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How to get rid of mildew smell?

9 years ago

My DS did not set the AC correctly at my dad's house and some mildew has started. I've brought home some more of his clothes to take to him at his assisted living facility, but they smell of mildew. I read that washing with vinegar would help. I've washed with it multiple times and the smell is better, but there is still a faint odor of it.

What have you had luck with?

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Comments (9)

Chi
9 years ago
Sometimes if I forget to switch over the laundry it gets a mildew smell. I usually run it with about a cup of vinegar and hot water, and nothing else (no detergent) and then run it a second time regularly with detergent. Seems to work.
alisande
9 years ago
I was advised on this forum to use 1/2-cup Borax in my wash to correct a mildew odor. If the vinegar doesn't work, try that. I found it did a good job.
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kayjones
9 years ago
Oxyclean powder will work, too. Just soak the wash for an hour or so, then wash as usual.
iowagirl2006
9 years ago
I was also going to suggest the Borax. I also like Arm & Hammer washing soda. You can find that in with the laundry soaps also.

Tide has a new Oxy powder that I think is good for odor too - lots of options.

Can you line dry the laundry in the sun?
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
If the clothes smell that much I would really be checking the house well for mold growth before it gets out of control.
pudgeder
9 years ago
Agree with RavenC..
Also you might invest in a de-humidifier.
kittiemom
Original Author
9 years ago
I've adjusted the AC. There was a bit of mold starting on some furniture as well. I told my DS that she needed to keep the AC at a certain temp during our very hot, humid summer, but she is ultra cheap and didn't want to pay any more on the electric bill. I plan to let her take care of cleaning up the furniture since she is so stubborn. We are clearing the house out for a buyer, so in about 45 days it won't be our problem anyway.

Thanks for the recommendations; I'll try them. Hopefully something will get rid of the smell. I'm tired of washing the same clothes over and over.
Georgysmom
9 years ago
Tell your sister that the few dollars she is saving on electricity might wind up either nixing the sale of the house, or be the cause of thousands of dollars of loss on the final contract. Nothing worse than walking into a house and smelling that mildew odor. Not to mention that if there is any furniture in the house that you were interested in, it will be ruined forever.
chisue
9 years ago
so...is this the conclusion of the 'suspect' sale? Are you selling the house and land? Did you get the house contents appraised?

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