How to Get Mildew Out of Clothes and Upholstery

Remove stains and odors in a few simple steps

How to Remove Mildew Stains and Odor

The Spruce / Alison Czinkota

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 5 - 15 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr - 2 days
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $0

Getting mildew out of clothes is difficult if you don't use the correct cleaning agents. Mildew or mold is a living, growing organism found in the air that thrives in damp, dark places. It attaches to most surfaces, including fabrics, by leaving stains, odor, and damaging fibers. It leaves pesky stains that can be remedied with store-bought detergents, standard household supplies, and washing in temperatures above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

The fungus can be easily identified as a patch of gray or white lying on the fabric's surface. It may also look like black or green spots, appearing almost "fuzzy" or slimy. The odor of mold or mildew is musty, pungent, and often putrid. Even if you can't see any spots or growth, the smell indicates that spores are growing and removal treatment is needed. Never ignore mold growth you can see or smell; it can eat away at natural fibers, damaging the fibers and leaving behind stains.

Here is the best way to remove mildew from clothes, including dry-clean-only items and fabric upholstery.

Warning

Use a dust mask like an N95 respirator to avoid inhaling the mold spores, which can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive people. Other recommended protective gear includes gloves and eye protection.

Stain type Fungus
Detergent type Heavy-duty detergent, chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach
Water temperature Hot (if possible based on the fabric)
Cycle type Varies depending on the type of fabric

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Soft bristle brush
  • N95 respirator mask
  • Cotton or plastic bag

Materials

  • Heavy-duty laundry detergent
  • Chlorine bleach (white fabric)
  • Pine oil or phenolic disinfectant (colored fabric)
  • Oxygen bleach
  • Distilled white vinegar (optional)

Instructions

How to Remove Mildew Stains and Odor From Washable Clothes

  1. Brush Away Spores Outside

    To remove mold or mildew from machine-washable clothes, take the affected items outdoors to shake or brush away the spores. By being outside, it prevents the spread of spores in the house. Remove as much of the powdery substance as possible and brush both sides of the fabric. 

    Green shirt with white mildew stains brushed off

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

  2. Spot Treat, Wash, and Disinfect

    • After brushing, each mildewed spot should be pretreated for at least 15 minutes with a heavy-duty liquid detergent (Tide or Persil contains enough enzymes to break down the stains). 
    • Wash the stained items in the hottest water recommended on the care label.
    • Add chlorine bleach to the white, 100% cotton fabric wash cycle to disinfect and kill fungal spores.
    • Use pine oil or phenolic disinfectant if the materials are synthetic or colored.

    Tip

    For persistent mildew odor, use distilled white vinegar. Vinegar is mildly acidic and breaks down the mold structure, killing it slowly. Vinegar eliminates odor but does not remove mold stains. 

    Run the smelly items in the laundry drum with 1 to 2 cups of vinegar and no laundry detergent (1 cup for a few things and 2 cups for a full load) at the hottest safe temperature for the item. Dry the items on high heat immediately after the wash cycle is done.

    Heavy-duty liquid detergent spot treating mildew stains on green shirt

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

  3. Inspect Stain

    If stains remain after disinfecting the clothes or linens, you can use oxygen bleach on all types of white and colored fabrics to remove the stains. Note: Oxygen bleach will not kill mildew spores.

    Green collared shirt checked for stains after soaking

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

  4. Soak in Oxygen Bleach Solution

    • Mix a soaking solution using oxygen bleach for persistent stains by following the package directions. Completely submerge the stained fabric and allow it to soak for at least eight hours or overnight.
    • If the stain is gone, wash as usual.
    • If it remains, mix a new solution and repeat. Removing the mold and mildew stain may take several soakings, but it should come out.
    Green shirt placed in sink and soaking in water with oxygen-based bleach solution

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

How to Remove Mildew Stains and Odors From Dry-Clean-Only Clothes

  1. Brush Away Spores Outside

    Fabrics labeled as dry clean only with mildew spores should be brushed outdoors using a soft bristle brush. If the material is napped like velvet or faux fur, brush gently where the surface should lie.

