Prep first
Before you start
- Fix the damp spot first, because sheets left wet will grow mold again.
- Wear gloves, goggles and an N-95 respirator before you touch the sheet.
- Brush loose mold off outdoors so the spores don't scatter in the house.
- Get the sheets fully dry within 24 to 48 hours.
Mold on sheets usually appears after linens sit damp in a closet or laundry pile, and it can leave a mark that looks like a shadow on the fabric. Fresh spots tend to come out with a good wash, but some of the discoloration is harm to the threads themselves, so an old mark may stay faint. Sheets marked for dry cleaning only should go to a cleaner instead of the washer, because the label sets the whole approach for a fabric like this.
Mildew stains on sheets are easiest to lift before the mark has a chance to dry in. Check the care label first, since sheets marked dry-clean only belong with a cleaner, not the washer. If a mark survives the wash, a mold and mildew remover is the next thing to reach for.
Before you start
What sheets, towels & table linens can take
Safe to use3
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
Use with care6
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Oxygen bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid1
- Heat, once the stain is out
8 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Stiff brushTo brush loose mold off the sheet outdoors. (opens Amazon)
- Gloves, goggles and an N-95 respiratorSo spores stay off your skin and out of your lungs. (opens Amazon)
- Mild liquid laundry detergentTo work into the stain and to wash the sheet. (opens Amazon)
- Table salt and fresh lemon juiceFor the sun treatment, which is the alternative to bleach. (opens Amazon)
- A bright, open spot outdoorsDirect sunlight is part of the salt and lemon treatment.
- Care labelIt tells you which methods and products the sheet can take.
- Chlorine bleach (optional)Only for a stain that survives the sun treatment, and only if the fabric allows it. (opens Amazon)
- White cotton cloths (opens Amazon)
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7 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 7
Brush off loose mold outdoors
Take the sheet outside before it gets any water, then brush off the loose mold or mildew. Work over bare ground or grass so the spores land away from the house. Bring it back in only once the loose growth is gone.
Tip. Wear your gloves, goggles and mask for this part, since it's the messiest.
Step 2 of 7
Check the label and pretest
Read the care label first and skip any product or method it prohibits. Then test your detergent on a hidden seam or inside corner to see whether the dye holds.
Careful. Skipping the pretest can leave a new mark on colored sheets.
Step 3 of 7
Work detergent into the stain
Apply a little mild liquid laundry detergent directly to the mark and work it in with your fingertips. Start at the outer edge and move toward the center so the stain doesn't spread. Blot with a clean white cloth rather than rubbing.
Step 4 of 7
Wash with detergent
Launder the sheet with regular detergent in the warmest water the care label allows, now that the stain has been loosened. Use a full cycle so the detergent rinses out completely.
Tip. Wash the sheet by itself so spores don't end up on other laundry.
Step 5 of 7
Check the sheet in daylight
Once the sheet is out of the washer, look at the mark in daylight before it goes anywhere near a dryer or iron. If it's gone, the sheet is clean. If a shadow or mark remains, move on to the next step.
Tip. The mark is easier to miss once it's dry, so check while the sheet is still damp.
Step 6 of 7
Rub in salt and lemon juice
Rub table salt and fresh lemon juice into the mark, then lay the sheet flat in direct sunlight until it's fully dry. This is the bleach alternative, so try it before any stronger product. Leave the sheet in the sun rather than bringing it in early.
Tip. Choose the brightest spot you have, since shade won't do the same work.
Step 7 of 7
Rinse and launder again
Rinse the sheet thoroughly under running water to clear out all the salt and lemon. Launder it again with detergent, then check the mark in daylight once more.
Tip. If a faint shadow is left, the section on stubborn marks explains what's realistic.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for mold on sheets, towels & table linens
Choose a mild liquid laundry detergent for the spot step, and an oxygen bleach only if a test shows the sheet is colorfast.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on sheets, towels & table linens, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light before using any heat. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
Heavy buildup usually takes more than one round.
Heavy or long-standing buildup →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
Each wash should pull less color out of the sheet, and the mark should look lighter with every round. Let the sheet air-dry before you judge the final result, because a trace that still shows is not gone yet. If a trace remains after two full rounds, the mold has probably set, so take the [old or set-in route](#dried).
What changes for yours
Adjust for your sheets, towels & table linens
White, colorfast sheets
White sheets are the only ones where the chlorine soak for stubborn marks is on the table, and only if the care label allows it. Run the colorfast test before you soak anything, since a dye that bleeds is hard to reverse.
Everything before that stays the same: brush outside, use the detergent, wash and dry in the sun. Keep the chlorine for the last pass only.
Colored or printed sheets
Skip chlorine bleach completely, since it can change the color of sheets that aren't colorfast. Test any product on a hidden seam first, and rely on the detergent and sun treatment as your main tools.
If a mark survives, an oxygen bleach soak is the gentler choice, but only when a test spot shows no color change. Stop at the first sign of fading.
Sheets that smell musty without a stain
Skip the stain steps, since there's nothing visible to lift. Wash the sheets in your regular detergent so the damp smell comes out of the fibers.
Drying matters more than washing here, so air them in the open until they're completely dry. Only fold them into the closet once there's no damp feel left in the fabric.
Sheets with no care label
Without a care label you don't know what the fabric can take, so don't guess. Brush the mold off outside, then use only mild detergent and cold water, with no bleach of any kind.
If a mark survives, take the sheets to a dry cleaner and say exactly what the stain is.
Silk or wool sheets
Chlorine bleach is off the table on silk and wool, so skip the bleach soak completely. Test any detergent on a hidden seam first.
