Every house or apartment typically has a separate closet where we keep our clothes and footwear. However, since these closets are usually rather small and they lack proper light and often even enough ventilation, quite many people report mold growth in their closets!
Of course, nobody wants to have mold growing in their closet, so naturally, you might want to know how to get rid of this disaster and what can be done to prevent this scenario.
In this article, you will find all the answers. We are going to tell you not only why mold appears and spreads in your closet, but also how to prevent mold on clothes and other things in a closet.
You are going to learn a few easy and handy tips and recommendations on this subject, as well as find out how mold can be removed.
With all this information in mind, you will be able to keep your closet mold-free easily and keep all your garments and shoes clean, fresh, and free from any traces of mold.
What Can Help You Prevent Mold In Your Closet?
Below in this article, we will explain how you can find out that you have mold in your closet. But now, here is another, more crucial concern: What can be done in order to prevent closet mold from appearing?
Everyone knows that mold is one nasty thing! Once it appears, you will have to spend quite a lot of effort and time trying to get rid of it once and for all!
This is why, when it comes to mold removal and prevention, we should keep a good old saying in mind that states: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And this is definitely true when it comes to keeping your closets free from mold and mildew.
And since dealing with mold to remove it is a rather bothersome task, we suggest you check out a few super simple things that can be done to help keep mold from growing in your closets:
Eliminate Moisture
It is a well-known fact that mold (as well as mildew, in fact) only grows where moisture is present. This is why you will definitely want to do everything possible in order to keep your closets dry.
The simplest solution would be to get a dehumidifier. It will ensure that your storage space is not hospitable to mold.
But, if you don’t have the budget or space for a dehumidifier, there is another option you can use instead. Simply consider using silica gel packs or a product like Damp-Rid!
Either of them will easily absorb excess moisture from the air! And besides, silica gel packs are very cheap and can be purchased almost in any store!
Remove Your Hamper Out Of the Closet
Speaking of mold, note that you can easily bring mold spores into your home on your clothing. As a result, those spores will easily grow since they will be feeding on the dirt that is stuck in fabric fibers!
This is why it is best to keep your dirty clothes out of the closet. The laundry room is the best and the most suitable place to store your hamper, in fact.
However, if for any reason you need to keep a laundry hamper in your closet, make sure that there are only dry clothes in it. Anything wet or damp should be allowed to dry completely before you toss that item in the basket! By the way, your shoes can also attract mold spores!
This is why we recommend you make sure that your shoes and other footwear are clean and dry. Only then they can be put away in your closet.
Air Your Closet Out Regularly
In most homes, a closet is quite a small space that often has no windows. In addition, this room also tends to have quite poor ventilation. This is why your closet needs to be properly aired in order to prevent mold and mildew growth.
This can be done easily. Just leave your closet doors open now and then. It will allow fresh air to enter easily.
By the way, open weave storage baskets and bins are two types of closet accessories that allow for ample air circulation greatly!
Finally, when airing your closet, take your clothes out of the plastic dry cleaning bags. They can trap the humidity around the clothing fibers which can cause mold growth.
Rise Up Your Clothes And Stuff
We are sure that very few of you know about this fact, so we find it necessary to share it with you.
It is not recommended to store stuff on the floor of your closet! It means that your shoe boxes and storage bins should be kept on shelves.
Like this, you will allow for better airflow easily. Storing your things up from the floor will also minimize the risk of damage or mold growth if there is ever a plumbing leak that soaks your carpet or floorboards.
Let More Light Into Your Closet
Most closets have quite a poor lighting, but this is exactly what can boost mold growth! This is why we recommend you make use of a low wattage and energy-efficient light. See, the warmth put off by the bulbs will help keep your closet dry.
As a result, it will be preventing mold growth. Only make sure that the light bulb is kept away from clothing or anything else that could catch fire!
Clean Sweep
This is a must-do step if you want to prevent mold from appearing and spreading in your closet.
Make sure you clean your closet regularly. Also, it could be a good practice to remove all of your clothing items and inspect them for signs of mold or other damage. Like this, you will not only make sure that there are no signs of mold in your clothes but also you will be able to get rid of clothes that you no longer use.
After sorting through your stuff, spend some time wiping down the shelves and vacuuming the floor.
