is a natural mold killer and the sun will finish what the wash started.
For severe cases, skip straight to the full step-by-step below. For a quick fix on a single item, soak in a sink with hot water and 1 cup white vinegar for 30 minutes, then wash on hot with an extra rinse.
What You Will Need
Household Staples
- White distilled vinegar (5% acidity) – breaks down mold residue and neutralizes odors. Cost is about $3 per gallon at any grocery store. Look for standard white vinegar, not cleaning vinegar which can be stronger and may damage fabrics.
- Baking soda – absorbs moisture and acts as a gentle abrasive and deodorizer during presoak. A standard 1 lb box costs under $1.
- Borax (sodium borate) – a natural laundry booster that helps remove mold spores and odors. Harris Borax Powder costs about $12 for a 1.5 lb box (4.6 stars, 3,700+ reviews on Amazon).
Laundry Boosters and Additives
- Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz, about $4 with coupon) – sodium carbonate lifts soils and neutralizes odors without added fragrances. Buy on Amazon.
- OxiClean Odor Blasters (5 lb powder, about $13) – oxygen chemistry breaks down organic residues that feed mold and mildew. Color safe and safe for most washable fabrics. Buy on Amazon.
- Lysol Laundry Sanitizer (90 oz, about $13) – kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria in the rinse cycle. Rated 4.8 stars. Buy on Amazon.
- EC3 Laundry Additive ($23 from Micro Balance Health Products, 32 oz) – plant-based formula designed specifically to rinse mold spores from fabrics. Sold direct from the manufacturer and widely recommended in mold illness communities.
Pretreatment for Visible Mold Stains
- RMR-86 Instant Mold Stain Remover (32 oz spray, about $12) – 4.4 stars with over 66,000 reviews on Amazon. Use only on colorfast, washable fabrics before a full wash cycle. Buy on Amazon.
- Concrobium Mold Control (32 oz spray, about $12) – EPA registered (82552-3), bleach-free, no VOCs. Safe for pretreating mold spots on durable fabrics. Buy on Amazon.
PPE and Tools
- Nitrile or rubber gloves to protect your skin from mold and cleaning agents
- N95 mask (recommended if handling dry moldy clothes with visible spores)
- Large bucket or plastic tub for presoaking (a 5-gallon bucket works well for bulky items)
- Hot water source (140F max for most fabrics, check care labels)
- Clothesline or drying rack for sun drying
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Inspect and Sort
Check each item for visible mold spots or discoloration. Separate badly affected items from lightly affected ones; they need different treatment intensity. Check fabric care labels: hot water works best for cotton and polyester, but some synthetics and delicates require warm or cold water. Do not mix moldy clothes with clean laundry. Spores transfer easily in the wash drum and can contaminate an entire load.
Shake dry moldy clothes outdoors to remove loose spores. Do this away from your house, air intakes, and any laundry that is already dry. If the clothes are heavily moldy, wear an N95 mask and gloves. Bag heavily affected items separately to avoid spreading spores to other fabrics.
Step 2: Presoak in Vinegar Solution
Fill a large bucket or your washing machine drum with hot water. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar per gallon of water. Submerge the clothes completely and let them soak for 30 minutes. For heavy smells that have set in over weeks or months, extend the soak to 1 hour.
The acetic acid in vinegar (about 5% concentration) breaks down the alkaline residues mold leaves behind and shifts fabric pH to a range that inhibits fungal regrowth. Vinegar is safe for most washable fabrics including cotton, polyester, nylon, polyester blends, and linen. Do not use vinegar on silk or wool; the acid can damage protein-based fibers. Use the borax method described below for delicate fabrics instead.
After the soak, drain the vinegar water completely. Do not add detergent yet. Let the clothes drain fully before moving to the wash cycle. If the water was heavily discolored after the soak, repeat this step once more before moving on.
Step 3: Wash With a Laundry Booster
Run a hot wash cycle (the hottest temperature your fabric allows) with your regular liquid or powder detergent. Add one of these boosters directly to the drum before starting the cycle:
| Product | Amount per Load | Best For | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda | 1/2 cup | General odor removal, boosting detergent | $4 |
| OxiClean Odor Blasters | 1 scoop | Stubborn organic residues, set-in smells | $13 |
| Harris Borax | 1/2 cup | Spore removal, heavy soils | $12 |
| Baking soda | 1/2 cup | Light odors, sensitive skin | Under $1 |
For the best result, combine 1/2 cup washing soda with your regular detergent and set the machine to an extra rinse cycle. The extra rinse helps flush out loosened mold residue and prevents redeposition onto fabrics. If you have a front-loading washer, add the booster directly to the drum, not the detergent drawer, to ensure it dissolves fully.
