10 Tips for Protecting Your Closets from Mold

When you think about mold, you probably picture a nasty fungus growing in dank basements or behind leaky pipes in the back of a cabinet. One of its favorite places to hide is inside closets. Their dark spaces and cramped conditions make closets an ideal breeding ground for fungus. 

The good news is there are steps you can take to protect your custom closets from mold, including:

• Keep Them Clean
• Make Sure Your Clothes Are Dry
• Control Humidity
• Save Your Silica Packs
• Leave The Light On
• Use Air Purifiers
• Look For Leaks
• Don’t Ignore Musty Smells
• Remove Your Hamper
• Pass On Plastic

Keep reading to learn what you can do to protect your closets from mold.

Even the cleanest home can harbor mold. That’s why it’s super important that you keep things clean. This includes your closets.

You should give them a deep clean at least a couple of times each year. Start by taking everything out and inspecting each piece for signs of mold and mildew. Throw away any clothes that are stained or damaged. While you are at it, you might want to consider donating items you no longer want or wear to a local charity.

Before you put everything back inside, take the time to thoroughly clean the space and treat any spots where you may see mold or mildew growing. Clean My Space recommends using white vinegar. It’s readily available (you can find it in the supermarket usually near the salad dressings) and much more affordable than most commercial cleaning agents – plus it’s non-toxic.



For general cleaning, wipe down all of the surfaces with vinegar using a rag; this includes the baseboards. To get rid of any mold or mildew, spray vinegar directly onto the spot and let it sit for half an hour. Then scrub the area with a brush, rinse it with water, and let it dry. To help prevent mold from regrowing, give the area one more spray with vinegar. Be sure to let it dry completely before putting your belongings away.

Damp clothes, including sweaty workout wear, provide the perfect breeding ground for mold. This is why you need to make sure that everything you put inside your closet is dry. Just because the dryer buzzed does not mean that your clothes are 100% dry. Be sure to feel them. You may need to add a bit more time or hang up some of the bulkier items to air dry before putting them away.

Mold thrives in moist environments. So, in order to prevent it from growing in your closets, you need to control the humidity levels. The home professionals at Hunker admit this isn’t always easy because a closet’s enclosed space “restricts airflow,” thereby allowing fungi to grow.

The simplest and most cost-effective way to control humidity is to allow your closets to air out. Proper ventilation can prevent mold and mildew growth. Try to keep your closet doors open every other day in order to keep fresh air circulating.



Another option is to purchase a dehumidifier. These machines are designed to remove dampness from the air and facilitate better circulation. For optimum results, make sure you empty the dehumidifier every day.

If you don’t have the budget or space for a dehumidifier, consider using silica gel packs. They reduce humidity by absorbing moisture from the surrounding areas. That’s why companies often include silica gel in their packaging, to protect new products from dampness. You are most likely to find them in shoe boxes or inside handbags. If you don’t have enough salvaged silica gel packs, you can always buy a product such as Damp-Rid. It’s designed to pull moisture from the air and collect it in a small bucket or hanging bag.



A word of caution, if you have small children or pets, you might not want to leave silica gel packs in easy reach as they can be harmful if swallowed.

In addition to keeping the closet doors open, you may also want to leave the light on. The warmth put off by a low wattage light bulb can help keep your closets dry – thus preventing mold growth. As a precaution, be sure that the light bulb is not near any clothing. This will keep it from causing any damage or worse, starting a fire.

An air purifier is another device you might want to consider purchasing in order to prevent mold from growing in your closets. Air purifiers are made up of two things, a filter, and a fan. Basically, the fan sucks in air which passes through the filter. The particles and pollutants, such as mold and mildew, are captured and clean air is released.

Not all air purifiers are equal. Be sure to get one with a true HEPA filter that will trap airborne bacteria and mold/fungi spores.

If your closet is on an exterior wall or shares a wall with the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room, you should be on the lookout for leaks. Structural or plumbing leaks behind drywall or custom closet build-outs can result in mold and mildew. Left unnoticed, even a tiny damp patch can quickly turn into a full-blown mold infestation.



If you spot any mold, you should use vinegar, or diluted bleach, to clean and disinfect the area. Be sure to remove all clothes and personal items before tackling this project and do not put anything back until you are sure the mold has been removed and the area is completely dry. If the problem persists, it may be time to reach out to a professional for help.

If you sense a musty odor, you may have mold or mildew growing inside. Don’t ignore it or try to cover up the scent with an air freshener. You need to search for the source.

The musty smell may be coming from your clothes or shoes. If that’s the case, then you should launder the suspected items or throw them out if they are beyond salvaging. On the other hand, if you spot mold growing on your walls, cabinets or shelves, be sure to thoroughly clean them using the vinegar or bleach methods previously discussed.

If there is one thing that mold loves more than darkness, it is feasting on fibers from various types of fabrics, so you may want to consider relocating your hamper to the bathroom or laundry room.

 If you need to keep your hamper in your closet, make sure you are only putting dry clothes in it. Anything wet or damp – this includes sweaty gym clothes – should be allowed to air dry completely before being tossed in the basket.



Shoes can also attract mold spores, so make sure that your shoes are clean and dry before putting them back in your closets as well.

One last tip is to eliminate plastics that can trap heat and humidity. This means removing your clothes from dry-cleaning bags before you hang them up. You may also want to avoid storing clothes in plastic bins as they prevent proper ventilation. Wicker or woven fabric and linen bins are much better choices and allow for ample airflow.

Simply stated, mold loves moisture. That’s why it’s so easy for mold and mildew to take up residency in the dark, cramped confines of your closets. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to keep the humidity under control and ensure that your closets don’t become breeding grounds for mold. The 10 tips outlined in this article will help you protect your closets from mold by keeping them clean, fresh, and dry.

• https://cleanmyspace.com/mold/
• https://www.hunker.com/12162535/how-to-control-closet-humidity