Ventilation should also not be skipped! Try to let fresh air fill your closet for a few hours before putting everything away.
With these simple steps, you will be able to easily keep your closet mold-free without spending a penny!
But what if you have already noticed the first signs of mold in your closet? In this case, read on to find out how this problem can be solved.
How to Keep Mold Out Of Closet?
How to get rid of mold in a closet? This is quite a frequent question that people ask. Having mold growing in my closet is definitely not something you would like to experience! And to tell the truth, even if you do spot mold growth in your closet, there is no reason to panic.
As we have previously mentioned, mold spreads easily and can quickly get into your home.
In addition, mold spores prefer thriving in dark, damp spaces such as closets. And if you live in a region that receives a lot of rainfall or experience high humidity, chances are pretty high that mold can become a frequent guest in your closet.
So if you suspect mold, start by inspecting your clothes and other items that are kept in a closet.
Anything that is mold-infested even a little bit should be packed in a bag and thrown away immediately! You do not want to bring mold spores back into your clean closet. The next step is to clean and treat the area where mold or mildew growth was found.
This can be done using products you probably have on hand. We would recommend you use distilled white vinegar:
- Fill a spray bottle with vinegar
- Spray any mold or mildew patches you see
- Let the vinegar sit for about half an hour
- Then scrub the molded areas with a brush
- Afterward, rinse each area with water and let it dry
To make sure that there are no regrowth areas of mold, respray vinegar in the spots where the mold or mildew was found. Allow everything to dry completely before putting your belongings back into the closet.
If you don’t have vinegar, or if you prefer to avoid using it because of smell, for example, you can use another solution.
As an alternative to vinegar, you could use a mixture of bleach and water, or hydrogen peroxide and water in equal parts. To apply this remedy, just follow the same instructions as with the vinegar.
Only make sure to leave these solutions on for only ten minutes, since they are much stronger than vinegar!
However, if you have major mold infestations, you will not be able to cope with them on your own.
Should this happen, call a mold remediation specialist. Mold is toxic, as you probably know, and you want to make sure it is being removed properly. In extreme cases, drywall or shelving may even need to be replaced and the air may need to be purified!
Why Do I Have Mold In My Closet?
Having mold in closets is not a rare thing, in fact, but everyone who faced this problem used to wonder why mold appeared there at all. Well, the good news is that mold in a closet is not a sign of your home being a super dirty place!
Even the cleanest home can harbor mold. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold typically gets into our homes the same way we do – through the door. We can easily bring mold spores into our homes on our clothes and shoes.
Mold can also get in through windows or the air conditioning, as well as the heating system. So as you can see, the problem is not in you.
And since mold spores can grow especially quickly in humid places, you see most mold and mildew in the bathroom. As for our closets, they are typically small and dark spaces, which means that they make excellent breeding grounds for mold!
Additionally, such materials as cardboard, wood, fabric, carpet, and drywall that we typically have in our closets all provide the needed nutrients for mold to flourish.
How Do You Know If You Have Mold?
How can you find out that you have mold in your closet if, for example, you can’t see any signs of it yet?
Generally speaking, your nose will tell you. Simply give your closet the sniff test!
Do you sense a musty odor? If you do, then it is time for some investigation because you might have mold or mildew already growing somewhere in a hidden place. And it is just a matter of time before you notice it.
And since our closets are typically jam-packed with all sorts of stuff including clothes, shoes, accessories, and more, this makes it difficult to see what is hiding behind the hangers and baskets.
So if you suspect there might be mold in your closet (and if you can already sense the specific moldy scent), start by taking everything out of it.
Once all of your belongings have been removed, it will be much easier for you to search for any signs of mold. What you should search for are black or green colored patches on the walls or shelves, in particular.
Be sure to carefully inspect the areas along any outside walls or the walls backing up to a bathroom, as mold tends to grow best in dark, moist places, especially those that may have hidden water damage.
Well, now you know more about mold and how it can be spotted in your closet even if this room is super stuffed with clothes in your home.
You also learned what makes mold grow indoors, and what can be done in order to get rid of this nasty and health-hazardous stuff.
Finally, we told you how to prevent mold and mildew growth in your closet. With all that in mind, you will now be able to easily keep your closet mold-free.
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