Mold that infests your wardrobe can quickly ruin your furniture or clothing.
While mold is inevitable in a household -- there is no way to completely rid your home of every mold spore -- outbreaks must be dealt with immediately and aggressively. This is especially true of mold in wardrobes, which can eat into and permanently scar the wood and infest your clothing. Stopping mold in wardrobes begins with a thorough cleaning that destroys current growth. Preventing new growth requires certain actions to keep the wardrobe and its contents dry and free of moisture-encouraging mold. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove all of the clothes and items from the wardrobe and wash them in the laundry, using the same temperature and detergent amount that you normally would. Use two cycles if the clothes smell strongly of mold.
2. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and water in a bucket. Use a cloth dampened with the solution to clean any mold-covered items that cannot be laundered, such as leather shoes. Color test the solution first to ensure it doesn't damage the items. If it does, mix a capful of laundry detergent with a gallon of water in the bucket and use instead. Dry the items with a clean cloth and allow them to thoroughly dry in another room.
3. Mix a solution of 1 gallon water and 1/4 cup household bleach in a bucket. Dip a cloth into the solution and wipe a hidden part of the wardrobe to test for color fastness. If the wardrobe discolors, use the detergent solution in Step 2 instead. Wipe the wardrobe with a cloth damped in the solution. Remove drawers and wipe inside of openings. Ensure that you cover every part of the wardrobe, inside and out.
4. Wait 20 minutes and examine the wardrobe for signs of remaining mold. Repeat the cleaning and waiting period until all mold is gone.
5. Keep the drawers out of the wardrobe and the doors open for several hours to allow the furniture to completely dry. Replace the clothing and other items only when they are fully dry.
6. Avoid putting any damp item into the wardrobe, which can cause future mold growth.
Tags: bucket cloth, gallon water, mold wardrobes, part wardrobe, water bucket
