Mould on clothes! Help!

[princess94]

Posting here for traffic.

DH and I went away for 2 weeks.

During that time, we left a load of clothes in the boiler cupboard (big backlog of laundry!) and the boiler developed a leak.

Came back to a slightly flooded bathroom and the clothes were soaked through, smelled of damp and some had developed visible specks of mould.

Any idea how to save our clothes? Can they be saved, or should I throw them out?

Please help, Mumsnetters!

Oh, and a duvet cover too :(

Just wash them?

No advice but I would be interested too. I forgot about some teatowels that not have mould on them. They are sentimental or I would throw them out.

Any bleach free ideas would be great, 2 hot washes hasn't worked.

OP, here is some advice from Persil:

Products for Removing Mould from ClothesNow that you know how to get rid of mould on fabric, choose the most appropriate product below to do the job. Be sure to test it on an inconspicuous part of the fabric first and to take any safety precautions recommended on the product’s label.

• Household soap – For old stains, everyday household soap, either liquid or in bar form, can be rubbed in directly and rinsed out with water. Then set out the fabric to dry in the sun.
• White Distilled Vinegar – An excellent mould-killer, diluted vinegar can be worked directly into the stain – or you can pre-soak the clothing in a bucket of water mixed with one cup of vinegar. You can also add 1-2 cups of vinegar to your washing machine per cycle to kill any mildew odours and brighten your whites.
• Hydrogen Peroxide – Mix 1 part 20% hydrogen peroxide with 4 parts water to create a solution. This should only be used on organic fabrics (cotton, linen, etc.) that aren’t flame-resistant or don’t have easy-care finishes.
• Borax – This water-soluble mineral is also a natural mould-killer, which you can buy as a detergent or in powder form. If you get it as a powder, mix half a cup of borax thoroughly with hot water according to instructions. Then add the solution directly into the drum of your washing machine, and launder the clothes as normal.
• Bleach – Bleach is effective at killing mould, but it will also fade any colours. So use bleach only on whites or colourfast clothes, as a pre-soak or scrubbed directly onto the mould itself. Always follow the product instructions, wear rubber gloves, and work in a well-ventilated area away from any children, as bleach fumes can be strong! And, remember to store bleach in a secure cupboard out of the reach of children or pets. (Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.)

https://www.persil.com/uk/laundry/laundry-tips/fabrics/how-to-remove-mould-from-fabric.html#:~:text=White%20Distilled%20Vinegar%20%E2%80%93%20An%20excellent,odours%20and%20brighten%20your%20whites.

I've had the same problem, and put them on a hot wash with a cup of bicarbonate of soda, then washed them a second tine. The mould never came back.