474 Use buttermilk to remove mildew stains from clothes. Soak the garment for a few hours in 1 cup of buttermilk in 1 gallon of water before washing. The high acid content in the buttermilk will help kill mildew and germs.
475 Freshen musty towels with vodka. Start filling your washer with water, and add 1/3 cup of vodka and the amount of laundry soap you typically use for soiled loads. Once the washer is finished filling with water, add the towels, let them soak for 1–2 hours, then wash as usual. Once the cycle is complete, check to see if the smell is gone, and repeat the process, if necessary.
476 Nix mildew smells with vinegar. Fill your washer’s fabric softener dispenser with white vinegar to kill bacteria and neutralize odors in your laundry. You can also put the vinegar in a Downy Ball and toss it in the wash for the same effect.
477 Soak laundry with tough mildew odors. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a bucket of water. Use warm water unless the clothes label recommends otherwise. (Don’t use hot water, since it may set the stain.) Soak clothes for a few hours or overnight, then wash in the morning with additional vinegar added to the fabric softener dispenser.
478 Soak with homemade oxygen bleach. Mix up a batch of DIY oxygen bleach (see earlier in this chapter for the recipe). Add it to a bucket of warm water or a washing machine filled with water, and soak the item until the stain is removed. Some mildew stains will lift quickly, while others will take hours, overnight, or even a few days. Check the stain every hour or two. If you’re concerned about colorfastness, check the stain every 20–30 minutes.
479 Kill mildew growth with hydrogen peroxide. For one garment, mix 3 cups of water with 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide, and soak the garment for 15 minutes. Rinse well with water, then wash as usual. Hang to dry outside or in a well-ventilated area.