Mildew Out of Clothes and Outdoor Cushions: Step-by-Step Fixes

Mildew comes out of most clothes with a soak in white vinegar and water, then a wash in the warmest water the care label allows, followed by drying in full sun. Outdoor cushions respond to a scrub with mild dish soap and water, a thorough rinse and a complete dry. Fresh mildew is far easier to remove than mildew that has sat for weeks, and an old stain may fade without ever disappearing completely.

What is mildew, and why does it grow on fabric?

Mildew is a surface mold that grows on damp fabric and leaves a musty smell and gray, white, green or black spots. It needs moisture, a food source such as cotton, dirt or body oils, and still air. Damp towels left in a hamper, gym clothes in a bag, a load left in the washer overnight and cushions that stay wet after rain all provide those conditions.

Because the cause is moisture, the fix has two parts: kill and wash out the growth, then dry the item completely. Skipping the second part is the usual reason the smell returns.

How do you get mildew out of clothes?

Start by taking the item outside and shaking or brushing off loose growth, away from other laundry and from the house. Wear gloves and a dust mask if you are sensitive to mold. Then work through these steps, stopping when the stain and smell are gone:

1. Check the care label. It sets the highest water temperature and says whether bleach is allowed.
2. Pre-soak in vinegar. Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of white vinegar into about 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water and soak the item for 30 minutes to an hour.
3. Wash. Run a normal cycle with regular detergent in the hottest water the label permits. For colorfast fabrics, add oxygen bleach (sodium percarbonate) according to the package directions.
4. Check before drying. If any spots or odor remain, wash again. Heat from a dryer can set a stain, so do not machine dry until it is gone.
5. Dry fully. Hang the item in direct sunlight if possible, or dry it on a setting the label allows.

For white cotton and other items whose labels allow chlorine bleach, a bleach wash can remove stubborn spots. Use only the amount on the bottle for the load size. Never combine chlorine bleach with vinegar, ammonia or any other cleaner, because mixing can release toxic gas. If you used vinegar in a soak, rinse the item well before any bleach step, and do the two steps in separate washes.

Whites that have picked up other marks along the way may also need the approach in this guide to stain removal on white clothes.

How do you clean mildew off outdoor cushions?

Outdoor cushions are cleaned by brushing off the growth, scrubbing with warm soapy water, rinsing and letting them dry completely in the sun. Do this on a dry day and wear gloves, a mask and eye protection when brushing, since the spores become airborne.

1. Brush and vacuum. Use a soft brush outdoors, then a vacuum with a brush attachment to remove loose debris.
2. Mix a mild solution. Stir about 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of mild dish soap into 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water.
3. Scrub. Work the solution into the fabric with a soft brush, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes on stained areas.
4. Rinse. Hose the cushion until the water runs clear and no suds remain.
5. Dry. Stand the cushion on its edge in the sun and turn it periodically. Foam inside holds water for a long time, so give it a full day or more, and do not store it until it feels dry all the way through.

Check the manufacturer’s care tag before using anything stronger. Some outdoor fabrics tolerate a diluted bleach solution and some do not, and bleach can fade colors or weaken stitching. If the tag allows it, follow its dilution and contact time exactly, rinse thoroughly and never mix it with another product. Many cushions have removable covers that can be machine washed on a gentle cycle, and the care tag says which temperature and drying method are safe.

When should you throw the item away?

Discard an item when mold has soaked deep into thick padding, when the smell survives two or three careful washes, or when the fabric has started to rot or tear. Foam cores that stayed wet for a long time are hard to clean from the outside. If the growth covers a large area of a mattress, furniture or a damp room, the problem is bigger than laundry; the EPA has guidance on mold in the home, and the site’s mold cleanup calculator can help you size up the cleanup.

People with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system should consider having someone else handle heavily moldy items.

How do you stop mildew from coming back?

Keep fabric dry and moving air around it. These habits address the conditions mildew needs:

• Move washed loads to the dryer or a line promptly rather than leaving them in the drum.
• Let towels and gym clothes dry before they go into a hamper or bag.
• Leave the washer door or lid open between loads so the drum can dry.
• Do not use more detergent than the label calls for, since residue feeds growth.
• Store cushions only when completely dry, in a ventilated container, and stand them up after rain so water drains rather than pooling.
• Use a cover or bring cushions inside during long wet spells.

Quick answers

Does vinegar kill mildew on clothes?

White vinegar helps loosen mildew and reduce its smell, and it is widely used as a pre-soak. It is not an official disinfectant, so a hot wash and full drying still do the main work.

Can you use baking soda on mildew?

Baking soda is a mild deodorizer and can be added to a wash load for odor. It is gentler than bleach and works best on light mildew that was caught early.

Is it safe to wear clothes after the mildew smell is gone?

If the item is clean, dry and no longer smells, it can be worn. A lingering musty odor means moisture or growth remains, so repeat the wash and dry step. Anyone who reacts to mold should skip items that still smell.

Why do my clothes smell musty right after washing?

The usual cause is a load that stayed damp too long or a washer drum that never fully dries. Prompt drying and an open washer door between loads address both.