PREVENTING MOLD AND MILDEW IN YOUR CLOSET

Your closet may be the last place you’d think could harbor mold or mildew. Yet studies on Cheat Sheet have shown that these fungi can grow pretty much anywhere, as long as the place is dark, musty, and humid—and it just so happens that your wardrobe is such a space.

For both your health and your own clothes’ sake, here are some things you can do to prevent mold and mildew in your closet:

REDUCE THE HUMIDITY

According to home maintenance professionals on Hunker, enclosed closets have restricted airflow that keeps humidity trapped inside—and this is exactly why fungi tends to grow in them. As recommended in HomeServe’s guide to preventing mold, using a dehumidifier can effectively remove damp from the air and facilitate better circulation. This makes it a great accessory for your closet to help beat mold in the long-term. Alternatively, you can also leave your closet open every other day to keep it fresh.

LEAVE A LIGHT ON

As mentioned, mold and mildew need moisture to live. Fortunately, SF Gate outline how the warmth from a low-wattage light bulb can help keep your closet dry. We recommend choosing an energy-efficient brand like Philips or Utilitech, which are both affordable and can keep your electricity bills from getting too high. As a precaution, however, you have to ensure that bulbs aren't anywhere near your clothing. This prevents it from damaging your clothes—or worse, causing fire accidents.

USE AN AIR PURIFIER

Air purifiers aren’t just great for your health—they're also great for maintaining your closet's quality too. Consider getting a purifier that includes a HEPA filter, as this can trap airborne and fungi spores, and prevent them from entering the space. Sharper Image’s air purifier is one example, as you can utilize its advanced plasma breeze technology to quietly sanitize the air around it. It even comes in a hanger-like design that makes it easy to incorporate in any wardrobe. Just remember to clean it every week, so your filters stay mold-free.

KEEP YOUR WET CLOTHES OUT

Even if you have a dehumidifier, it can only do so much if it's constantly up against wet clothes—whether it's sweaty athletic wear or shoes straight from a rainy day. Make it a habit to ensure that anything that enters your closet is dry and clean. Let your shoes dry down on the porch, and immediately chuck all sweaty garments into the washer. Not only will these prevent fungi from growing on your clothes, but it’ll prevent the extra moisture from evaporating into your closet air as well.

INSTALL WIRE SHELVING

Again, one of the biggest culprits of mold is lack of air circulation, so it helps to build your closets with airflow in mind. To this end, every new closet should have wire shelving, as this can allow air to circulate, even between your clothes. Plus, The Art of Cleanliness state that its open design lets you go through your clothes without having to dig them all out.

Mold and mildew can sneak into the most unusual of places, like your closet. But with the proper preventive measures in place, you won’t have to worry about fungi growing anywhere near your clothes!

Article exclusively written for closetphile.com

Authored by Rosalie Joyce