Cleaning Clothes to Remove Mold and Toxins

What to do when your clothing may have been exposed

If you've been in a water-damaged building or a mold-affected home, your clothing can carry mold spores and mycotoxins — even if the clothes look and smell clean. Mold spores are microscopic, and mycotoxins (the chemical byproducts mold produces) can cling to fabric fibers and transfer to new environments.

This is why mold-sensitive individuals often find that bringing clothing from home can trigger reactions in otherwise clean spaces. The good news: there are specific protocols that work.

Before you pack: Seal all clothing and soft goods in airtight plastic bags before leaving a potentially contaminated environment. This prevents spores from spreading to your luggage, your car, and wherever you're going.

What to wash with:

• Borax — add half a cup to your regular wash cycle. Borax raises the pH of the water, creating an environment inhospitable to mold.

• EC3 Laundry Additive — specifically formulated to address mold and mycotoxins in fabric. Add to every wash cycle for sensitive clothing.

• Fragrance-free detergent — use an unscented, low-chemical detergent as your base. Conventional detergents can cause reactions in sensitive individuals.

• Hot water — when the fabric allows it, warm to hot water is more effective at removing spores than cold.
  

The protocol:

1. Transport clothing in sealed bags

2. Go directly to the laundry room upon arrival — do not unpack into drawers or closets first

3. Wash immediately with fragrance-free detergent + borax or EC3 Laundry Additive

4. Dry thoroughly — moisture left in fabric allows mold to continue growing
   

What can't be saved: Porous items like pillows, stuffed animals, upholstered items, and books are very difficult to fully decontaminate and are generally not worth bringing into a clean space. When in doubt, leave it behind.

At The Eagle Greenhouse, EC3 Laundry Additive and borax are stocked in the laundry room for every guest's use.