    Soft bristle brush passing over mildew spores gently on dry clean only fabric

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

  2. Prevent Spores From Spreading

    • After brushing, place the garment in a cotton or plastic bag to prevent the spores from spreading, and immediately take the garment to a professional dry cleaner. 
    • Point out and identify the stain to your cleaner.
    Garment placed in cotton bag before taking to dry cleaning

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

    Tip

    If using a home dry cleaning kit, treat any visible stains with the provided stain remover before adding the garment to the dryer bag .

How to Remove Mildew Stains and Odors From Upholstery

If mold is extensive on upholstery, remove and discard the fabric and the interior padding. You may be able to save the wooden or metal frame of the furniture piece. Otherwise, if the mildew stain is small and manageable, follow these steps:

  1. Use Anti-Mold Spray

    Apply an anti-mold spray to the area, saturating the area. Allow it to dry completely.

    Tip

    Pesky odors on upholstery can also be treated with distilled white vinegar. Put vinegar in a spray bottle, spray it generously on the upholstery spot, and air dry. Vinegar has a strong odor at first but dissipates over time.

    Furniture upholstery with mildew stains sprayed with anti-mold spray

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

  2. Spot Clean With Oxygen Bleach

    • Apply an oxygen bleach and water cleaning solution to the discolored upholstery.
    • Air dry between applications.
    • Repeat until the stains are gone.
    Dark stains on furniture upholstery soaked with oxygen bleach and water solution

    The Spruce / Ana Maria Stanciu

Additional Tips to Remove Mildew Stains and Odor

If the stain or odor does not come out after one or two times trying these steps, continue to repeat the steps. Eventually, these methods will kill and remedy mildew stains and odor. You can also try other household materials for a gentler, perhaps slower, attempt at removal.

  • Use hydrogen peroxide to kill mold: If you don't use bleach or pine oil to eradicate mold, you can also use hydrogen peroxide. It is less harsh than chlorine bleach. Hydrogen peroxide (3% to 10% solution) will kill mold and lighten stains. It has a bleaching effect but works more slowly than chlorine bleach, has no fumes, and leaves no residue. Test on an inconspicuous spot to ensure you don't discolor the material.
  • Slow down mold growth: Baking soda, borax, and rubbing alcohol are other household ingredients that you can use to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew—although they don't kill spores.
  • Prevent washing machine mold: Front-load washers can sometimes develop mold in the door seal, resulting in clothes that smell bad after being washed. Mold growth is often behind the rubber door seals or within the inner washer drum. If you have a front-load washer and your laundry has developed a moldy odor, give your washer a complete cleaning and wash it regularly.
  • Keep affected items away from others: Isolating a mold or mildew spot will be the best idea to contain the spores. Take the item outdoors to shake or brush off the spores. You don't want it to spread to the rest of your home, clothes, or fabrics.
  • Get help from a pro: If you're unsure if you can clean the mildewed clothing article on your own, consult a dry cleaning professional. If the item is silk or vintage furniture, consult a furniture cleaning professional to preserve it safely.
FAQ
  • How do you get mildew on your clothes?

    If you're getting mildew on your clothes, your laundry is damp. Mold and mildew thrive in warm, moist, dark places. Ensure your dryer is working properly, and add more time to your clothes dryer to fully dry your laundry.

  • Can you get mildew out of clothes or does it need to be thrown out?

    If the article of clothing is covered in spores and left to grow for a while, the item might not be worth saving. Some mold may never come out, and people with mold allergies should avoid the object.

  • What temperature water kills mold and mildew?

    Water that is 140 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter will kill mold and mildew.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Basic Facts About Mold and Dampness. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention

  2. How do molds affect people? U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.