Mildew weakens fibers as it sits, so take the sheets to a dry cleaner promptly and point out the mold.
Large or bulky sheets
If the stain covers a large area or the set is bulky, a home wash may not reach the mark evenly. Take them to a professional dry cleaner rather than fighting a big patch in the sink.
Brush off the loose mold outside and use the detergent first, so the cleaner gets the sheets with the worst of it already gone.
Heavy or long-standing buildup
If the mark is old, the steps above may not finish the job. Chlorine bleach can help, but only on white, colorfast sheets whose label allows it. Soak the mark for 10 to 15 minutes in 1/4 cup chlorine bleach with 3/4 cup water, or use a powdered bleach labeled safe for the fabric in the same amount of water.
Dried mold is harder, so scrape or brush off any crusted matter before the soak, and soak in cold water with detergent first if the stain has dried on. Use the bleach last, after everything else is rinsed out of the sheet.
Badly mildewed fabric may be damaged beyond repair, and mildew weakens the fibers as it sits. If the mark is faded but still there, repeat the soak once, and stop if the sheet starts to feel thin or weak. Fresh stains are much easier to remove than old ones, so the earlier you act, the better your chances.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on mold on sheets, towels & table linens?
Most kitchen remedies don't belong on sheets, and some can damage them. The ones that help are either built into the steps above or noted here so you know when to reach for them. Check the label and pretest a hidden spot before you go beyond detergent and direct sunlight.
Works1Helps2Skip4
Chemical safety
Never mix these
Some products in this guide react dangerously with each other. Use them one at a time and rinse with water in between.
Chlorine bleach + Oxygen bleach (OxiClean)
Both makers advise against combining them: OxiClean says not to mix it with chlorine bleach, and Clorox says the two bleaches cancel each other out.
Chlorine bleach + Rubbing alcohol
Bleach and rubbing alcohol can form chloroform, which causes dizziness, nausea and loss of consciousness.
Chlorine bleach + Lemon juice
Lemon juice's natural acids react with bleach to release chlorine gas.
Oxygen bleach (OxiClean) + Rubbing alcohol
OxiClean's maker says it should not be mixed with household chemicals other than detergent in the wash.
If they mix by accident: Stop and add nothing else; leave the area for fresh air, open windows and keep children and pets away; call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if anyone has trouble breathing.
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub the mildew in
Scrubbing grinds the growth deeper into the weave and can spread the stain outward. Blot the mark with a clean cloth and let the detergent do the work instead of pressure.
Don't leave the sheets damp
Mold needs water to grow, so a sheet left in a damp pile can start over within a day or two. Get it fully dry within 24 to 48 hours, ideally in open air, and fix whatever made it wet.
Don't put lemon and bleach together
Chlorine bleach must never be combined with lemon juice or vinegar. If you've used the sun treatment, rinse the sheet completely before any bleach goes near it.
Don't rub bar soap into the stain
Bar soap can set many stains instead of lifting them. Work liquid detergent into the mark gently with your fingers, then launder as usual.
Don't call it finished at a faint trace
A faint mark that's still visible after washing usually means growth is left in the fibers. Treat it again before the sheet goes back on the bed, because it gets harder to lift once it dries.
When to call a professional
Dry-clean-only sheets belong with a dry cleaner as soon as you notice the mold, and say what the fiber is so they can pick the right method. Silk and wool sheets also go to a cleaner, since chlorine bleach is never an option on those fibers.
Questions
How do I keep sheets from smelling musty in a closet?
Store sheets only after they're fully dry, and keep the closet dry with air moving through it. A damp wall or a closet with no airflow is the usual cause, so fix that before you add anything. Once the closet is dry, a fresh wash usually clears the smell.
Can mold stains on sheets be fully removed?
Fresh mold often lifts completely with the steps above. Older mold can leave a shadow, because the mark is partly damage to the fibers, and that shadow may stay even after a good clean.
Can I use vinegar on mildew stains on sheets?
It's better to leave vinegar out. It can weaken cotton and may change its color, so detergent and direct sunlight do the job instead.
Why does the mildew stain come back after washing?
Usually the sheet went back into damp conditions or was put away before it was fully dry. Mold needs moisture to grow, so fix the source and dry everything completely before storing it.
What if my sheets are wool or silk?
Skip chlorine bleach entirely, since it's not safe on silk or wool. Take the sheets to a dry cleaner promptly, and say what the stain is and what the sheets are made from.
What about mold on the mattress under the sheets?
A mattress needs its own approach, because mold can reach the inner layers. Use our Mattress guide for that stain before you wash anything.
Does mold on sheets mean my house has a mold problem?
Not always, but it usually means moisture is building up somewhere in the room. Fix the damp spot first, and if mold keeps coming back or covers a large area, call an experienced professional.
Can I put white sheets through a hot wash once the mold is gone?
Once the stain has lifted, a hot wash is fine for cotton and linen, as long as the care label allows the hottest setting. Until then, keep the wash cold, because heat can set whatever is left in the fibers.
Is bleach safe on colored sheets that have a mold mark?
Only if the sheets are colorfast, the label allows bleach, and a test on a hidden seam shows no change. If the color shifts at all, skip the chlorine and look for a gentler option instead, such as an oxygen-type bleach, which still needs its own test first.
Is it okay to presoak mold-stained sheets overnight?
An overnight presoak in an enzyme laundry product is a reasonable step, and cold water is the safer start for a mark you can't identify. Rinse thoroughly before you wash it again, so no loosened residue goes back into the load.
Methods, care labels and related guides
Good to know
Mold on other materials
Other stains on sheets, towels & table linens
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.