Mold on clothes and shoes

First, please forgive me if there is already a similar thread on the forum; I searched quite thoroughly but couldn't find one, and I honestly wasn't sure where else to post this (there is a discussion about mold in homes, but that seems focused on wall growth and things like that)

So, recently I pulled my lovely white bra out of the closet, and just as I was getting ready to put it on, I noticed something gray "inside." It looked almost as if a patch of mold had formed on the inner side—specifically right on the silicone padding. It was about an inch wide, with a darker spot right in the center. However, I couldn't tell for certain if it was actually mold, because when I sniffed it, there wasn't really a scent. I went ahead and washed it, and the spot disappeared...
But now— is it possible that was mold? (It feels so strange that it would appear on the inside like that). The bra is practically new, maybe worn only once, though I suspect I might have tucked it away in the closet before it had completely dried from the last wash! 🤷 🤷
I didn't use an iron to try and kill any spores with heat or steam, mainly because of that silicone insert; I’m a bit worried the heat might cause it to crack. 😁

What I am wondering is how dangerous that kind of mold can be when it shows up on clothing, and if washing the item makes it safe again? I've read that some people just wash their clothes and keep wearing them without a second thought... I don't know, I've never dealt with anything like this before and I'm feeling a little lost. Should I just throw the bra away (even though it's brand new and they don't carry this specific style at the store anymore), or is it okay to wear it now that it's been cleaned?

Thank you. 😍

If you washed it along with your whites at a high temperature, everything probably shrunk or warped. Look, I’m no expert on the anatomy or microbiology of lingerie, but my advice is to just keep wearing it to keep him happy—there's really no harm in that.

The mold likely grew because you were being impatient and tucked it away damp in the closet, thinking you'd have it ready for a night out on Friday. 😁

Best,
good luck,
Eric Wright29

Carol Scott98, this happens quite frequently when you store laundry somewhere before it has actually finished drying—it’s a bit of a classic mistake. It is essentially the same issue you run into if you toss damp clothes into the washing machine and then just let them sit there without starting the cycle immediately.
If you caught it right after the wash was done, then everything is probably fine. You can just go ahead and wear it. 😉

I appreciate both of your responses, though I didn't run it at 95°C because I was worried the silicone might actually boil, 🤣

besides, Eric Wright29, how on earth did you manage to figure out that I'm such an impatient person? 🤔 😉

Carol Scott98 said:thanks to both of you for the replies, but I didn't wash it at 95°C because I didn't want the silicone to "boil"🤣

actually, Eric Wright29, how on earth do you know I'm impatient!? 🤔 😉

1. if it worked, it worked. end of story. you've made the world a better place with that silicone push-up

2. as for the question—psychiatry used to be my specialty back in the day... I said it perfectly, didn't I?

Greeting, dear

Dr. Anthony

Eric Wright29 As stated by:
If it happened, then it happened, and there really isn't much else to say about it. I suppose one could argue that the world is just a little bit richer for having one more silicone push-up out there.

It seems I have inadvertently caused a moment of amusement, though I must admit I am somewhat unsure of what exactly triggered such a reaction. 👍

Eric Wright29 As expressed by:
Regarding the questions being asked—psychiatry used to be my primary field of expertise, though I must admit my knowledge might feel a bit dated by today's standards. I believe I stated that quite accurately, didn't I? ?

I truly appreciate the support from everyone here.

Carol Scott98 said:haha.... 👍

Don't laugh... If you happen to be heading down to San Diego this Friday and decide to go out, I'm more than happy to step in and perform a full health inspection on that bra of yours. 🤣

Young, handsome, and practically a doctor. 😁

(Admins, please let me keep this troll around, pretty please...)

Carol Scott98 said:5+ 👏

🙂

Yes... we have drifted quite far off-topic, haven't we? In much the same way, I find myself quite a distance from San Diego, though the city remains absolutely brimming with material ripe for inspection, so if anyone is interested, please feel free to dive in. 😉

Carol Scott98 said:Yeah... we drifted a bit off-topic there. Same goes for me—I'm a long way from San Diego, but that city is absolutely packed with material worth inspecting if you're interested. 😉

I agree... This isn't something that falls under the scope of moral oversight. 😁😁

Good luck, dear.

Greeting
Tony

Oh, you two... seriously, get a room. ☕
Honestly, seeing this kind of display over at the Mayo Clinic is just... well, it's something. 🙂

Just don't forget... safety first, people—use protection 😁 (Ghmmmk, I suppose since we are technically at the Mayo Clinic, we ought to say something remotely useful.

Sophia Wells72 said:Oh you two....get a room. ☕
Honestly, seeing this drama play out on a health forum is something else. 🙂

Just don't forget... practice safe sex. 😁 (Ghmmmk, we are on a medical board after all, I guess I should say something useful)

Are you joining in too, Brutus? 😁

People, you guys are getting a little too heated on this page. 😍

Sophia Wells72 said:Oh you two....get a room. ☕
Honestly, it's kind of nice seeing this on the Health forum 🙂

Just don't forget... better safe than sorry when it comes to protection 😁 (Ghmmmk, we are on a health forum after all, I guess we should say something useful)

melloworca6 said:Are you joining in too, Brutus? 😁

People, you guys are getting a little too heated on this page. 😍

Shame on you. You clearly aren't seeing the pure innocence in my provocations 😍

Oh, right, protection... My (almost) boss, the Pope, wouldn't exactly agree with you ☕ And neither would my OBGYN professor 🤣

Ali, that's more of a topic for religion class. Everyone there seems to be an expert on protection 😂

Sophia Wells72 said:Carol Scott98, this happens all the time when you stash laundry away before it’s actually dry. It’s the same deal if you toss wet clothes into the washer and just let them sit there instead of starting the cycle immediately.
If it smelled fine right after the wash, then you're good. Just keep wearing it. 😉

Sorry if this sounds like a rookie question. Is there any real risk of mold growing if I throw wet laundry in the machine around 5 PM and don't actually run the wash until 8 AM the next morning?

Sam Brooks4 said:Sorry if this sounds super basic. Is there actually a risk of mold growing if I toss wet laundry into the washer around 5 PM and then don't actually start the cycle until 8 AM the next morning??

Yeah, totally.

You might want to get a bit closer to the reality of it... a washing machine drum is honestly one of the worst places to store damp clothes. If you can't run a load right away, just throw them in a laundry basket—you know, one of those breathable ones where air can actually move through so things can dry out. Honestly? It’s probably better to just spread the clothes out on a towel on the floor in the corner of the room than to leave them trapped in a dark, sealed drum overnight...

Also, most stuff we wear these days isn't meant for those crazy 190°F deep cleans. Modern fabrics with spandex or elastane—like your gym gear and stuff—will absolutely melt or lose their shape at those temps.

If you're already fighting mold, bleach is your best bet (but seriously, only use it on whites, and watch how much you use and for how long), or just let them bake in the sun... though you gotta be careful about colors fading there too.

But really, the best way to deal with it is to just not let the mold happen in the first place by making sure everything gets dried thoroughly...