moldy bra

MisdemeanorM

So... i left my sweaty sports bra (lycra, elastic) in the bottom of the laundry basket buried under my husbands shirt and most likely a wet bath towel for like 2 weeks (serves me right for ignoring that laundry basket...) and it molded.

Didn't notice it until I took it out of the wash, but it has dark spots on the straps and part of the body of it. I sprayed it with some Spray and Wash and it's sitting for a new wash now. Thought maybe a vinegar soak would be good? I mostly want to get the gross looking spots off even if the mold itself is killed, which I know a good bout in the sun would do (providing a strong enough winter sun ever comes back out here!) since I can't dry it in the dryer to kill it.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

braggsaw

Just buy a new one!

nisijam5

Lysol makes a bathroom product that kills mold or you can use bleach...but, will probably break down the elastic

catcrazy

try lemon juice and then hang it in the sun...if you can get any sun. I removed mold spots off a white polo shirt doing that but that was cotton, not sure if you can remove them from man made materials but worth a try

msemejuru

New one. The sun will break down the elastic making the bra less effective. So will bleach. Basically, anything that kills the mold will probably kill the bra.

SandraMay1982

Definitely do the vinegar. the acidity should kill any germs.

I don't know about removing any spots though. maybe a stain remover soak? napisan or something?

is it coloured? if it's white/light/oryou aren't worried about it being either of those, you could do a few hours in a bleach mix. ha.


(buying a new bra, dude. do you know how expensive some of these things are?)

balfonso

Bin it. Mold can spread. It is bacteria after all and can cause skin irritation.

lotusfromthemud

I would try some oxy-clean. I once left some sweaty gym clothes in a bag for a few days, and a soak in a generous amount of oxy-clean and warm water got out the stank.

LilynEdensmom

Baking soda and vinegar should help.

MisdemeanorM

(buying a new bra, dude. do you know how expensive some of these things are?)

I know really!? I got this one at Marshall's so it was "only" like $10 (but compared to a $30 or more one that is cheap! There are some great ones I found, but they are $40! I'm not paying $40 for a bra! (and in some circles, that's still cheap!) non sports bras the # goes up from there for really good ones!), plus it's hard to find ones I really like and fit me so I'd hate to throw it out for a little mold, especially since I know I can easily kill it. It's gray, so I might just bleach it if the color bothers me and nothing else works. No one sees it anyway, it wouldn't matter. Plus, even if I find another i like in the $10 range I'd have to pull that money from somewhere else in our budget - likely groceries, and not a ton to spare there!

PS - I live in Tennesee... so if we threw out everything every time it molded we'd be broke! During damp seasons.... EVERYTHING will mold! It's just usually outside stuff I can hose off!!! Or leather, which I know how to clean mold from.

soze

I would urge caution to defcon 5. With mold, mildew, and bacteria it just wreaks of a booby trap!

SandraMay1982

Aye. I am in Australia. and $10 is BLOODY CHEAP for a bra. I spend like $40 or so for bras

and I am shrinking. So I am trying to find cheaper ways to get things. ha.

I already have a few sports bras in smaller sizes, that I am hoping I will fit soon. eep. I just hope I don't shrink in the wrong places. haha.

LettyM62

Just buy a new one!

Obviously you've never bought a sports bra before. EXPENSIVE!

LadyKatie2010

i have to buy my bras at cacique cuz well *cough cough * i'm well endowed.

but on black friday they had a sale for buy one, get one. it was still 40$....but 40$ for two is much more preferable!!!

MISTTIMG

I would buy a new one, the stains won't come out. I mean what if you had an accident and had to be rushed to the hospital, you would be in ER and the nurse would be getting you prepped for a gown and she would say.. oh this lady has more problems than we thought.. her breasts are mildewing her bra...

mamagooskie

You will not be able to remove those spots. I've had that happen to tshirts, towels, mostly swim stuff I seem to forget about and it never ever comes out no matter what. I even tried washing this one bib 2-3x in bleach and it did nothing but fade the print.

Go treat yourself to a new bra!

MisdemeanorM

I would buy a new one, the stains won't come out. I mean what if you had an accident and had to be rushed to the hospital, you would be in ER and the nurse would be getting you prepped for a gown and she would say.. oh this lady has more problems than we thought.. her breasts are mildewing her bra...

LOL. That's funny.

My birthday IS coming up. I actually got this one for my Bday a few years ago because I needed some. My mom sent me $30 and I went to Ross and Marshalls. I hate wasting a good Bday on bras though! :laugh:

kimmiebear70

Soak it in a mixture of bleach and peroxide. It works!

UpToAnyCool

Vodka.:drinker:
just a thought if the vinegar doesn't work. heard that when you are ready to throw out a moldy umbrella, last ditch effort is vodka.
although later you might smell boozy at the gym if you don't rinse it well. :ohwell:

good luck!

nisijam5

Vodka.:drinker:
just a thought if the vinegar doesn't work. heard that when you are ready to throw out a moldy umbrella, last ditch effort is vodka.
although later you might smell boozy at the gym if you don't rinse it well. :ohwell:

good luck!

I'd rather throw the bra away then use the vodka...

Evermyre

Vodka is actually not a bad option. I work in theatre and rather than using febreeze on smelly clothes we mix up cheap (and I mean CHEAP) vodka and water and spray clothes with that. They don't actually end up smelling like alcohol.

jodie_t

Get hold of some lace/coloured bits of felt cut into flower shapes or whatever & sew on a little decoration to cover spots... even it up by adding to both sides ..