| How to Remove Musty Smell from Clothes Aug 12th 2012, 22:00 If your clothes are musty, chances are they are infested with spores of a mold. Want to get the musty smell out? Sometimes it can't be done, but try this before giving up. - Kill the mold by soaking the clothes overnight in a solution such as one of the following:
- One cup ammonia to one gallon warm water; or
- One cup of white vinegar to one gallon warm water; or
- One cup of baking soda to one gallon warm water.
- Soak overnight.
- Wash normally with regular detergent and hang to dry on a sunny day.
- If the above methods do not work, or if you have something that cannot be soaked (like a jacket that must be dry cleaned), you may need to try using chlorine dioxide to kill the mold spores. This is used on boats to control musty odors, and in libraries to control outbreaks of mildew. There are several convenient sources of small amounts of chlorine dioxide that are sold for use in boats and closets. The consumer products with chlorine dioxide for this purpose are very difficult to find unless you know what they are called, so here are the names of two different products that you can try from different manufacturers:
- One product that can be used is called Starbrite M-D-G Mildew Odor Control Bags.
- Another product that is nearly identical but comes in larger quantities is manufactured and available from Quip Labs. That product is called MB DeoTrex-30 Sachets. Their site also has good information about chlorine dioxide as a deodorant biocide.
- Products such as Tide with Febreze or Oxyclean may do the trick for you.
- There is a product called "Purewasher" that is only sold on the internet that will remove odor from your machine and your clothing; they even have a guarantee. It works very well.
- You can use a dryer sheet in the clothes dryer, in the hopes that the heat will release the fragrance, which will then get into the clothes. However, this will only help to cover the smell and will probably not eliminate your problem.
- Here is yet another "chemical free" method discovered to get rid of the musty/moldy smell. Boil a pot of water (just enough water to fully soak the fabric through until it can no longer absorb anymore water). Pour boiling water on fabric (obviously do this in a sink and wear protective gloves and goggles if necessary), or just put clothing in the pot. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then wring out the hot water right away. Immediately rinse a few times with cold water. Note that this has only been tried this on towels and rags that are constantly exposed to water, and thus more likely to build up mildew. Do not try this on delicate fabrics, unless you know the fabric can handle hot wash. This is pretty much the same as washing laundry in a hot load, but temperatures of a hot load can vary, and you don't want to waste too much water/energy just to treat one piece of clothing. Also, you avoid contaminating other clothing with the mildew.
- Another method is to use your regular detergent, but add a 1/4 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team, most popular brand). Then, if you machine has a 2nd rinse option use it, adding in about 1/4- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar. Line dry outside in the sun if possible
- If you have a front-loading washing machine, look at the rubber ring that seals the door. If the bottom part, where the water drains, looks moldy; then that may be contributing to your problems. Try cleaning that with a bleach solution, or, in extreme cases, it is possible to replace the rubber ring without having to buy a new washer. When the washer is not in use, keep the door ajar (a little open). This will help it dry and prevent mold from growing.
Edit Warnings - If the above will not work, you might try soaking overnight in a solution of bleach if you don't mind lightening the color of the garment significantly. Just be careful not to mix the bleach with ammonia, as this mixture will result in a noxious gas which will harm those who breathe it.
- Chlorine dioxide is an irritant. If you are using chlorine dioxide, air the room out before occupying it. Or keep the door closed if you are deodorizing a closet.
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