Anyone know how to get mildew out of fabric?

[Xkarji]

I've been packing over the past couple of days, and unearthed a big box of wips that I hadn't been able to take a look at since I had packed it several years back. Inside are a couple of designs I particularly enjoyed doing and are almost done. They look wonderful, and once I settle down again I'm going to start working on them again. A few of them, particularly a good-sized Sleeping Beauty design that's nearly halfway finished has mold or mildew growing on it.

A few years back, I had to keep all my boxes in a damp garage for an extended period of time, and most of my stuff shows signs of wear, but this is rather devastating. I loved this piece.

(Its not my thing, exactly, I was planning on giving it as a gift to someone who loves it, once I find this person. It was just one of the most enjoyable pieces I have ever worked on.)

The mildew is really only on the outside of the piece, none of it got on the stitching itself, from what I can tell, so it might be salvageable. Anyone know how to get it out, or should I just rework the piece later? I've tried soaking it in warm water with a mild soap, but it won't come out, and the piece has a mild damp smell I can't get rid of. Its a little disconcerting. Any ideas?

[helbel]

For the smell maybe leave in in a bag with some bicarbonate of soda?

[Xkarji]

Oooh, that's a good idea. I will definitely be trying that.

[Serinde]

Can you lay it out in the sun?

[Xkarji]

I might be able to do that, too. (Provided we don't get anymore surprise rainstorms of doom. A lot of those lately.) Hadn't thought of that- I'll do it when the clouds clear up again.

[Athalie]

My mother used to soak fabric in full cream milk to get mildew out. At least if won't hurt the stitched area if you try.

[Xkarji]

Huh, that's really interesting. I've never heard of that. Might be worth it to give it a try, if I could find some.

[Aerona]

Would white vinegar hurt the stitching? I've used that to get rid of mildew growing n clothes before. I don't know what will/won't hurt the stitching first though.

[Xkarji]

Would I be able to smell the vinegar afterwards? I'm pretty sensitive to vinegar and would hate for it to work, then have the piece smell of it forever afterwards. :/ Although that's also really interesting- kinda wanna stitch up a small piece and see if vinegar hurts it.

[Aerona]

Once the vinegar dries, it doesn't smell at all. I actually use vinegar all the time in place of rinse aid in my dishwasher and nothing comes out of there smelling of vinegar either.

[Xkarji]

Really? That's actually kinda neat. What kind of vinegar do you use? Just distilled white?

[Aerona]

Yep, the plain old cheap stuff. For the dishwasher, it may not be 100% as good as the rinse aid but it is at least 90% as good and about 90% cheaper.

For your fabric, I'd probably dilute it some..Not sure of the size of your item but maybe a half cup to a cup to a sinkful of cold water?

[Xkarji]

I'm going to try it on a small piece that has some spots on it and see if it works out.

[Lori0]

I had packed away all on stitchings in an outdoor storage shed. And I also had mildew on a few of my finished pieces. I used oxi clean in warm water. Did not hurt my stitches nor did the colors run. My pieces came out bright and mildrew free.

[nachosmiley]

I have heard that lemon juice and salt mixed to a paste and left on the fabric for half an hour before washing gets out mildew....don't know if it works but it could be worth a try before buying any expensive chemicals.