Note to housewives - how to remove mold from clothes at home

A warm room, high air humidity, poor ventilation - three reasons why an unwanted guest can settle in a closet with clothes - mold.

A grayish coating on your favorite things and a specific smell are clear signs of fungus.

Don't be upset and think that things are hopelessly damaged. There are many effective ways to get rid of mold on clothes without damaging the fabric.

Is it possible to remove it using traditional methods?

Before using special chemicals, You can try simple and affordable options for getting rid of fungus:

• laundry soap (brown);
• lemon juice;
• turpentine;
• ammonia alcohol;
• hydrogen peroxide (peroxide).

The successful experience of many housewives has proven the effectiveness of these methods.

Laundry soap

A familiar, nondescript piece of brown soap will help in the fight against mold. It contains alkali, which has a detrimental effect on fungal spores.

Four simple steps to achieve your goal:

• immerse the soap in warm water for a few seconds;
• thoroughly rub the mold-contaminated part of the clothing with it;
• soak clothes in hot water for one hour;
• wash, air dry.

Lemon juice

Lemon can be found in every housewife's refrigerator.In addition to its culinary uses, this fruit is also useful in saving clothes from mold.

Several manipulations will achieve the desired result:

• squeeze lemon juice onto the fungus-infected area of ​​clothing;
• sprinkle with salt and leave for fifteen minutes;
• remove the salt and put the item in the wash;
• dry well.

Turpentine

A transparent liquid with a rich aroma, obtained from the resin of coniferous trees, has an antifungal effect.

For effective removal you should:

• moisten a sponge with turpentine;
• gently rub the part of the clothing where the fungus is located;
• sprinkle the area with cosmetic white clay or baby powder;
• cover with a sheet of paper and iron with a hot iron for 2 minutes;
• remove the remaining clay (powder), wash the item.

Ammonia

A ten percent aqueous solution of ammonia (ammonia) is a remedy that is useful not only for medical purposes, but also for removing mold.

To successfully get rid of fungus you need:

• Dissolve one tablespoon of ammonia in a liter of water;
• moisten the cloth with fungal stains and leave for half an hour;
• wash and dry thoroughly.

Hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide (hydrogen peroxide) has a wide range of uses. It has proven itself well as a means for removing fungal stains. Unlike chlorine-containing bleaches, peroxide is absolutely harmless to humans.

In the fight against mold, this solution is used as follows:

• Pour three tablespoons of 3% peroxide into a glass of water.
• Apply this solution to the desired parts of clothing.
• Leave for 15 minutes.
• Send the item for washing.

For more information about folk remedies for fighting mold on clothes, watch the video:

How to remove with chemicals?

If traditional methods do not cope with mold colonies, household chemicals become a panacea.

Chemical agents are produced in the form of:

• bleaches;
• washing powders;
• stain removers.

Bleaches

Bleach is widely used not only for its main purpose, but also to remove fungal stains on clothes.

They are divided into:

• Oxygen-containing (OXY, “BOS”, Oxygen).
• Chlorine-containing substances (“Belizna”, ACE, “Dichlor”).

These products are used strictly in accordance with the instructions indicated on the packaging.

Bleaches containing oxygen have an antibacterial effect, work without prolonged soaking and boiling. Suitable for both white and colored clothing. They work best with synthetic fabrics.

Chlorine-containing bleaches effectively remove mold stains even in cold water, but with frequent use they have a negative effect on the structure of the fabric, leading to premature wear.

Used for white and dull linen and cotton fabrics. When machine washing, only oxygen bleaches are used!

Laundry powders

You can successfully treat mold islands that have recently formed on clothes using laundry detergents:

• the dose of powder specified in the instructions is added to hot water;
• clothes are dipped into the solution and left for a couple of hours;
• then wash and rinse intensively.

Users highly appreciated the quality of such washing powders as:

• Ariel;
• Bimax;
• Tide.

Stain removers

Stain removers easily deal with fungus on fabric. When purchasing, you should pay attention to what material this product is intended for.

Well proven:

• Dr. Beckmann;
• "Expert";
• "Antipyatin."

Procedure:

• apply to fabric;
• withstand a certain time;
• wash.

Popular means

The top three in terms of popularity of use are:

• "White";
• Domestos;
• Vanish.

"White"

The chemical industry product “Belizna” successfully cleans large volumes of fabric affected by old fungus.

