Can I be sure a boil wash killed the mould on the towels?

[Saracen]

I guess if it was necessary to have a slow plumbing leak while we were away for a month, the best two places to have it drip down would be into the bath, and in the airing cupboard onto a huge pile of towels. Which it did. So all we've got to replace is the ceiling.

But what about this huge pile of towels? The stains I can live with, most of them aren't too bad. I am just nervous in case I don't manage to kill the mould completely.

I am in the process of washing all of them at 95 degrees for two hours. Then I'll take them down to the launderette to tumble dry thoroughly. Is that guaranteed to kill all mould spores?

The thing is, the towels at the bottom of the heap rarely get used and even though they are nice and dry they do live in a warm and sometimes damp airing cupboard. If mould did start growing in the depths of the towel heap it would be a long time before it was found.

Thanks for any advice!!

[PigletJohn]

Yes, that will do it. A non-bio powder conrains bleaching agents that will also help (liquids don't).

Dilute bleach on hard surfaces will kill mould and black mildew. It may still be damp under the floor, if you can take some boards up it will dry faster. Once fairly dry the hot pipes will finish it off, but warm and moist is not what you want. You can get fungicadal wood preservers like cuprinol that you can brush or spray on. It smells for a few weeks.

[homeaway]

I would wash them with some napisan and washing powder that should kill the bacteria and help with the stains.

[Saracen]

Thanks to both of you for the advice!