Topic: Handed-down pants from moldy home, smell moldy...how to remediate?
Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
I have some questions about what to do with jeans that were in a damp apartment that smells musty, and I noticed that the jeans themselves smell like the place.
I can't literally see any mold on the jeans, and I have no reason to think they were actually touching visible mold, but I can tell you I'm sure the apartment they were in has mold. Just wondering what I can do about these pants to make sure it's safe for me to put them with my other clothes, etc.
My main question is, that since the pants do smell musty/moldy....would there be active spores in the pants (that were airborne in the place they came from), that could spread into my place and onto my clothes? Or is it moreso just that the pants picked up the smell but not necessarily the spores?
If this doesn't belong in Medical, please let me know. I figured more people knowledgable about mold would be in Medical than General. And I'm kind of under a time crunch too (stupid, I know).
I do really want to keep them; I just am paranoid about the fact that they smell moldy, so I'd like to know what I can do to know these won't be depositing spores all over my closet, etc.
You may say, why not just throw the pants away to be safe? Well, I gained a little weight so none of my pants fit (I literally have no pants that aren't sweats), and I can't afford any nice-looking ones that fit well. Literally on can't afford also. One of my friends has some pairs of pants that don't fit her anymore, so she gave them to me. They are jeans. And the time crunch is because I have somewhere important I have to go on Friday.
So here is more about the place....she lives in an apartment that is literally on the beach. The waves basically crash up onto her balcony. She has told me her place gets very damp, and things like towels don't really ever "dry" if she hangs them in the bathroom. I did notice her bathroom seems to have some tiny moldy patches on the ceiling.
Anyways, I went in her bedroom, and right when I walked in, I noticed a musty smell, like dampness/mold/mildew. But keep in mind, I am sensitive to smells, and I notice things most people wouldn't.
It is Wednesday now, and I have something important I have to go to on Friday. I'd like to get them washed before then, obviously.
Can anyone answer the question, as to if it's just the smell that's in the pants, but no actual spores that can then spread more mold? I am really worried about putting them back in my closet or drawers, in my bedroom.
I know when you are doing mold clean-up, like when the spores are floating around, you need to wash the clothes with bleach or something, or throw them away? Isn't that the protocol? Obviously these jeans weren't around when walls were being torn down, etc.
I am just wondering if they are safe and salvagable? If I wash them with certain killing agents (bleach, theives oil, etc), can I be pretty sure it's fine?
Or should I not risk it, and just throw them away?
Also, I'd need to worry about bleach staining them, because it's dark denim.
The main reason I'm concerned, is that my doctor has warned me repeatedly not to move into a moldy place (which I don't live in a moldy place), but I'm just worried these pants will contaminate my bedroom and the rest of my clothes, and create an unsafe place to sleep, etc.
My two main questions are, if the pants are capable of spreading mold to my bedroom, and then, how to wash them to make them safe (if that's possible)?
I'm thinking that since MY bedroom/closet aren't as high humidity as hers, that everything would be okay....but then, I've heard it only takes one spore to spread the nastiness.....and my place doesn't have central A/C or heat, so sometimes it can get a little humid, depending.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
Google..remove mold from clothes. Lots of info. I understand your dilemma, but it sounds pretty risky to keep the pants. If you end up contaminating everything else it's not worth it really to risk your health. I vote to throw them out and be safe.
Maybe someone in the needing help thread has your size and can send you some things. Hope you find a solution.
Gael
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Thanks, Gael.
Yes, I am really worried I may have to bite the bullet and toss them. The main problem isn't just the money, it's also that I don't really have the stamina for shopping, and I have a hard time finding jeans that fit. So I just am so sad to see these go, because they actually fit really well, and I'm not sure I'd be able to find them now, because she had them for like a year. And also, I don't think I have the stamina to go try on a bunch of jeans.
So I guess it isn't just about the money, but the time/energy it would take to find new pants, which honestly....I can't see when I'll be feeling up to doing that. So I felt really lucky to be given something that actually fit!
Thanks for the input though.
I saw on this website that vinegar kills mold? Can anyone verify that that is true (to the point that it's safe)? So I'm thinking of washing them with 3/4 cup vinegar in the washing machine. Thoughts?
glm1111
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 16556
posted
How about soaking them in a combo of vinegar and baking soda and washing them in 20 mule team borax?
-------------------- PARASITES/WORMS ARE NOW RECOGNIZED AS THE NUMBER 1 CO-INFECTION IN LYME DISEASE BY ILADS* Posts: 6418 | From philadelphia pa | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Wash them with a bleach that's safe for even colored clothes. (water as hot as possible-don't want to shrink the denim, I'm gathering) Dry on as high a setting as appropriate for the items-you should be OK.
