Using Dehumidifier to Control Mold Growth in Your Closet

We came across with one vlog showing her entire closet. It was so beautiful and includes all her important and probably expensive personal belongings such as clothes, shoes, and bags. One thing I noticed in her video is her closet is equipped with an electric dehumidifier. This is a smart way of protecting your personal belongings from mold growth. Your clothes, shoes, and bags might be one of the many important belongings you have, yet some of these personal belongings are also susceptible to mold growth. You don’t want mold to lurk around them, do you? Let’s discuss it here…

How does mold grow on your clothes, shoes, and bags

There could be a lot of factors that contribute to the growth of mold in your closet, but there are two main causes that have to be addressed first when dealing with this issue.

1. Condensation

Condensation is considered as one of the main culprits of mold growth. Condensation happens when the moist air gets contact into a colder surface like wall and window. This moisture can later cause a higher level of humidity making the place more attractive for mold to colonize. And, eventually will spread to your personal belongings.

2. Damp Clothing or Materials

Mold can easily colonize in areas or items that are damp or not properly dried. For instance, your clothing that is not properly dried for more than 24 hours gives chances for mold to lurk around your personal belongings. Hanging your damp clothes in an enclosed room, thinking that hang dry is ok, is another chance for mold to grow.

Prevent Mold in Your Closet

Even your clothes, shoes or bags are not susceptible to mold colonization when they are stored in areas where the humidity level is high or when they are just set damp and wet. Aside from the risks it brings to your health, mold can make your personal belongings irreparable to some extent. Follow some simple tips on how to stop mold to lurk around them.

• Avoid hanging damp clothes in the area where you store your clothes. Keep them completely dry before putting them away.

• Leave spaces between your clothes, shoes, and bags. Leaving space around them can help circulate air. If they are close to each other, it gives more chances for mold to grow and spreading them from one item to another.

• Keep the closet door closed if it is near a room that has high humidity such as a bathroom or laundry room.

• Place items like shoe boxes or storage tubs on wire shelves to avoid trapping moisture underneath these items.

• Remove the air from the closet by removing your personal belongings, then cleaning and drying the room thoroughly.

• Use a low-wattage light bulb to help to eliminate moisture.

USING A DEHUMIDIFIER TO CONTROL MOLD GROWTH

The most effective way of preventing mold growth in your closet or on your personal belongings is controlling the conditions that promote mold growth. Your clothing or items that have materials susceptible to mold growth should be placed in a cool, dry environment with proper ventilation.

Using a dehumidifier is a good tool in reducing humidity. An electric dehumidifier removes excess moisture in the air, keeping your room dry and cool. The recommended relative humidity of your closet must be below 50 percent to avoid mold growth. If the humidity of your closet is higher than that, then you need a dehumidifier.

This is an optional case. However, a dehumidifier is a good investment if you want to keep your personal belongings in good shape.