To do this, pour one tablespoon of this product into a glass of hot water and generously moisten the contaminated surfaces of the clothing.

Twenty minutes is enough for visible results. If the mold is difficult to remove, keeping it in a solution of “Belizna” at a high concentration is extended to a day.

To achieve the “sterility” effect, you can use boiling, taking into account the characteristics of the fabric.

The active component of “Whiteness” is a strong oxidizing agent, which provides excellent disinfectant and bleaching properties.

The undeniable advantages of this tool are:

• Efficiency.
• Multifunctionality.
• Affordable price (from 20 rubles per 1 liter).

There are also disadvantages:

• May cause allergic reactions in the body when used.
• It has a sharp odor that irritates the receptors.

"Domestos"

Domestos is a multifunctional product, great for cleaning and disinfecting the entire home. In addition, it can be used to expel fungus from natural materials (linen, cotton).

The procedure is as follows:

1. Dissolve two measuring caps of the product in three liters of water at room temperature;
2. put clothes there;
3. stand for 10 minutes;
4. rinse thoroughly;
5. machine wash.

The advantages of Domestos include:

• cost-effectiveness;
• speed;
• wide range of uses.

The disadvantages are:

• Toxicity.
• Specific smell.
• Aggressive reactions to colored fabrics, stickers on clothes, appliqués.

The average cost of the product is 170 rubles per 1 liter.

"Vanish"

Vanish's powerful oxygen stain remover can be safely used to remove mildew from colored clothing made from fine, delicate fabrics such as wool and silk.

Mode of application:

• Apply stain remover to the area of ​​clothing infected with fungus.
• Lightly rub the stain and leave for a few minutes, visually monitoring the process.
• Wash and dry the item well.

List of advantages of Vanish:

• Does not contain chlorine.
• Affects mold without causing changes in the structure and color of the fabric.
• Has a pleasant smell.

Flaws:

• It cleans well only recently contaminated areas; old mold stains will have to be subjected to several treatments.
• The liquid version of the stain remover has a short shelf life; the effectiveness of the product decreases over time.
• The expected advertising effect does not always correspond to the actual one.

The price range of Vanish stain removers starts from 400 rubles per 1 liter.

Criteria for the selection and use of funds

Choosing a product to eliminate mold on clothes need to consider:

• Fabric type.
• The color of the item.
• Degree of infection.
• Processing method.

Cost also plays an important role.

Mold does not like high temperatures and chemicals. Fabrics are also quite demanding in terms of methods and means of influencing them:

1. Linen and cotton clothes in white or pastel shades can be safely boiled with the addition of chlorine-containing chemical products.
2. Wool and synthetic fabrics react negatively to high temperatures, as this destroys their structure. Stain removers are used to clean them from mold.
3. Silk items It is better to clean mold with turpentine or ammonia. Stain removers may harm delicate fabrics.
4. Leather clothing It is not afraid of mechanical stress, but is sensitive to chemicals, so it is better to remove mold from it with a stiff brush and soap solution.
5. Bright things when exposed to chemical reagents, they can lose their color, so before use you should carefully study the rules for using the product and conduct a spot test of the fabric reaction on the wrong side of the clothing.
6. Fabric slightly contaminated with fungus Using regular laundry detergent can save you, but stain removers and bleaches will have to deal with the harmful substance that is firmly ingrained into the structure of the material.

Fighting unpleasant odor

An invisible but very annoying enemy is the specific smell of damp clothes.

To get rid of this odor, the following remedies will be useful:

• Vinegar 9% – dilute laundry detergent with vinegar to a creamy consistency, then wash the clothes.
• Soda – add two to three tablespoons of it to the washing powder when washing.
• Vodka – mix vodka and water in small quantities, spray on fabric, dry well in the sun.
• Borax – dissolve a tablespoon of the substance in water, add a little washing powder, and leave the clothes in this solution for a couple of hours. Then wash it.

More detailed information is provided in this article.

Prevention

You can reduce the risk of fungal stains appearing on things by following these recommendations:

• Monitor room humidity levels.
• Often leave closet doors with clothes open for ventilation.
• Do not pile things on hangers and shelves, provide air access.
• Dry clothes in direct sunlight.
• Place only dry items in the closet.

Conclusion

Compliance with preventive measures, timely response to the occurrence of mold and its prompt destruction is the key to the safety of clothing for a long time.