Step 4: Sanitize the Rinse Cycle
If you have Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, add it to the rinse compartment per the bottle directions. A standard dose is 2 capfuls for a regular load. It kills 99.9% of bacteria that cause lingering odors. Unlike some sanitizers, Lysol Laundry Sanitizer works in cold water, so it is safe for fabrics that cannot tolerate high heat. It comes in several scents including Crisp Linen and Free & Clear for sensitive skin.
Alternatively, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. The vinegar rinse neutralizes any remaining alkaline residues and leaves clothes soft without a residual vinegar smell. The scent dissipates completely during the spin cycle and drying. This method is also about one-tenth the cost of commercial laundry sanitizers.
Step 5: Dry Thoroughly in Sunlight
Do not put clothes in the dryer until you are sure the mold smell is completely gone. Heat from the dryer can bake the odor into fibers permanently, especially in synthetics like polyester and nylon where heat-set odors are notoriously difficult to reverse.
Air dry outdoors in direct sunlight whenever the weather permits. UV light is a natural fungicide that kills remaining mold spores and bleaches out residual stains. Even 30 minutes of strong sunlight significantly reduces microbial load. If outdoor drying is not possible, use a well-ventilated room with a fan and a dehumidifier running. Aim for completely dry within 2 to 3 hours.
Check each item individually by sniffing the armpits, collars, cuffs, and any thick seams. These areas trap moisture longest and hold odor most stubbornly. If any trace of musty smell remains, repeat from Step 2 before drying. Once clothes pass the sniff test, you can finish them in the dryer on medium heat or return to the line for another hour.
Tips for Stubborn Cases
The Extended Soak Method
For clothes that sat in a basement or were stored damp for weeks, a single wash may not cut it. Fill a tub with hot water, 1 cup of baking soda, 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup of laundry detergent. Soak for 4 to 8 hours or overnight. Drain and run a normal hot wash cycle with an extra rinse. This triple-combination soak removes deep-set musty smells from towels, bedding, and heavy fabrics better than any single product alone.
Enzyme Cleaner for Organic Mold
The EC3 Laundry Additive uses plant-based enzymes and surfactants to break down mold spore residue at a molecular level. Add the full 4 oz to the rinse cycle of a hot wash. Many users in toxic mold exposure communities report that EC3 works where standard detergents fail, especially on clothes stored in basements or after flooding. It is available directly from Micro Balance Health Products for about $23 per 32 oz bottle.
The OxiClean Double Wash
For athletic gear, towels, and linens with persistent mildew smells, wash once with OxiClean Odor Blasters and hot water, then rewash with regular detergent plus washing soda. Two back-to-back hot washes with oxygen bleach in the first and alkaline booster in the second strip most organic buildup. This method is particularly effective for gym clothes that mildew in the laundry basket between workouts.
Dishwasher Pod Hack for Small Items
For a single musty towel or a few items, fill a sink with hot water and drop in one dishwasher pod. Dishwasher pods contain both enzymes and oxygen bleach designed to break down organic residue. Soak for 1 hour, then rinse thoroughly and wash normally. Do not use this method for silk, wool, or other delicates. It is best for cotton and polyester blends.
What NOT to Do
Do Not Use Bleach on Moldy Fabric
Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) can set mold stains permanently on cotton and other natural fibers. The chlorine reacts with mold proteins and can yellow or discolor the fabric. Bleach also weakens cellulose fibers over time, leading to holes and thinning. Stick to oxygen bleach products like OxiClean or use vinegar for stain removal and odor elimination.
Do Not Machine Dry With the Smell Still Present
Heat from the dryer bakes mold odor into synthetic and natural fibers. Once heat-set, the smell is extremely difficult to remove, sometimes impossible. Always verify the smell is completely gone before using the dryer. If in doubt, air dry and recheck.
Do Not Mix Vinegar and Bleach
Mixing these two creates toxic chlorine gas, which can cause serious respiratory injury and even be fatal in enclosed spaces. If you use vinegar in the presoak, do not add bleach to the same wash cycle. Run a full rinse cycle between any vinegar and bleach steps. Better yet, skip bleach entirely for moldy clothes and use oxygen bleach instead.
