Cleaning expert’s ‘act quickly’ warning to anyone who finds mould in wardrobe

Discovering mould in your wardrobe can be a real nightmare, especially when it’s the storage place for your cherished clothes, shoes, and handbags.

Even if the mould isn’t directly on your items, just spotting it inside the wardrobe can leave you feeling helpless and uncertain about how to proceed. A guru has stressed the importance of immediate action upon detecting mould in your closet, but also highlights that prevention is key, as its presence indicates a more significant underlying dampness issue.

Ann Russell, famed for her cleaning advice on , has divulged essential steps to tackle wardrobe mould, following someone’s complaint about it “spreading badly” in their closet. Ann advises those affected to “take everything out and clean the inside of your closet” first and foremost, and to “wash or wipe” any mould-afflicted items.

For handbags touched by mould, she suggests simply “polishing it down” to eliminate it, reassuring that they “will be fine”. However, she emphasises the need to confront the ” problem” at its source and improve “air circulation”.

Ann recommends using “hanging crystal dehumidifiers” within the wardrobe, advising to “put several of those in”, including “a couple on the floor” and “a couple at the back”. She even endorses reusable dehumidifiers that can be “dried out”, highlighting their cost-saving benefits.

She then emphasised: “Make sure your closet isn’t too tightly packed because you want to try and get some air circulation; so, make sure that you move your clothes regularly, you know, take them out, shake them out, because the mould will grow and there’s static air, so the more movement, the better. And then those dehumidifiers will get rid of the damp for you”.

In response to a query in the comments section, an individual enquired: “I’ve washed my clothes with visible mould on them. Should I wash the rest of the clothes, too, just to be safe even if there is no visible mould on them?”.

Some users advised that it would be prudent as spores could still be present even if not immediately apparent. Gov.uk cautions that “Damp and mould primarily affect the airways and lungs, but they can also affect the eyes and skin. The respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death”, highlighting the importance of addressing mould concerns.

If you’re concerned about a mould issue, if you’re renting, contact your landlord. If you own your home, hire a professional to advise further.