When one person went into their wardrobe to retrieve their favourite winter jacket, only to realise it was covered in mould, a cleaning expert shared how to get it out, rather than binning it
There’s nothing worse than storing something in what you assume is a safe place, only to retrieve it when you need it and notice that it’s absolutely covered in mould.
Whether you’ve been storing your beloved items under the bed, because that’s the only storage you have available to you, or it’s been in a wardrobe you didn’t realise was damp, it can be heartbreaking. That’s exactly what happened to one person on TikTok who pulled out their adored Carhartt cord jacket, and it was absolutely “covered in mould”. Over the top of the devastating video, they penned: “POV: You go to find your $200 (£160) winter jacket in your closet and it’s covered in mould”.
But rather than chuck it in the bin, Melissa Pateras shared how you can get it looking as good as new, with just a few steps.
Melissa said of the white stains, “Okay, that’s mould, and here’s what I would do”. She said you can start by using a “mould control spray” that’s safe to use on fabrics. Make sure you read the bottle thoroughly before spraying anything on garments, of course.
“Next, you wanna wash it on the hottest temperature that the jacket will allow”, she shared. Melissa recommended that in the wash, you add a “quarter to half a cup of Borax”, but in the UK, you can try baking soda, as Borax is banned. You’ll want to put it “directly into the drum” of your washing machine.
Then, you “want to add some white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment”, and then you should “wash it with a quality detergent”. She reiterated how important it is for the detergent to be good quality.
Melissa then shared the “general rule” for how often jackets should be washed, and she said it’s usually “as needed”; but you “should be washing it at least once a year before you put it away for the season” to hopefully ensure it’s fresh when you come back to it.
She recommended: “You want to wash it, and make sure it’s absolutely, completely dry before putting it away. You can even use a mould preventative for storing it, but make sure that it’s clean and dry to prevent mould, or moths, during storage”.
In the comments, someone penned: “I saw someone say they put a little dehumidifier in their wardrobe; apparently it’s a game changer”. Another wrote: “Also, the person needs a really good air dehumidifier. The air humidity must be really off for a long time for this to happen. Mould comes with humidity, preferably cool and unopened windows/stale air”.
