Life gets busy, and there’s no doubt that at one point or another, you’ve forgotten a load of laundry in the washer or in the laundry basket. These wet clothes start producing an unpleasant mildew and mould odour after a short period of time and you can end up with mould and mildew stains on your clothing. Luckily, removing them isn’t hard. Here’s what to do.
- Choose a suitable Cold Power detergent and stain remover
- Apply the Cold Power detergent to the stain
- Wash the clothing in the hottest temperature possible according to the garment label
- Check to see the stain is gone
Consider the colour of your fabric and the type of fabric before choosing a Cold Power detergent and stain remover. We recommend Cold Power Clean & Fresh, as this will not only address the stain but also help to eliminate odours. For delicate fabrics, use Lovables.
How you treat the stain is dependent on how sturdy your fabric is. For denim and cotton clothing, apply a bit of Cold Power detergent to the area, then scrub gently with a toothbrush. For your safety, do this outside so that you don’t have to worry about mould spores getting into your home. If the fabric is more delicate, apply a bit of Lovables to the stain, let it sit for a few minutes and massage it in, then soak into a mixture of cool water and more Lovables.
When washing clothing with mould and mildew stains, wash at the highest temperature possible that is safe for the fabric. This will help to kill any fungi remaining on your clothes. You can find the appropriate temperature by look at the garment label on the clothes.
After washing, look to see if the stain is gone. If it’s still there, mix together your Cold Power detergent and cool water, then soak again for 10 minutes before pre-treating and washing again.
In the case the stain is still visible and not removed after washing, check whether chlorine bleach is allowed for the clothing according to the care label instruction. If so, use some chlorine bleach by taking care according to the application instruction of the product. Finally wash your clothing in the hottest water temperature possible according to the garment label.
When removing mildew and mould stains from certain fabrics e.g. made of wool, silk, viscose or modal, avoid using chlorine bleach if possible. Bleach tends to break down this type of fabric and could reduce its lifespan. Instead, use Lovables.
Sometimes stains are harder to get out than originally thought. If you have a tough or dried stain, soak it for a couple of hours in a mixture of Cold Power detergent and cool water prior to placing in the washer.
Home remedies may somewhat help get rid of mould and mildew stains, but they can also cause other problems. Some will permanently change the colour of your shirt, while others can damage the rubber and plastic parts inside your washing machine over time. Use a Cold Power detergent and stain remover (for really tough stains) instead to prevent these problems.
Don’t let mould and mildew on your clothing get you down. Get these smelly stains out fast with Cold Power detergent.