Every home owner’s recurrent nightmare is trying to wear their favorite piece of clothing or shoe and discovering mold in closet, cloth, shoe et al. Even the most well-kept homes have at times faced this issue and discovering one has mold and one needs to spend a sufficient amount of time to clean it isn’t exactly anyone’s favorite hobby.
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What Is Mold?
Mold is basically the kind of fungus which grows in damp or dark spaces which has enough access to humidity to spur faster growth. The stale air and reduced light inside the closets give apt space for mold to catch on, grow and finally damage both the closet and most importantly the shoes and clothes kept inside. These fungal spores can cause many medical issues such as asthmatic attacks, skin allergies, headaches, infections among other ailments. The severity of the ailments can escalate to even the individual getting a severe case of infection in the lungs leading to nose bleeds, nausea, and throwing up.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that one ensures that there is no mold on clothes in closet or mold on shoes in closet. We say both shoes and clothes because these two wearable items in one’s closet are the most fertile grounds for mold in closet to thrive and sustain.
This article gives you practical tips on how to test whether you have a serious case of mold in closet and if you do then the different tricks on how to prevent mold in closet.
Types Of Closet Molds
There are two kinds of mold in closet that are observed across the world. The black mold and the white mold. The white mold is a white-colored powdery, flimsy, or flaky material found in closet back walls or shelves. It is usually considered the less harmful of the two. You are most likely to see white mold on clothes in closet. Black mold on the other hand is a black or gray soot-like mold found inside closets. Black mold is known to be more toxic, especially for human beings, and can prove to be deadly for those with pre-existing health conditions related to the lungs.
What are the ways one can identify whether one has an issue with mold in closet? Well, one of the easiest ways to identify mold in closet is through three of your sense organs. That is right, the eyes, nose, and skin are three very good gauging tools to identify if one has a problem with mold in closet.
If one were to see a black, white, or even a reddish stain typical of some form of mold, or peeling or cracks appearing in the painted parts then one can confirm the fact that mold has gained entry into one’s closet. Another way of identifying mold in closet is if one gets a pungent odor that is typical of a damp moldy growth. One should take immediate action to arrive at the source of the smell and eliminate the threat. The third sure-fire way of arriving at this conclusion is if one were to get rashes or allergies on one’s skin.
Reasons For Mold In Closet And How To Prevent Mold In Closet
We have spoken enough about what mold in the closet is. But what are the reasons for the growth of mold in one’s closet?
Mold typically is a fungal growth that begins due to cold or damp surroundings. It is of extreme importance to identify the root cause of the dampness before cleaning the closet or wardrobe. Otherwise, the mold will grow right back in a matter of days.
One of the most common reasons for the growth of this fungus is water leaks. Either due to a leaky faucet or leaking pipes in the bathrooms or even water leaks from the roof, mold enters and thrives in the closets that are in close proximity to such areas.
If one is in the habit of taking clothes off the cloth line and throwing them in one’s closet before they are completely dried out then one is inviting mold growth, especially white mold on clothes in closet. The wet clothes kept inside the dark closet in close proximity to warm and dry clothes are an ideal environment for mold growth.
Another reason why mold is found in most homes is due to the air-conditioning or heating equipment malfunction like a blocked drain tube.
How To Remove Mold On Clothes & Shoes In Closet
One of the worst products to be affected by the molds is our precious clothes and shoes. One way to remove mold on clothes in closet is to first use a cleaning brush and swipe and brush away any loose mold spores attached to the clothes. Once that is done then washing the clothes with vinegar instead of detergent is a good way to remove mold on clothes in closet.
Bleaching is another way to kill such fungal growth on one’s clothes.
Tip: Use hot water instead of warm or cold water but ensure it doesn’t damage the cloth. Spray vinegar or chemical disinfectant and allow them to sit for a bit of time. Ensure you don’t forget to wash your clothes after a suitable period to prevent any damage to cloth while completely eliminating white mold on clothes in closet.
People tend to ignore mold on shoes in closet. However, this can prove to be dangerous as mold on shoes has been known to cause toenail fungus infection, inducing pain in the toenail area. For removing mold on shoes in closet, one has to be far more careful. Because of the intrinsic nature of the item, washing a shoe might not be a good decision. What one can do instead is to take quick remedial action to prevent any more fungal growth and clean up the pair of shoes in such a way that it destroys the mold. Firstly, one will have to remove both the lace as well as in-soles.
Then using a brush with soft bristles slowly start brushing away mold from the affected parts. Once you are done inspecting the shoe and then using a cloth drenched in a mixture of water and rubbing alcohol apply it to the shoe. Use a drenched cloth in a bowl of plain water and gently rub both pairs. Allow the pair of shoes to dry in the sun.
Tip: While cleaning away mold on shoes in closet, use a pair of gloves and wear a mask.
Finally, to remove the stern odor of mold from clothes, use baking soda while washing the clothes. Even using vinegar during the washing cycle can help remove the smell from your clothes.
How To Prevent This Mold Issue?
Once you have done crisis management, it is essential to ensure mold doesn’t return to affect your closet or the clothes and shoes in them.
Therefore, one has to follow the steps mentioned below diligently and scrupulously to prevent mold in closet:
- Identify the source of moisture in your closet and eliminate it immediately. From repairing the leaky faucet to leaky pipes and fixing roof leaks to servicing the air-conditioning system, ensure you are identifying the source of moisture and doing everything in your power to prevent a recurrence of the same.
- Provide a proper source of both ventilation and lighting in your closet. One way of doing it is by leaving the closet doors open and generally just airing out the closet. You can even fix a low-watt light bulb to thwart any mold growth in closet.
- Using an air purifier has been known to curtail mold growth in homes.
- Clean the shelves periodically. Make it a habit to not only use optimum solutions to prevent mold, but also do simple things. Cleaning the shelves and the ingredients periodically goes a long way in preventing any fungal growth.
- Avoid any plastic wrapping for clothes. Plastic has an intrinsic property of trapping moisture thereby escalating mold growth in closets. Cotton casings are perfect for keeping clothes safe from mold.
- Consider replacing wooden shelves with metal wire shelving. Thus, you will improve the amount of air ventilation the clothes receive, thereby reducing the chances of mold on clothes in closet.
- Using a dehumidifier can help prevent the growth of fungi to a great extent. A dehumidifier keeps the level of humidity in check thus preventing any conducive environment for unchecked mold growth.
- Try using silica gel packets which act as moisture absorption agents while being non-toxic.
Other than the steps mentioned above there are some general rules one can follow to avoid any mold trouble.
- Primary amongst them is to avoid throwing wet garments into one’s closet.
- Avoid putting any clothes or shoes on the lowermost shelf or on the floor of the closet.
- Usage of louvered doors helps in better air circulation thus preventing mold in closet.
This concludes our article on how to tackle mold in closet.
