You’ve finally gotten around to organising your wardrobe. It’s colour-coordinated, you’ve created extra space and the doors finally close properly. You might think it’s set and forget, but truth is, you have to revisit your closet regularly and there’s one very good reason for it: mould.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people come to me, telling tragic tales of how they lost their expensive handbags or favourite shoes to mould. It didn’t need to be that way.
There are two main reasons why mould might appear in your wardrobe:
Condensation
Condensation frequently occurs due to rising humidity levels in your house. Mould, a type of fungi, typically forms due to moisture. The biggest cause of rising humidity is a lack of ventilation – think an abundance of clothes in your closet or your wardrobe is pushed up tightly towards the wall. Typically, if you have clothes, accessories or shoes that haven’t been worn in a while, they don’t see much airing and are more susceptible to mould. Leather is a huge victim.
Damp Clothing
This is one of the biggest mistakes that people make. Often when you wash clothes, you’re in a rush to put them away so you don’t have loose threads floating around the house. The problem is most of your outfits are still damp and unfortunately, this leads to a build-up of moisture in an area that won’t see any ventilation or daylight.
How can I avoid mould growing?
Once you’ve emptied your wardrobe and ensured that there’s no sign of current mould, consider the following to help minimise the risk of growth.
– Minimise condensation by making sure your wardrobe isn’t tightly fitted against the wall.
– Cull clothes you don’t wear anymore. This will make sure your wardrobe isn’t overflowing. Clothes jammed in your wardrobe can develop mould.
– Avoid hanging damp clothes in your wardrobe. Make sure they’re always dry before storing.
– If you’re storing clothes that you don’t plan on wearing for a while, vacuum seal them to prevent moisture getting in.
This article originally appeared on Better Homes and Gardens.
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