Mold is an unwanted guest that stays happily anywhere, particularly in homes. And you would never think that your closets are a comfortable place for it to start growing. Indeed, it's not great news for the homeowner to cope with.
Mold growth in closets begins in the right conditions: poor ventilation, dark recesses, organic food sources, and moisture issues. If you have no idea how to eliminate it, mold spores could spread to your precious clothes and cause unexpected damage.
You, as the homeowner, can hinder stubborn mold from invading your closets with some deep cleaning, enough air circulation to prevent moisture, and the use of the appropriate chemicals.
What is mold, and where does it come from?
Mold is a microorganism that comes in various colors, including black, green, white, gray, yellow, pink, and even purple. Mold generally enters your home through the doors and windows. It can also pass through the air conditioning/heating system.
Once mold spores start generating indoors, they can quickly spread, infest, and damage anything in your home. Worst of all, it can threaten your health.
Mold enjoys occupying dark and moist environments where the air isn't circulating well. So that makes your custom closet one best nest for mold colonies to grow and flourish.
Causes of Mold in Your Closet
Some of the common culprits behind mold infestation in your closet, including:
Moldy fabrics
Cotton provides “food” for mold. Also, one nature of fabrics is to absorb and retain moisture. If you have moldy clothes hanging in your closet, mold spores can quickly spread and dwell in various sites such as the walls and carpeting.
Humidity
Mold adores moisture so much. Closets are dark, isolated areas and become conducive to mold growth once humidity accumulates there.
Attic Mold
Roof or ceiling leaks and even high humidity can add dampness to your attic. Mold generates through wallboards and ceiling tiles, migrating and settling in new areas such as closets.
Water Damage
Water damage commonly leads to mold growth and infestation; either the reason is a leaky ceiling or a plumbing problem.
So How Do You Know If Your Closet Has Mold?
In general, your nose knows. It will let you know if your precious closet has mold because the first sign you will sense is a musty odor.
Other signs of mold in your closet are:
Staining. Mold can show itself as black, green, white, yellow, brown, or gray stains or spots on your closet floor and walls.
Bubbling Surfaces or Peeling Paint. Moisture beneath your closet's wall surfaces can make your paint bubble and peel. Remember, mold loves generating in humid sites.
How To Remove Mold in Your Closet
You can take the following steps to remove this fungus in your closet:
Step 1: Open the windows in the room where the closet is to improve ventilation during the mold removal. You can use fans to help the air circulate in the room.
Step 2: Protect your carpet or flooring by laying a tarp or a plastic cover on it.
Step 3: Inspect your clothes and other belongings. Separate mold-infested items that you can save from those you need to throw away.
Step 4: Place a covering material on your furniture and other belongings or bring them out of the room.
Step 5: Wear protective equipment such as a face mask, rubber gloves, and safety glasses (goggles) to avoid breathing mold in, getting it on your skin or in the eyes.
Step 6: Pour some water into a spray bottle and spray all the moldy areas in your closet to keep mold spores from spreading around the room.
Step 7: Start cleaning and treating the area using either one of the following solution options:
Option #1: Vinegar Solution
Create a mixture of 50% vinegar and 50% water into a spray bottle. Spray any mold patches you see in your closet. Leave it for about 30 minutes before scrubbing down the affected area with a brush.
Rinse each area with water, let it dry, and spray again using the same mixture. Air-dry everything thoroughly before putting your stuff back into the closet.
Option #2: Oxygen Bleach or Hydrogen Peroxide Solution
Make a mixture of 50% either oxygen bleach or hydrogen peroxide with 50% water into a spray bottle.
Spray the solution generously to the infested spots and leave it for 10 minutes before scrubbing the mold away. Then rinse and respray the affected areas and let them air-dry completely.
Never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaning products. Mixing them will produce poisonous gas.
Step 8: Don't let mold invade your closet again by focusing on mold prevention. Ensure humidity is kept as low as possible (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) to hinder mold growth.
Remember that the aforementioned DIY solutions do not ensure that you’ve eliminated your mold enemy completely. A mold remediation specialist can remove not only the mold but the source of the moisture as well. You may consider seeking help from them.
13 Tips to Prevent mold (and Mildew) from Growing in Your Closet
Ensure that all your clothes and other items are completely dry before storing them in your closets. Moisture in clothing is the perfect breeding ground for mold.
Do not toss soiled clothes or unclean items back into the closet. Mold feeds on dirt found in fabric fibers and other organic substances.
Avoid packing your clothes or other stuff too tightly in your closets. It traps humidity inside. Proper air circulation between your items is necessary to decrease moisture.
Avoid keeping clothes in plastic tubs or any sealed container. It's best to store them in breathable packaging.
Strive to avoid storing items on the closet floor. You don't want moisture to get stuck beneath them.
Replace wood or solid shelves with wire shelving to improve air circulation in your closet.
Consider changing your solid closet doors with louvered doors. They improve air circulation and inhibit mold growth.
Do not leave your closet doors open if they are in rooms with high humidity.
Install a low-wattage light bulb in closets, but make sure it isn't near your clothes or other flammable items. Leave the light on for several hours or 24/7 if possible. The warmth from the light bulb can help keep the closet dry.
Emptying, cleaning, and drying your closets thoroughly should be part of your cleaning routine. Do it regularly to let fresh air circulate inside and decrease mold from growing.
Use the air conditioning unit or a dehumidifier to control the humidity in your home. They remove excess moisture from the air.
Silica gel packs absorb moisture, so you can use them to make your closets dry.
Please don't ignore musty smells in your closet. Search out the source until you find it. If you see a moisture problem, fix it or call a professional to help you deal with it.
Contact an Expert
Mold can sneak even into your cleanest closets. And removing it on your own means risking your health. Call the experts at Superior Restore to help you deal with it. We are ready to serve you in emergencies 24 hours and 7 days a week.
Contact us for mold remediation services and water damage repair.
