Mould growing in your wardrobe is very common in Asia and can appear and take hold unannounced due to
wet and humid weather conditions. Not only will your clothes begin to smell but at the same time mould can
ruin your clothes and shoes by leaving stains that are difficult to remove.
Inhaling or touching mould spores can cause allergic reactions for people who are sensitive to mould. These
conditions might include sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash or worse.
More about mould, how to remove and how to prevent mould from re-occurring in your wardrobe..
Symptoms and Effects of Mould on Clothes
Mould can thrive on most surfaces including organic materials, clothing,leather, paper, and on the ceilings,
walls and floors of homes or offices. We need to be prepared to prevent this by ensuring adequate moisture
control in the house, and in the wardrobe.
If you find mould on your clothes you should remove it from the item as soon as possible. Wash the item
or seek advice from your local dry cleaner. While mould can irreparably stain your clothing, it can also cause
a myriad of skin irritations and health issues.
Mould digests whatever surface it’s growing on and hence long term mould growth will destroy clothing. As mould
grows it will also leave a larger stain on your clothing which will become more difficult to remove, this is in addition to
the smell that will linger in the clothing.
Finally, when mould spores become airborne in your home they can settle and promote growth inside air conditioning units. Breathing mould spores that are being re-circulated through your AC units can cause severe allergic actions and/or can lead to potential respiratory conditions.
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How to remove Mould from Clothes
As a general rule of thumb wash your clothes in as warm-to-hot water as the item will comfortably take, without further damaging it. The warmer water can assist to remove the stain and also any allergens much better than cold water. Add up to a cup of Vinegar to the wash. Repeat the process if needed and then place in the sun to dry. The heat from the sun and the sun’s ultraviolet light help to kill mould. The sun has a natural bleaching effect that can also help to fade mould stains. If your item is expensive or valuable see your Dry Cleaner for advice first.
How to prevent Mould on Clothes
The first step in preventing further mould growth is to remove any mould already present in your wardrobe. At Mouldgone we sell Concrobium® Mould Control a highly effective, chemical free product that dries on surfaces to create an invisible
antimicrobial shield that eliminates mould and fungal spores and prevents new mould growth. This is a professional product but can be purchased for home use. This is the first step to a mould free closet. After treating with Mould Control, follow up by cleaning your wardrobes when required with our Concrobium disinfectant which you can use as a day to day cleaner to remove mould spores. When the mould is removed from the cupboard it is important to wait until the area is completely dry before replacing your clothes back inside the robes.
Where possible leave a gap between hanging items as this will assist air flow. Having as much air as
possible is what prevents mould. It is important to keep the inside of your closet dry to prevent moisture
from collecting in the first place. At Mouldgone we have a range of Thirsty Camel moisture absorbers to
protect your clothes handbags, leather shoes and other valuables in cupboards or closet.
Thirsty Camels have a large capacity to collect moisture in plastic-free, biodegradable packaging. Our Thirsty Camel closet hanger can be used hanging off the clothes rod or lying flat in your wardrobe. It is a slimline 1kg hanging pouch and can collect up to 2.5 times its weight in moisture.
For moisture prevention in drawers and cupboards we recommend our Thirsty Camel 1 kg pouch for
bigger areas or our Thirsty Camel 250 gr in smaller areas ie drawers, photo boxes, shoe shelves.
