Mold on Clothing: The Dangerous Fashion Accessory
Vintage clothes often hold memories and/or cultural value. It could be a dress worn on that last first date, a pair of lucky game socks, or a staple brought out on special occasions. Or, maybe something purchased from a thrift store or consignment shop that’s new to you. But old clothes can become a fashion nightmare and health hazard, according to Michael Rubino, an air quality and mold expert who helps bridge the gap between the air in our homes and its direct impact on our health.
“Mold loves what we love, and that includes our clothing,” says Rubino. “Thanks to their tiny size, mold spores can end up relatively anywhere and cause adverse health reactions. Mold spores can be introduced while walking into work, listening to your favorite song in the car, or while grabbing something from the closet. Since these wardrobe items are constant companions and go where we go, there are a million opportunities for mold spores to slip right into the strands of fabric of whatever we’re wearing. Not to mention, those mold spores can zip right into wherever those clothing items are stored.”
Rubino has remediated over 1,000 homes and helped over 3,000 critically ill people recover by working with a team of experts. He has been featured in media including Goop, Real Simple, MindBodyGreen, Luke Storey Podcast, and Bloom TV and is available for interviews to discuss mold and clothing. Please feel free to pull these tips directly and credit Michael. Also happy to arrange an interview or contributed article.
How to tell if there's mold on clothing:
Can be any color
Smells earthy, damp, and musty
Listen to the body; are any adverse health reactions occurring while wearing them? (Runny nose, watery eyes, chronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive problems, are just a few).
What to do with clothing that has mold on it:
Toss it out. Once mold starts to colonize, those roots will grow deep into the fibers of whatever surface it’s on. For porous items like clothing, that leads to moldy roots throughout the fibers of the garment. On the other hand, that living mold is also releasing spores and potentially toxins into the surrounding area and into the clothing item. Thanks to their small size, many of these particles can embed themselves deep within the fibers of the fabric as well.
Decontaminate the nearby space by deep cleaning.
Figure out the source that led to the moldy clothes in the first place and fix it.
Preventing mold on clothing:
Keep clothing dry: Whether getting them out of the dryer or coming in from the rain, make sure that clothing dries quickly and completely before placing them in storage. Mold only needs 24-48 hours to start growing.
Wash all clothing with a botanical cleaner like EC3 Laundry Additive: Mold spores will inevitably make their way into your clothing. Using a product like EC3 helps remove as many microscopic particles as possible from the garments, reducing the opportunity for mold on clothes to occur.
mold on clothes
Maintaining low indoor humidity: Aim for a humidity level of 30 to 50 percent. The lower the level, the fewer opportunities there are for mold to grow. If humidity remains high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier and throwing in desiccants like silica gel packets into the closet, dresser, or storage bin to help remove as much moisture as possible.
Invest in air purification: Whether a whole-home unit or a portable one for the room, these machines will help remove all of those harmful particles from the air, including mold spores. The fewer mold spores in the indoor environment, the fewer opportunities for mold on clothing. Make sure to go with a unit that will actually filter out these particles, though.
Clean the storage areas: Remove all of the items from the closet, dresser, armoire, etc. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner on every inch of the space and then follow up with a botanical cleaner depending on the surface you’re working on. While cleaning, check for any hidden mold issues or leaks/water issues that could lead to mold on clothes.
Get a storage unit: If it’s your home that’s got the mold problem then the best thing to do while you tackle it is to remove your clothes (and anything else that might get damaged) and keep everything in a storage space that you can own or rent. In that way, you can protect all your belongings and focus on the problem at hand.
Prioritize airflow: Creating airflow helps remove any humid air and decreases particle buildup. This step can include opening closet doors and drawers, reducing the number of items in direct contact with the floor, and opting for wire racks. Whatever you can do to get that air moving.
Keep dirty clothes out of the closet
MICHAEL RUBINO is an air quality expert who helps bridge the gap between the air in our homes and its direct impact on our health. Rubino works with over 100 doctors globally to not only raise awareness but also provide solutions to correctly identify and remove the pollutants causing this global health crisis. As President of All American Restoration, Rubino specializes in working with people who are immunocompromised or have acute and sustained reactions to mold exposure and has helped heal over 1,000 families—including celebrities and athletes. He is also a council-certified Mold Remediator by IICRC and ACAC and is a contributing member, sponsor, and speaker for the Indoor Air Quality Association. He is the author of The Mold Medic and a contributor to MindBodyGreen. Rubino has been featured on Gwyneth Paltrow’s The goop Podcast and goop's website, Brandi Glanville’s Unfiltered podcast, Luke Storey, Forbes, USA Today, and Bloom TV, to name a few. He hosts the YouTube series, Mold Talks, where guests include medical experts as well as mold recovery patients, including media icon Atoosa Rubenstein.
Follow and connect with Michael Rubino for more information
on Facebook @AllAmericanRestorationTM and Instagram @TheMoldMedic, and visit www.themoldmedic.com and www.allamericanrestoration.com.
Thank you to Smith Publicity Inc for sharing this information with me.
Additional resources on clothing care:
Mastering the Art of Laundry: How to Sort, Wash, and Organize Your Clothes for Optimal Care