Do Not Use Fabric Softener
Fabric softener coats fibers with a waxy layer that traps moisture and mold spores below the surface. This creates a breeding ground for future mold growth and makes subsequent odor removal much harder. Skip the softener on any load treated for mold. If you want softness, use a half cup of vinegar in the rinse instead.
Do Not Store Damp Clothes
Even slightly damp clothes stored in a dark closet or drawer will grow mold within 48 hours. Make sure items are 100% dry before folding or storing. Test by holding the fabric against your cheek or inner wrist; if it feels cool or damp, it is not ready. When in doubt, give it another 30 minutes of drying time.
Prevention
Dry Laundry Completely Before Storing
Never put clothes away that feel cool or damp to the touch. An extra 10 minutes in the dryer or an hour on the line is cheap insurance against mold growth. Use wool dryer balls to speed drying and reduce static without chemical softeners.
Leave the Washing Machine Door Open
Front-loading washing machines trap water behind the rubber door gasket. Leave the door ajar between loads to let the drum dry completely. Run a washing machine cleaner (such as Affresh) once per month if you notice musty smells between loads. Wipe the rubber gasket dry with a towel after each use to prevent black mold growth in the seal.
Add a Rinse Booster to Every Load
A tablespoon of washing soda or a quarter cup of white vinegar in every load, even when clothes smell fine, maintains a slightly alkaline or acidic rinse that prevents mold spores from settling into fabric fibers. This small daily habit pays off by keeping towels and gym clothes fresh longer.
Address the Source of Moisture
If your clothes keep coming out musty, the problem may be your washing machine, not the clothes. Check the rubber door seal, the detergent drawer, and the drain pump filter for hidden mold colonies. Clean these areas with white vinegar or Concrobium spray every few months. Also check your laundry basket and hamper for mildew growth; plastic and fabric hampers can harbor mold in seams and crevices.
Sun-Dry Outdoor Fabrics
For bath towels, gym clothes, and bedding, make sun drying a habit. UV exposure kills mold and bacteria that survive the wash cycle and prevents odors from returning. Even 30 minutes of direct sunlight significantly reduces microbial load on fabric. Line drying also saves energy and extends the life of elastic fibers in athletic wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does vinegar really remove mold smell from clothes?
Yes. White vinegar contains acetic acid at about 5% concentration, which breaks down the alkaline residues produced by mold and mildew. It also shifts fabric pH to a level that discourages regrowth. A 30 to 60 minute vinegar soak followed by a hot wash removes most mild to moderate mold smells. For severe cases, combine vinegar with a laundry booster like washing soda or OxiClean for a more aggressive treatment.
Can I use bleach to remove mold smell from colored clothes?
No. Bleach can discolor or weaken colored fabrics and may set mold stains permanently. For colored clothes, use white vinegar, OxiClean Odor Blasters (color-safe oxygen bleach), or a laundry sanitizer like Lysol Laundry Sanitizer instead. These alternatives are color-safe and effective against mold odors without damaging fabric dyes.
How long does it take to get mold smell out of clothes?
One hot wash cycle with a vinegar presoak and a laundry booster (washing soda or OxiClean) usually removes mild to moderate mold smells. Expect about 2 to 3 hours total including soak time. For severe cases where clothes were stored damp for weeks, it may take 2 to 3 back-to-back washes with overnight soaking. Do not expect a single cold water wash to fix a deep musty smell.
Will the dryer kill mold on clothes?
High heat from a dryer can kill mold spores, but it will also bake the odor into the fabric, making it much harder to remove. The organic compounds that cause the musty smell become heat-set into synthetic and natural fibers. Always wash out the mold and odor first, then dry. If the smell persists after washing, repeat the wash cycle. Do not use the dryer as a shortcut to kill mold.
What is the best product to remove mold smell from clothes?
The best combination for most people is white vinegar for the presoak plus a laundry booster like Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda or OxiClean Odor Blasters for the wash cycle. For persistent mold issues, the EC3 Laundry Additive is specifically formulated to rinse mold spores from fabric and is widely cited in mold remediation communities. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer is an excellent option for the rinse cycle when you want to kill bacteria that contribute to lingering smells.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice; consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
