What Causes Mold In Closets?

Whether you organize by color, clothing size, sleeve length, “fancy vs sturdy”, or favorites in the front to randoms in the back. Our organization guru Marie Kondo suggests you hang everything facing the same direction, with longer items on the left and shorter items on the right so the bottom of your clothes creates an upward sloped line.

No matter the method, you need to keep it clean. Closets breed fungus in the right conditions: dark recesses, poor air circulation, organic food sources, moisture. We at Valleywide Restoration know that in order to control mold in your Gilbert home, you need to control the source of excess moisture:

• Leaky Plumbing – Leaks behind adjacent walls can contribute to mold in closets
• Attic Mold – Mold growth up in the attic can migrate down through closet ceilings and into walls
• Humidity – Closets usually stay closed, so they easily retain any moisture in the air

Humidity

Moisture must exist in some form for mold to grow. The culprit can also be a ceiling leak from a recent storm or flood. However, often excess water is a result of an internal water leak.In seasons of high humidity, closets can prove conducive to mold growth, according to North Dakota State University professor Kenneth Hellevang. Closets along exterior walls have the highest risk, as excess water vapor accumulates in the dark isolated location. You can improve the air circulation to the closet by leaving the door open during periods of high humidity, and you can keep the humidity under control using a dehumidifier.

Attic Mold

Mold grows from spores and can spread rapidly to new locations. If you cannot identify the source of your closet mold, it may have originated in a completely different location, such as above the ceiling. Mold seeps through wall boards and ceiling tiles, settling in new locations such as closets. Find exactly where the colony exists in your closet (for instance, you may notice dark patches on the ceiling), and determine whether you can access the other side (such as the attic) to find the root cause of the mold.  

Moldy Fabrics

Another source of moisture could be caused by your laundry, a prime breeding ground for mold. Cotton provides “food” for mold and the absorbent nature of fabrics allows them to retain moisture. Once you have moldy clothes hanging in your closet, the spores can easily spread.

Good Closet Habits

Mold needs moisture to live, but the warmth from a low wattage light bulb can help keep the closet dry. Install an energy-efficient light in the closet and leave it on. Discard plastic bags. Their polyethylene composition traps humidity around fibers and encourages mold growth. 

Keep everything clean and 100% dry; mold feeds on dirt in fabric fibers so don’t toss soiled clothes back into the closet. Every few months, move things out, dust shelves, and vacuum. Let fresh air circulate. Move things from the closet floor up onto shelves to improve air flow. Replace wood shelves with wire shelving so that closet air can circulate freely.

Set out silica gel packs to keep moisture down. And those old fashioned louvered doors serve a purpose; they allow fresh air circulation that’s so important to discouraging mold growth.

For Mold Removal in Gilbert

Valleywide Restoration is a family owned and operated company in Gilbert with over 25 years of experience in the restoration, renovation, and the construction industry. We have the tools and knowledge to make your cleanup easier.  Contact us for all emergency home needs. With over 40 employees dedicated to providing you with high-quality service, you can expect a quick turnaround and efficient deadlines.