get rid of it and buy a new one that ISN'T wood! racks are CHEAP.

I've been using some of the same wood racks 2x/week for over twenty years, and never had this happen. Do you use fabric softener? I don't use fabric softener, yet I don't know if that would make a difference. My amateur guess is that perhaps the oil/fatty substance that is fabric softener has been absorbed by the wood, but that is just a guess.

You could probably give them a gentle scrub with a brush and something like all-purpose cleaner or Murphy's Oil Soap, and rinse very, very thoroughly.

Ours have developed little dark spots/dots of mold but even that doesn't transfer to the clothing.

Good wood drying racks are hard to find; crummy ones are not so hard to find. I prefer wood because clothing slips off the smooth metal and vinyl rods very easily, and wood tends to grip it better.

I don't use fabric softener either. I am at a loss to explain what is going on.

The Murphy's Oil Soap seems like a good idea. Maybe I'll try that.

And I agree with you, wood is best.

Thanks!

Lisa