How do you get mildew out of clothes?

Remove mildew stains from clothes by shaking the items outside, pretreating the stains with detergent and then soaking them in the washing machine in a bleach solution for eight hours in the hottest water recommended for the fabric. Finish up by running a regular wash cycle.

1. Shake the clothing outside

   Shake the clothing vigorously outside to remove any loose, powdery mildew. Turn the item inside out, and shake again.

2. Pretreat stained areas with detergent

   Pour a small amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent directly onto the mildew stains. Rub the detergent into the fabric. Let the detergent sit on the fabric for 15 minutes to help release the stains.

3. Fill the washing machine with a bleach solution

   Add bleach to the washing machine, and fill with the hottest water recommended for the fabric. Use chlorine bleach for white cottons and oxygen bleach for all other fabrics. Follow the manufacturer's directions on how much bleach to add to your washer.

4. Soak the clothing

   Immerse the clothing in the washer, making sure that it is completely under the bleach solution. Let it soak for eight hours.

5. Wash with the hottest water recommended for the fabric

   Add the normal amount of detergent to the washing machine, and run the regular cycle. Use the hottest water recommended for the material of the clothing.