Mildew Removal

Updated on March 13, 2008
L.J. asks from Irving, TX
6 answers

Help!!! One of our massive fish tanks spung a leak and my husband used almost every towel we own to get the water out of the carpet. Then, he put them in the dryer together instead of washing and they not only did not dry they mildewed. Now no matter how much I wash them, the smell won't come out. Good quality towels are expensive and we can't afford to replace all at once. Anyone know a way to get the smell out?

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

I am a huge fan of Oxyclean. It gets out pretty much anything organic, and sometimes other stuff. I've dealt with exactly what you've got right now. The trick is, you've gotta use a lot, and it's gotta soak for a few hours, at least. How many towels? Can they fit in one load? If you've got a front-loader you can't soak properly right in the washer, but if you've got a top-loader you can fill it up with really hot water and a quarter of a bucket of Oxyclean. (For really bad or dried-in stains I use five scoops in my three gallon bucket, so judge accordingly for your washer.) Agitate for a bit to get it to dissolve and then add the towels and agitate for a few more minutes. LET IT SOAK for at least three hours, but preferably overnight. Then run the rest of the cycle through and wash again with your detergent and fabric softener. I'm terrible about forgetting there's laundry in the washer, and have had it get so bad that there's been mildew a few times. I also had a sheet that we put on my daughter's car window during an ice storm that got left outside and actually molded. It was so gross but it was part of a set. Oxyclean fixed it right up. For the last five years I've had a front-loader, so I can't do this kind of a soak. For smaller loads I have two sizes of soak bucket, but for a whole load of laundry I've had to soak in the bathtub! It's worth it, though, because otherwise I would have had to throw a few things out.

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A.I.

answers from Dallas on

try washing them in some vinegar water and then just wash them normally.

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J.S.

answers from Dallas on

Like Deana O, I also use Sol-U-Mel, and the Solugard!! I use it on a LOT of stuff around our house!! You can email me at ____@____.com if you want to know how to get some. In the meantime, I would hang out the towels in the sunshine to help with the mildew a little bit....

~J.~
Healthy Families Happy Moms
www.WorkAtHomeUnited.com/hfhm
www.LiveTotalWellness.com/hfhm
____@____.com

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N.R.

answers from Dallas on

I have had a similar problem. Unless you are looking for a natural approach, detergent with color safe bleach worked for me. Good luck!

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D.O.

answers from Dallas on

Something very similar has happened to me. I use a bit of Solumel in the wash & it gets the stink out every time!

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T.W.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Run your washer full of hot water. Add 2 to 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Soak for 2 hours. Then add detergent and wash as usual. I've never had this problem before, but I do know that vinegar kills mold/mildew and is a natural oder remover. Good Luck!!!

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