Help with Mildew!

I would try a vinegar/water solution. Wash the carseat cover in the washing machine on the highest temp possible, with about 1 cup of vinegar. As for the pack n play, maybe make a solution in a spray bottle and spray it on. Then get a light scrub brush and try rubbing. Since, vinegar is acidic it should do the trick. Good luck!!

Wash whatever you can in the washer in hot water with a good cleaner and odor remover (Odo Ban works great). Then rewash those items in a baby detergent like Dreft to make it ready for baby. For the items that can't go in the washer, try the previously mentioned bleach & water for hard surfaces. For other surfaces, like the pack-n-play lining, I would try really dousing it with Clorox Clean Up Anywhere spray (the one they advertise wiping baby's high chair, etc with). I would soak it and let it bake in the sun and see what happens. It may cause some discoloration, but that's less improtant than being safe for baby (though I've not had it discolor anything). But if you're at all in doubt, don't use it. I'm not sure how bad your case is, but it's certainly not worth risking baby's health over... And many chemicals are too harsh for babies. Good luck to you - let us know if you find a secret!

This site has a lot of information for you: http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/housing/356-643/356-643.html#L3

eHow has an article as well: http://www.ehow.com/how_18795_remove-mildew-clothing.html

Good luck!

Anything that can be placed in the washing machine, put a little ammonia in with your soap. It will take out the mildew smell. Other wise you could mix a mixture of ammonia in a water bottle with some water and scrub that way. Good Luck.

Hi H.,

I hate to suggest something that will turn out to be costly, but its not the smell thats the concern and even if the smell is undected, that doesnt mean that the underlying problems are actually gone. You don't want your baby to have any health issues. Getting sick, allergies, asthmas, skin irritations, or anything else because what we cant see isn't really gone.

I just don't think it's worth it, especially if you don't know what kind of mold or mildew it is or why it occured. Even though basements are moist or more humid than the rest of the house, there may have been some kind of wet beyond the usual humidity down there. Some types are sooo much more harmful than the regular bad ones.

I would just buy new.

Good luck
L.

For the fabric part of the car seat try washing it in oxy clean. It got the smell out of blankets that my husband left on the basement floor. If it's stained with mildew fill the washer and soak it over night with the oxy clean. That stuff works great on stains. For the plastic part I'd use bleach and water, or clorex cleanup. Then leave it out in the fresh air to get the bleach smell off. For the larger items that you can't get apart to put in the washer, use the oxy clean and water in a bucket. For clothing the oxy clean again. Good Luck!

Hello H. there is a product called bleach white that is used to clean tires of cars, you can find it at any hardware or auto parts stores. I had the same problem as you after pulling my items out of storage, it worked very very well to remove all mildew stains and smells. But after cleaning with this product you will want to thoroughly rewash everything with a mild detergent and rinse very well, as this product is not very well meant for use on baby things, ( this also works wonders in the batroom as well). I would also try not to use it at all on anything like baby toys that may be put into there mouths, for those items I would try washing with Vinegar and the thoroughly rinsing.
Best of luck !
~ T.

Hello!

Have you ever heard of Melaleuca products? They are excellent! There products clean without all those harsh ingredients.

I used the same stuff that you use to get the smell of cat urine off... its called Simple Solution or a variation of that. You can get it in the pet supply aisle or in a pet supply store. Works great for laundry that was left in the washer for three days and other mildew situations. Good luck.

The same thing happened with my car seat. Ugh! Before you get it wet at all put it in direct sunlight for along time, then take a brush to it. That will get rid of a lot of fungus (and smell). From here, just wash it. Good Luck!!