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How to safely deal with clothing & linens that have been exposed to Toxic Mold 

For clothing & linens (Towels, sheets, bedding, curtains, table cloths & fabric napkins, pillow covers, seat covers, robes, jackets) : all visible moldy fabric is a loss and must be thrown away. 

For all other fabrics a 1/2 inch rule applies. Anything that is thicker than one half inch must be discarded and cannot be saved. This includes mattresses, pillows, cushions, mats, rugs, sleeping bags.  Also down comforters are not salvageable because feathers "HOLD ON" to mycotoxin and cannot be neutralized. 

(Puffy coats, puffy fabrics ect.  Those cannot be washed and saved.  Keep in mind...puffy items contain pockets of "stuffing"...the same stuffing in pillows.  This can easily trap mold toxins, bacteria, dust mites and mycotoxin and cannot be cleaned well enough NOT to be a risk).

 

All other clothing & linens under 1/2 inch thick:

NOTE:  Washes 1, 2 and 3 apply ONLY to trying to "SAVE ITEMS" from a moldy environment.  Washes 1, 2 and 3 should happen "away" from the moldy home and NEVER brought to the new clean space before washing.  Ideas are: Laundry mats, outside laundry facilities, garage laundry rooms, someone else's mud room, or....

Jennifer's money saving tip: save money and use large plastic containers and trash bags.  Fill the large plastic containers with warm water and your choice of "neutralizing agent that neutralizes mycotoxin", either:

Submerge and dunk the clothing or linens that DO NOT have visible mold for about one minute.  Wring out the clothing as much as possible and quickly transfer them into the large garbage bags.  At this point, the mycotoxin has been neutralized, and you can bring them into the new clean environment and wash them in your new laundry room for the 2nd wash of borax.  

CHEMISTRY...CHEMISTRY...CHEMISTRY

1st load: AMMONIA (or) Ec3 (or) Remedy
If you are choosing Ammonia: Wash first time in 2 cups of ammonia (3%-5% clear and "not lemon scented", concentration) per load no other detergent.  The purpose of using ammonia in the first load is to neutralize mycotoxin and cut down spore load. Ammonia is an important step because mycotoxin is dangerous.


If are are choosing Ec3: Wash clothing the first time using Ec3 and no other detergent.  Do not mix ammonia with Ec3.  The purpose of using Ec3 in the first load (out of mold) is to neutralize mycotoxin and cut down spore load.  Using Ec3 (or) Ammonia are essential because mycotoxin is dangerous. 

Citri-Safe has a specific Laundry Detergent just for mold.  The new product packaging is called "Remedy" and you can buy it here:


 

2nd load:

BORAX (or) Baking Soda
If you are choosing Borax: Wash second load in
1 cup of borax.  The purpose of this second load is to kill any remaining mold spores that the first load may have missed.  It is very important to thoroughly wash clothing and remove all possible threats. 



If you are choosing Baking Soda: Wash second load in 1 cup of baking soda.  The purpose of this second load is to kill any remaining mold spores that the first load may have missed.  It is very important to thoroughly wash clothing and remove all possible threats. 


3rd load:

EPSOM SALT (or) Purebiotics

If you are choosing Epsom Salts: In the 3rd load wash clothing in one cup of epsom salts and no other detergents or chemicals. The purpose of this 3rd load is to kill off any bacteria present from water damaged buildings.  Ammonia and Borax do not kill bacteria. 

If you are choosing Purebiotics: In the 3rd load wash clothing in 1/4 cup of Purebiotic (Stabiotic Laundry) and no other detergents or chemicals. The purpose of this 3rd load is to kill off any bacteria present from water damaged buildings.  Ammonia and Borax do not kill bacteria. 


Rotate: Neutralizer & Non-Toxic Laundry Soap
Once you leave a moldy environment, and you are detoxing your body, your body will be releasing mycotoxin from your pores through the detox and sweating process.  It's important to keep neutralizing this mycotoxin from your clothing and linens that specifically touch your body for
"Up to a full year"
Wash every other time, rotating: 
Wear or use the item first time - wash in ammonia, or Ec3, or Remedy or Purebiotics Laundry.
Wear or use the item second time - wash in non-toxic laundry soap
repeat this process for up to a year. 

What happens if I have done all of the steps and I am still reacting to my clothing or linens? 

If 1, 2 and 3 are not successful and someone is still reacting, this means they are highly sensitive and no amount of washing is going to stop that person from reacting.  Only a very small percentage of people STILL react after going through 3 washes and ongoing washing of their clothing and linens.  If you are STILL reacting it is advised to throw them all away and buy new clothes.