The winter months are prime time for mold to take hold in your home. And once you have a mold problem, it can be near-impossible to remove. The combination of your warm home and the colder outside air can cause high levels of humidity and condensation indoors, which creates the ideal environment for mold growth.
But there are some areas of your home which are more prone to mold than others, and one of the easiest places for mold to take hold is your wardrobe. This is because it's a closed-off area with little airflow. And (if you're anything like me) it's often crammed to the brim with an excessive number of clothes, which in turn creates even less ventilation.
"We recommend fitting vents into wardrobes to help distribute the airflow," Wiltshire says, "and to use items like rice and baking soda to absorb moisture in the air.”
How to prevent mold in wardrobes
“Having a mold outbreak can be devastating to deal with, especially if all of the clothes are ruined beyond repair," says Wiltshire.
“It’s a common problem to deal with in the winter months, as the colder temperatures mixed with the warmth indoors can result in excess moisture in the air."
I recently invested in one of the best dehumidifiers to tackle the excessive levels of humidity in my home, but because wardrobes are closed off, they can still bear the brunt of any mold infestations that do occur.
Here are three home remedies worth trying in your wardrobe this winter.
1. Spray white vinegar
We all know by now that white vinegar is a miracle ingredient in the home. Its acidic properties make it antimicrobial in nature, capable of killing low levels of mold.
"A mixture of white vinegar and distilled white water can help to get rid of mold which has already started to form," says Wiltshire.
"Take all of the clothes in the wardrobe, dab some of the solution onto a cloth and then lightly wipe the area in a circular motion for the best results."
2. Use baking soda
"Baking soda naturally absorbs the excess moisture surrounding it," says Wiltshire. "Place a bowl of it into your wardrobe to prevent a mold outbreak."
I'd try this by leaving a bowl permanently at the base of the wardrobe, but if you want to avoid spills, even a short spell will do.
"For best results, remove the clothes and leave the baking soda for around three to four hours."
3. The rice trick
We've all used rice to rid out phones of unwanted water, but this nifty hack could also work with high levels of moisture in the air. Rice is higly absorbent, and you likely have it on-hand, meaning it's a very cost-effective way of tackling the root cause of mold.
"A bag of rice can also help reduce humidity in wardrobes with alarming moisture levels in the air," says Wiltshire.
And if that doesn't work?
Dehumidifiers are miracle workers in extracting that excess moisture in the air, and all you need to do is pour it down your drain once it's worked its magic.
The main tip recommended by Online Bedrooms is to install vents, which is a permanent solution to the issue of poor ventilation.
"Having vents built into the wardrobe can help distribute the airflow and reduce humidity," says Wiltshire. "Building vents will help improve air circulation and remove any excess moisture which can help fitted wardrobes directly on the back wall."
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