Bathing Suits-Mildew?

Question

I have about 6 expensive bathing suits from International Male, that I can not afford to replace. I have only hand-washed them & always hang them up to dry.

The problem is, that after some years of use, they all have black spots, which appear to be mold, or something like it. I have scrubbed, soaked & even machine-washed them to try to get these spots out, with no success. (They are 80% nylon & 20% spandex-& cannot be put in bleach because they are all different colors).

What I'd like to find out is, is this mold? Why & how did they get this way; & MOST importantly, is it possible to get rid of these little black spots?

Answer 1

Please try white vinegar! I think that will work-followed by a wash in mild detergent. They are mildewing because at some point you have put them away damp, I suspect. Damp causes it!

Answer 2

From your description, it does sound like mold or mildew.

Possibly while in storage (from one bathing suit season to the next), they were in an environment such as a drawer or closet that was moist.
An example would be: closets or drawers that are located in the bathroom. For mildew to grow, you need conditions of darkness, moisture, and warmth.

After Katrina flooded my son's apartment on the second floor of a house, he had closets of clothes that were mildewed and/or smelled moldy. (Any place that clothing had touched the saturated sheetrock of the walls inside the closet, there were mildew spots.)
We were able to salvage most of the clothes by washing in the hottest water possible and with extra detergent, along with the addition of 2 tablespoons of bleach per washer load.
Of course you couldn't use bleach on a bathing suit with Spandex.

One of my friends swears by Biz.
I use Tide, and would suggest soaking the suits in Tide for an hour, then spin out the detergent/ water from the washing machine but do not rinse. Let the suits sit with the Tide still un-rinsed and that acts as a kind of stain removal.
Then wash them and hang dry. Outdoors in the sunshine
(or indoors in a sunny spot)would be best.
Repeat until the spots lighten significantly.

You can use lemon juice and salt on any remaining stains.
I sincerely hope your efforts to lighten the spots will be sucessful.

Answer 3

I'd say its mildew. If you're hanging them to dry in a cool damp and dark place that would foster the growth of bacteria. The only way to remove it would be bleach so ...if the black spots are so bad that you can't wear them in that condition anyway, you can't lose by trying it. First try hydrogen peroxide, its a milder form a bleach that you can get at most drug stores, if that doesn't do it and doesn't ruin your colors, then try half the recommended amount of bleach. Try it with your least favorite pair first....or pay to have them dry cleaned if a dry cleaner thinks they can professionally remove the stains it might be worth the cost.

Answer 4

Begin as soon as mildew is discovered. Brush off outdoors. Sun and air clothes before laundering or dry cleaning. To remove mildew stains that remain, try one of the following Test fabrics for color fastness first.

1.Moisten stain with a mixture of lemon juice and salt. Lay textiles in sun to bleach. Rinse thoroughly.

2.Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of a powdered non-chlorine bleach containing sodium perborate or potassium monopersulfate with one pint of water. Use the water temperature recommended for the fabric or color. Sponge or soak the stain. Let stand 30 minutes or longer; then rinse well. Old stains may need to soak overnight.

3.Mix 2 tablespoon of liquid chlorine bleach with 1 quart warm water. Sponge or soak stain for 5 to 15 minutes and then rinse. Do not use chlorine bleach on silk, wool, or spandex fibers.

To Prevent Mildew Growth:

Keep fabrics dry. Never let damp or wet clothes lie around. Dry or wash them. Spread out damp towels and washcloths to air dry. Stretch out wet shower curtains. Dry washed clothes quickly.

Clean clothing before storing. Soiled clothes are more likely to mildew than clean ones. Do not leave starch in clothes for long storage periods since molds feed on starch. Air the clothes in closets by opening doors and shifting them to provide air space around them.

Commercial mildew inhibitors are available in hardware and paint stores. In severe cases, these inhibitors may prove to be effective. Since strong chemicals are used, read the label instructions carefully to see what the inhibitors can do and how they can be used safely.

Answer 5

I am sorry I can not help you out but I can tell you this - don't use any type of bleach on stretch material. It will destroy the rubbery bond that elastic fabric use to boing back into shape.

Answer 6

my dad always washed in warm water with dawn dish detergent and let it dry either in the shower or out in the sun and i'm not sure about your spots.

Answer 7

TSP - tri sodium phosphate - sold at painting and hardware stores