Damp-for-a-year clothes!

focusnow

Hello all

For the past year we have kept loads of stuff in our storage garage and without knowing last year we had a leak, which has made loads of old clothes damp and smelling of mould (although can't see much mould). So I guess they've been damp for a year or so

Upon sorting, there are some really nice clothes which my son has now grown out of, and it would be a real shame to throw these away and I would like to bring them back to life and give them to charity or sell them at a car boot.

I don't want to stick them straight in the machine because I am worried I won't kill spores etc and they will spread. I am also concerned that I won't get rid of any dangerous unseen mould and this will affect the next person wearing them.

Is there any answer to this apart from throwing them away?

I've done a bit of research and it looks like white vinegar/bicarb good options, but now I'm worried about the dangers of mould and mildew!

Any advice greatly appreciated! Can't hang outside don't have a garden.

Poppycat

Try this

http://blackmold.awardspace.com/black-mold-clothes.html
http://moldblogger.com/how-to-remove-mold-and-the-smell-from-clothing/

Jaynne

Mould is only going to regrow if you give it the right damp conditions to grow in. You come in contact with millions of spores and mould particles every day and are none the worse for it. As I've enjoyed telling my nieces cheese is just mouldy milk after all and people pay extra for the extra mouldy variety.

The only time to worry about the above is if your immune system is compromised - either through a medical condition or if you are elderly and infirm or a baby. If they are baby clothes I would run the machine use an anti mould cleaning product in the machine.

Clean the clothes in the machine and if you are worried about it run an empty wash on the max temperature afterwards.