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Non-porous items (metal, glass, hard plastic, sealed wood) can almost always be cleaned. Clothes and fabrics that wash in hot water usually come back. Porous items that grew mold or were soaked by dirty water, like mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpet pad, cardboard and paper, usually have to be thrown away. Anything touched by sewage or floodwater follows stricter rules.
Keep, Clean or Toss: Quick Sort
| Item | Usually | How |
|---|---|---|
| Metal, glass, hard plastic | Keep | HEPA vacuum, then wash with detergent and water; dry fully |
| Solid wood furniture | Usually keep | HEPA vacuum, damp-wipe, dry slowly; light sanding for surface stains |
| Clothes, towels, bedding | Usually keep | Wash hot with detergent; dry completely; repeat if it still smells |
| Shoes and leather | Case by case | Clean and dry; discard if mold is inside or the leather stays soft and smelly |
| Upholstered furniture | Usually toss | Mold grows into the padding; professional cleaning only for light surface growth |
| Mattresses and pillows | Toss | Cannot be cleaned through |
| Cardboard boxes | Toss the box | Move contents to plastic bins after cleaning |
| Books and papers | Case by case | Valuable documents can be frozen and restored by specialists |
| Photos | Often saved | Rinse gently, air-dry face up, or freeze for a specialist |
| Electronics | Case by case | Do not power on wet items; have them checked |
The EPA's mold cleanup guidance groups materials the same way: non-porous items can be cleaned, semi-porous items depend on how deep the growth goes, and porous items with visible growth are usually discarded.
How to Clean Moldy Clothes and Fabrics
- Take them outside firstShake or brush off loose growth outdoors so spores do not spread inside.
- Wash hotUse the hottest water the fabric allows, with regular detergent.
- Dry completelyA dryer on high or full sun. Damp fabric folded away grows mold again.
- Smell testIf it still smells musty after one wash, wash it again. If it still smells after that, let it go.
Washing at a friend's house or a laundromat is fine. Bag the items before transport and wash them right away.
If Sewage or Floodwater Was Involved
Category 3 water changes the rules. Soft items soaked by a sewer backup or outside floodwater, including upholstered furniture, mattresses, rugs and most stuffed items, are usually discarded because they cannot be sanitized all the way through. Hard items can be cleaned and disinfected. See our notes on items touched by sewage before deciding.
Special Items: Documents, Photos, Rugs and Electronics
Documents and books
Valuable papers can be frozen in sealed bags to stop mold growth, then dried by a document restoration specialist. Ordinary paperbacks with growth are usually not worth saving.
Photographs
Separate them, rinse gently in clean water if dirty, and air-dry face up. Photos stuck together can be frozen and handled later by a specialist.
Area rugs
Wool and synthetic rugs with light surface growth can sometimes be professionally cleaned. Rugs soaked by sewage are discarded.
Electronics
Do not plug in anything that got wet. Have it checked; mold inside a device is hard to clean safely.
Document Before You Throw Anything Out
If the mold came from a covered water event, your insurer may pay for damaged contents. Photograph each item with something for scale, list it with an approximate value and age, and do not dispose of anything until the adjuster has seen it or approved it in writing.
When to Use a Professional
- A whole basement of stored items after a flood or backup.
- Valuable or sentimental items: documents, photos, antiques, rugs.
- Contents need to be moved out so remediation can happen.
- Anyone in the house has asthma or a weakened immune system.
Contents are cleaned outside the work area and returned after the room passes its final check; that is part of contents cleaning after mold removal. For small amounts of hard items, the rules for safe DIY cleanup apply.
Store It Better Next Time
- Plastic bins with lids instead of cardboard boxes.
- Shelves that keep everything a few inches off the slab.
- A gap between storage and exterior walls so air can move.
- A dehumidifier and a hygrometer; keep humidity under 50%.
If the room itself needs remediation, start with our Eagle Mountain basement mold cleanup, contents included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you save furniture with mold on it?
Hard furniture like solid wood, metal and plastic usually can be cleaned. Upholstered furniture and mattresses with mold growth are usually discarded.
Can moldy clothes be saved?
Usually. Brush off growth outside, wash in the hottest water the fabric allows with detergent, and dry completely. Discard items that still smell after two washes.
Should I throw away cardboard boxes with mold?
Yes. Throw away the boxes; clean and keep non-porous contents and move them to plastic bins.
Will insurance pay for moldy belongings?
Only if the mold came from a covered water event, and usually within policy limits. Photograph and list items before disposal.
Can I wash moldy clothes at a laundromat?
Yes. Bag them before transport, wash in hot water with detergent right away, and dry completely.