Joe
Posts: 249 | From Northern NJ | Registered: Jul 2005
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
You could put them in a garbage bag to isolate them until you can wash them.
That way you wouldn't spread any mold spores.
I like Tide with bleach alternative. It seems to kill any aromas in clothing and towels.
Carol
Posts: 6956 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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Remember to Smile
Unregistered
posted
Rejoice in your donations, but play it safe. Haven't read the links above, but will come back to them later.
I've gotten many a complement on clothes acquired similarly, Hoosiers51!
Here's what I've done:
Get all the smelly clothes OUT of your house asap until they're laundered. Leave them open to air, but not rain.
When ready to do laundry, only then bring donations into the residence. I use Tide. Wash your hands after loading the stinkers.
Listen for rinse cycle and add vinegar then. When cycle ends, pull out clothes, shake/rearrange, then run the rinse cycle with vinegar a second time.
Dry normally, then enjoy your comfy new jeans!
By the way, NEVER try on ANY clothes that have a bad smell. Keep them far from your body, just eyeball the size & politely say thanks, then transport in trunk within tightly sealed plastic bag. Remove from plastic asap when outside your residence.
You can try on donations AFTER you've laundered them, NEVER if they emit an odor. If you do some extra laundry and the clothes don't fit, you'll just be a bigger blessing to the person you offer them to next... Smile
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
Thank you so much for the suggestions.
Luckily, I have a very sensitive nose, so I think that if "I" don't smell anything after they've been washed, I will be feeling pretty good about that.
So are we thinking that if I can get the smell gone (with vinegar, and probably with some of the other methods too), then that means the pants would no longer be capable of bringing any unwanted spores here?
I think I'm gonna try soaking them and washing them, and then decide. If I smell something still, I'll obviously know I need to get rid of them. If I don't smell anything, even with my super-nose....I may lean towards keeping them, even though it does make me nervous.
I just keep going through all the scenarios in my head, where spores end up in the jeans, then spores end up on my other pants/clothes via storage, then when we move to a new place, the spores may penetrate into the walls, etc.
I'm thinking some strains of "stink" are pretty common (like common mildews), and it shouldn't be a big deal if they cross into my home (but don't spread, because I don't have damp walls, damp clothes, etc). But I'm a little worried about what KIND of strains could be in there. Like if it's one of the really bad kinds of black mold. But then, I'd think I would see something visibly, like some of the scenarios I've read online where people see black spots on their clothes.
I feel like I've heard that the really bad strains, you don't actually smell? Though smells are indicitive that other things like black mold are there, in a room, etc.
Anyways......just thinking outloud.
LUCKILY, she gave them to me in a garbage bag, and the top was twisted shut. I think that is why I never smelled them until I actually put them on. So technically, my place has now been exposed to them (until I realized I was smelling them).
Anyways, thanks for listening and offering suggestions. I have to go do some things (ugh), but I'm gonna try to address this tonight by soaking, etc.
So are we thinking that pre-soaking in vinegar and water won't damage them (the metal grommets, etc)? I think it'll be okay. We'll see.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- I would take them to an environmentally safe dry cleaners and have them steamed. The hot steam will kill fungi.
Vinegar can cause some fungi to grow. A good wash in detergent should help and the high heat of the dryer to get them good and dry. And they might then be smaller than prior to washing. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
Use Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent, warm water, and baking soda. I used to live in a moldy house, and it worked like a charm.
-------------------- Urge Congress on EMF Safety, FCC Must Change Exposure Guidelines for Microwave Radiation Exposure: http://tinyurl.com/2cjq54y Halt Universal Broadband, A Public Health Hazard: http://tinyurl.com/3x7xrmq Posts: 495 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2010
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tick battler
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posted
I would think bleach would kill mold but haven't researched it. We had some towels that started smelling and I washed them with detergent and bleach and they smell clean now (but they are pink instead of sand color!).
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
I think you could use Orange Guard, in healthfood store and hardware stores. It's from oranges and works against mold.
Put a little bit in a wash basin full of water and soak your jeans in it. It can take a couple clear-water soaks to get the orange smell out.
Sometimes I've even had to resoak in plain water several times even after it's dried the first time to get the orange smell out. But it works.
And it also works against mold in the house too, when sprayed - takes a half hour to air out.
Posts: 13171 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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karenl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17753
posted
didn't read the post - there is a group for mold
GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
Wash them!
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sammy
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posted
As others have suggested, I would try to keep the pants. See what happens after a good wash and dry.
I used to never put my pants in the dryer because I was afraid that they would shrink up and be too short. Then my friend informed me that if I need to put them in the dryer all I had to do was be careful to listen for when they were done, pull them out immediately while they are still hot, step on the bottoms of the pants (with clean socks not shoes!) and pull up. That stretches them back to normal length!
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