How to get mold out of forgotten laundry
Moldy clothes left forgotten in the washing machine can usually be safely salvaged rather than thrown away, provided the spores are thoroughly killed and washed out. However, people worry that standard rewashing will not remove the health risks or the stubborn black stains, leaving them unsure whether to toss the garments or how to check the washing machine drum for hidden spores.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
How to get mold out of forgotten laundry
- 1Rewashing the clothes in the hottest water suitable for the fabric and using vinegar instead of fabric softener.Did this help you?
- 2Rewashing and drying the clothes normallyDid this help you?
- 3Soak and wash using an enzyme cleaner and hydrogen peroxideDid this help you?
- 4Take photos of the items and have someone replicate themDid this help you?
- 5Take the items to a professional dry cleaner specializing in delicate and vintage fabrics or mail-order specialistsDid this help you?
- 6rubbing alcoholDid this help you?
- 7vinegar mixed with dish soapDid this help you?
- 8applying a thick paste of OxiClean and waterDid this help you?
- 9washing in the machine multiple timesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Is there any way I can salvage them at all? They are very important to us.”source ↗
“I am concerned about the health effects of mold exposure and also about not being able to fully remove the mold so I was wondering if I should just throw them out or if I can actually fully clean them?”source ↗
“I washed it and forgot about it for weeks and found it today. I didn’t notice the mold/stains before until after I rewashed and dried it today, and noticed all these moldy black spots where he typically sweats. Can I save these or should I sadly just toss them? Is the drum spinner for the washing machine going to have mold spores in it too?”source ↗
“after it dried, I noticed these tiny black dot-like stains scattered all over the garment”source ↗
“I tried rubbing alcohol, dish soap, a bit of vinegar mixed with dish soap, and finally applied a thick paste of OxiClean and water locally on one of them.”source ↗
“With all these methods, the spots faded a bit, but still didn't come out.”source ↗
“Is there any chance this is mold?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
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- 9How to clean a really mouldy rental shower and fix the caulk