Mold is a type of fungus that grows on almost any surface. It's seen as a common household problem, and many people are curious about how best to remove it. With laundry being such an important part of our lives, we wanted to know: does laundry kill mold spores?
Mold spores are microscopic and not easily killed by laundry detergent. The best way to remove mold and mildew from clothes is by using a cold water cycle, which will remove more of the stains than hot water.
Laundry removes most of the mold and mildew from clothes.
To remove mold from clothes, first hand wash them in warm water with detergent. Then dry them in a dryer on low heat or hang them outside to air-dry overnight. If you're not sure if a fabric is safe to wash, test it with an inconspicuous piece first (like underarms or inside collars). If it comes out okay, then go ahead and wash everything else!
You can also use vinegar as an alternative to laundry detergent because it's much cheaper than buying new clothes all the time--just add 1 cup of white vinegar per load instead of regular detergent.
Bleach is not effective at killing mold spores. Bleach is a disinfectant, which means it kills bacteria. But it's not going to do anything for your mold problem.
To remove stains from clothing, fabric and carpets:
Mold spores are very light and exist in the air everywhere. They're not dangerous to breathe in, but they can cause problems if they are ingested.
Mold spores have been shown to be safe for people with healthy immune systems and do not pose an immediate threat to your health or well-being as long as you don't eat them or touch them directly on your skin (they can irritate eyes).
Laundry does not remove mold spores from the environment. It only removes them from clothing and other fabrics. If you have visible mold on your walls, laundry won't help with that at all!
Mold spores are very light, so they exist in the air everywhere--and they're not easy to kill. You might think of laundry as an effective way to kill or remove mold because it can be done at home on a budget; however, even if you wash everything on high heat (which is what most people do), it will still only kill some spores while others may remain alive and well until they come into contact with another surface such as fabric or paper products again where they can grow into colonies again over time if conditions are right (i.e., moisture).
Let's start by addressing a common misconception: Laundry doesn't actually kill mold spores. Mold spores are everywhere, and they're only harmful if they're allowed to grow into colonies on surfaces like your clothes or in the air around you. Washing your clothes in hot water will kill any existing mold spores on them, but unless you do something else (like hang them outside), those dead spores aren't going anywhere.
That's why it's important not to worry about whether your laundry will become infected with mold or mildew--the washing process itself doesn't pose much risk at all!
The only way to ensure your clothes don't get contaminated with mold or mildew is to wash them in hot water, which kills mold spores. Hot water is hotter than you think: It can reach temperatures between 130 degrees F and 140 degrees F depending on your washing machine brand and model. Hotter temperatures are recommended for cleaning dishes and countertops because they kill more germs than cold water does--but these aren't the only places where hot tap water can come in handy! If you've got a dirty floor, give it a good mopping with hot tap water instead of soap-filled liquid detergents or other cleaners that may leave behind residue (and make sure not to forget about those baseboards).
You may have heard that laundry kills mold and mildew. This is not entirely true, but it does remove spores from clothing.
Laundry does not kill mold spores in the air, nor does it prevent them from growing on your clothes after you've washed them.
If you have mold or mildew on your clothes, it's important to remove it as soon as possible. Laundry is a great way to get rid of these spores from your clothing and keep them out of the environment. If you want to kill all the mold in your home or business, then consider using bleach or other disinfectants instead of doing laundry alone!