mold on fabric

[Judy F.]

I have been washing my fabric that got wet in the Boulder flood on Sept. 13. As I started on what I hope is the last bag of wet fabric on Thurs. Oct 3, I see some mold on the fabric. I have tried washing it in hot water with a little bleach added. I can still see spots of mold when I take the fabric out of the dryer. Will this mold spread (so I should throw it out, or is it OK to keep it & cut around the moldy spots as I use the fabric? Hope someone knows--mold isn't ordinarily a problem in Boulder, but we just can't seem to dry out right now--raining again now! Thanks for any info.

[Judy F.]

I *think* I would cut off the molded portions and toss those now. The fabric that doesn't have mold should be safe.

I am so sorry you lost fabric in that flood; such a devastating thing that flood was.

[Susan B.]

Judy, I just did a quick google search for mold on fabric. You may consider doing the same, as a myriad of products including vinegar will get rid of the mold, but you may be left with a stain.

I wouldn't throw the fabric, I'd consider over-painting, dyeing, using DeCoulerant, rusting, or other such color changing techniques on fabric that is too badly stained to use as is. The other consideration is just let it hang out for times you need to do practice samples, or maybe fabric rope bowls.

My sincere sympathy for the awful experience you are going through. The whole world watched in horror and you have our prayers.

[Susan B.]

What a horrific thing to live through, and then have these kinds of problems too. My experience is that the mold stains are permanent. You might try something like Oxyclean. It seems to brighten my things.

[Betty J.]

I think you should use the non-stained part of the fabric. I also think that the bleach/hot water should have killed the mold and it won't spread, but I think you probably want to just cut off the stained part now and throw it away. Sorry you lost fabrics in the flood. I had the same experience many years ago when we had a flash flood that was so strong it tore the asphalt pavement off the road in front and backed up several feet into my house and so I know how devastating it can be. Hugs.

[Paula D.]

Sorry - I would pitch it without hesitation!

[ANNE E.]

After cutting off the mouldy bits I would think a hot iron would kill any mould spores left in the fabric.
Good luck
Anne

[ANNE E.]

As devastating as the flood was for you, and as dangerous as mold can be to our health, I think I would take the loss and consider myself lucky and pitch the fabric before it can cause any more mold in my house. Mold is one of the organisms that wait until the conditions are right and then start to reproduce. Just my opinion on throwing it away.

[Judy F.]

Thanks for all the input everyone--I appreciate your feedback!

[Marion D.]

Just one more vote for throwing it away...It may come back when you are looking.

[Catherine S.]

Judy, I think between the washing in hot water, drying, and the addition of bleach, the mold spores are killed. I am cheap, so I would cut around the spots when I want to use the fabric. Or like someone suggested, use it for painting over. I guess it all depends on how well you like that particular piece of fabric. Good luck. I am so sorry you have to deal with all of this.

[Betty J.]

Having lived through this experience myself, and having washed in hot water and a little bleach the fabric and cut off the moldy bit and steam ironed the rest of it...I never had any mold reappear on my flooded fabrics. That was decades ago and I used some of that fabric for five or six years after that. There does seem to be a lot of concern about it reappearing, so I guess it's all in how concerned you are about it. Anyway, so sorry you had this problem.

[Betty J.]

Uh oh, I posted what I thought was on this thread but it isn't here--wonder where it is. Sorry for those who will be reading it and think I am nuts.

[brenda h.]

I have some fabric that was at my grandmother's. It had gotten damp and was mildewed when I got it. I washed it in hot water with bleach and the stains were still there, but no further mildew appeared. I still have some of it, stains and all. I won't tell you how old it is since I really don't remember :? :!: I should put it in a quilt some day!