12 Ways to Fend Off Mold in Your Closets

You love your custom closets. You have so much space for your belongings, and you have no problem finding what you need. Unfortunately, you might also find (or smell) something you don’t need - mold. Luckily, you can take several steps to protect your closet and its contents. 

Keep reading to find out the best ways to prevent mold from flourishing in the first place.

Mold is a fungus that comes in various colors - purple, green, orange, white, or black. It grows both indoors and outdoors. When grown naturally outdoors, mold is relatively harmless and helps in breaking down dead trees and leaves. However, inside your home, mold is not useful. It can wreak havoc by unleashing a terrible odor and destroying your clothing and other items. 

Because mold thrives in dark, damp environments with little to no air circulation, your custom closets are the ideal breeding ground. Mold grows on any substance, including wood, paper, carpets, food, fabrics, etc. 

Typically mold grows in the drywall or carpeting at the back of your closet, but once it spreads, you can find mold almost anywhere, including walls, ceilings, pipes, clothing, etc. It can destroy delicate clothing items, important documents, and tools, among other things.

The presence of moisture, even a tiny amount, is all mold needs to thrive. As noted by Hunker.com, moisture in your closets can be caused by:

• Humidity - Occurs in the air during the summer months or if your closet is near a bathroom or basement. Because closet doors typically remain closed, humidity gets trapped inside.
• Water Damage - Leaky pipes in the walls or a leaky roof can cause water to seep into your closet.
• Moldy Fabrics One of the most nutrient-rich sources of food for mold is cotton.  If the cotton absorbs moisture, mold develops. The mold spores can then spread to other areas of your closet, most commonly your walls and possibly the ceiling above. 
• Attic Mold -  Mold can quickly spread to other areas of your home, including your attic.  If you can’t find any moisture in your closets, the mold may be coming from your attic via the walls or ceiling.

With a lack of airflow, closets offer the ideal conditions for mold to flourish. Getting rid of all mold is difficult, but the Environmental Protection Agency says that the best way to prevent indoor mold is to “control moisture.”

Use these essential tips to prevent mold from growing in your custom closets and destroying everything inside:

Periodically, check your closets for water damage, particularly on the walls and ceiling. If you locate a plumbing leak, fix it immediately. Also, make sure to clean up any moisture the leak caused to prevent mold from forming.

When moisture evaporates from damp or wet items, it remains in the air. Before putting them back in your closet, inspect your items to make sure that they are dry. Do not hang wet or damp clothing in your closets.

Dirt and organic substances are “food” for mold. Because mold can destroy fabrics, make sure you put only clean clothes in your wardrobe. Also, you may not want to keep your laundry hamper in your closet. 

Do not pack your clothes too tight together. Rearrange your clothing to allow air to circulate better. To help your effort, go through your closets occasionally and purge anything you no longer want.

After getting clothes dry cleaned, remove them from the plastic bags as soon as possible. Plastic traps humidity, further enabling mold to grow.

To prevent mold from growing, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends keeping the relative humidity in your home between “30 and 50 percent.” Use a dehumidifier to lower humidity levels and remove excess moisture from your closets. Make sure you empty the drip tray from the dehumidifier regularly to avoid mold growing in the tray.

Do not store anything on your closet floors. Hang everything up or move to another location. If a water leak occurs and the items get damp, mold can grow underneath. 

Keeping your closet doors open several hours a day allows fresh air into the space to reduce the humidity. To move the air around, put a fan at the closet entrance, and point it inside. For closets next to the bathroom, keep the doors closed until the humidity subsides. 

Create a routine for cleaning out your closet every few months. Remove all items from your closet, including drawers and cabinets. Vacuum or sweep the closet floors to remove dirt and dust. Using soap and water, wipe down all surfaces, including drawers, cabinets, shelves, walls, and closet rods. Ensure all surfaces are dry before returning your belongings to the closet. If your closet has a carpeted floor, consider steam cleaning it.

Install a low-wattage, energy-efficient light bulb in your closet to burn off excess moisture and humidity. Keep the light on at all times, if possible. Make sure clothing and other flammable items are not near the light.

Silica gel, baking soda, chalk, or washed charcoal all absorb moisture from the air and can be placed in your closet. 

Avoid storing clothing in sealed, plastic storage containers. As an alternative, use storage baskets or other boxes with holes to increase airflow.

Mold can wreak havoc on your custom closets, but it will only flourish when moisture is present. To prevent mold growth, you need to address the source as soon as possible. Use the practical tips in this article to create an environment that discourages mold growth.

• https://www.hunker.com/13416415/what-causes-mold-in-the-closet
• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-are-ten-things-i-need-know-about-mold-0
• https://www.cdc.gov/mold/faqs.htm