How to Prevent Mold in Closet?

Mold can grow anywhere in homes, including closets. Moisture can accumulate in closets, providing a breeding ground for mold growth. Thus, it is a matter of keeping the closets dry to prevent mold in closets. Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Alternaria—no, they’re not fancy names for your next house plant collection. In fact, these are five of the most common types of mold that cause significant health issues in households.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC estimates that there are roughly 10,000 indoor mold species. Meanwhile, closets are basically the keepers of the wardrobe. Sometimes, they even store our most sacred treasures, safely tucked away in the room.

What causes mold in a closet?

Molds always love closets even when you keep your things clean. The molds keep coming back even when everything is arranged. Actually, it takes more than just moisture to keep the fungus happily thriving. In particular, they also survive in places that have poor air circulation and are exposed to any wooden structure.

Getting rid of any of these factors is enough to completely eliminate mold in your closet.

However, moisture is probably your worst enemy when it comes to mold, which possibly stems from:

• Leaky pipes: Most closets are adjacent or opposite a bathroom or a kitchen where pipes run through the available wall gaps. Leaks are usually hard to detect and may only be noticeable once the slightest hints of yellow patches or black stains have become apparent on your closet walls.
• Leaky roofs or gutters: Your roof is basically the first line of defense against water. A damaged roofing or gutter system, despite how little the damage is, will eventually cause water leaks inside your home in no time.
• Leaking attic: A leaking attic may be hard to detect since it’s mostly stuffed with things that obscure your view of the walls and even ceilings. You should note that damaged storage tanks and plumbing systems running through your attic are common sources of a weak leak.
• Damp clothes: Do you love leather? If you’re the sweaty type and have a penchant for leather clothes and other fabrics that do not air dry easily, then, expect the fungus to take over your wardrobe. During rainy season or cold months, it can be a challenge because drying of sweaty clothes during that time takes so much time.
• High humidity: Most closets tend to be closed which causes the walls to perspire, making them prone to moisture. When moisture sits longer, it is an attractive place for fungus to grow. This is especially problematic in hot and humid weather.
• Lack of air circulation and sun exposure: The lack of air passing through the fabrics and on your walls will make it harder for your items to air dry, making it easy for moisture to form on surfaces. Although, due to their location, closets don’t get enough sunlight and thus can’t take advantage of the sun’s natural antibacterial properties.

How to get rid of mold in your closet?

A sure sign that there is mold in your closet is that musty smell that is always associated with mold. You should also note that not all molds can be detected by smell. If a family member experiences itching and other allergy-related symptoms but would usually go away every time they leave the house, then it’s pretty likely that you’ve got molds growing in your home. Peeling and cracking of paint on your closet walls is also a good indicator of water seepage.

Mold growth is also apparent when there is excess moisture on your walls. To make sure if molds are really growing in your closet, it’s probably best to have it checked by a professional mold inspector.

But, if you’re on a budget, you can also do it by yourself. 

These are the things to do in order to get rid of molds in your closet:

• Spot clean: Remove clothing or items where there is obvious growth of molds, but make sure to have an enclosed hamper or plastic bag where you can directly drop the items without further spreading the spores. Open doors and windows to allow air to circulate. Don’t turn on your air-conditioner.
• Empty your entire closet: If you have enough time to spare, then it’s time to clean your entire wardrobe. Dry clean your non-washable items and tumble wash all your clothes. This is also a great time to inspect your closet for any signs of mildew. Then, you can now clean your closet walls.
• Wash your rugs: Rugs in or around closets can be a hotbed for mold and other bacteria growth. Clean your rugs regularly and schedule a monthly dry-cleaning. You can also spot clean using hot water and a cleaning agent.
• Fix the source: After emptying your entire closet, check for any source of the leak. If you suspect damaged plumbing as the culprit, contact a plumbing contractor immediately.
• Wash closet walls: Use mold control sprays that work effectively on wood closets. Mold-infested closets are usually caused by external factors such as sweaty clothes because of hot and humid weather and not essentially because of something crucial as damaged plumbing or roofing system.

How to prevent mold in your closet?

Here are some tips to prevent these molds from infesting your closet. It’s always better to prevent them than to get rid of them.

Prevention is even cheaper than removing.

• Switch to louvered doors: These slatted doors not only allow air to circulate easily but also allow sufficient sunlight to radiate into your closet.
• Provide a separate compartment for outdoor gear: It’s best to store your outdoor gear in the mudroom or patio area. This will prevent spores from the outdoors from spreading to your other clothing items that are stored in the closet. If you don’t have any outdoor space, you can use breathable plastic to cover your outdoor gear until it’s time to wash them.
• Reduce humidity: Extreme humidity can cause perspiration or sweating of surfaces, which is bad news since molds thrive best in these conditions. You can reduce humidity by using dehumidifier.
• Install light well or solar tubes: Consider installing a light well or solar tube for your closet. This is where light is allowed to pass through your ceiling down to your closet using a metallic tube pipe directed through your roof and captures natural light.
• Install an exhaust fan: Forced ventilation is a suitable option for windowless closets. Consider installing an exhaust fan to drive fresh air into your closet.