You prevent mould in the wardrobe mainly by limiting damp. Only store fully dry clothes, leave space behind the wardrobe and ventilate the room daily. Humidity indoors can rise especially in autumn. A wardrobe against a cold outside wall is then extra sensitive. With a few fixed habits, your clothes and wardrobe stay dry and fresh. Below you can read how, and what to do if it goes wrong anyway.
Why mould appears right now
Mould needs three things: damp, a little warmth and still air. In autumn these come together. Outside it becomes cold and damp, inside the heating goes on, and we open the windows less often. Moisture from showering, cooking, breathing and drying laundry stays in the house. Warm, humid air can condense on a cold wall. That is why damp can develop especially behind a wardrobe against an outside wall.
The first signs
- A musty, sour smell when you open the wardrobe, even in clean clothes.
- Clothes that feel clammy or cold even though they have hung in the wardrobe for days.
- Small grey, green or black spots on fabric, shoes or the back of the wardrobe.
- White, powdery spots on leather and suede.
- Condensation on the inside of the bedroom window, especially in the morning.
Ten habits for a dry wardrobe
- Only store bone-dry clothes. Clothes that have just come off the rack feel dry, but the seams and thick parts are often still damp. Let everything dry a few hours longer.
- Do not dry laundry in the bedroom. A rack full of wet laundry puts a lot of moisture into the air. Dry in a room with an extractor or an open window instead.
- Ventilate every morning. Ten minutes with the window wide open refreshes the air without the house cooling down. Always keep the vents in the window frames open.
- Move the wardrobe a few centimetres from the wall. This lets air circulate behind the wardrobe and the back panel becomes less cold.
- Do not cram the wardrobe. Clothes hanging tightly together hold moisture. Leave space between the hangers.
- Open the wardrobe door now and then. Leaving the doors open for an hour a week helps refresh the air.
- Hang worn clothes outside the wardrobe first. After a day of wear, clothes hold body warmth and moisture. Let them air overnight on a chair or hook.
- Use moisture absorbers or silica sachets in vulnerable places, such as at the bottom or near shoes. Replace them regularly.
- Avoid plastic covers. Plastic traps moisture. Use cotton or linen covers for precious pieces.
- Heat the bedroom lightly. An ice-cold bedroom with a warm rest of the house attracts moisture. A few degrees of difference is enough.
Which fabrics are most sensitive?
Natural fibres absorb the most moisture. Cotton can hold a lot of moisture, so a cotton shirt such as the Hamilton shirt in white, made of 100% cotton, starts to smell musty faster in a damp wardrobe than a synthetic fabric. White and light clothes show marks first. Wool also absorbs moisture, but does not always feel damp straight away; a wool cardigan with a tailored cut such as the Maximilian cardigan in beige, made of 100% wool, is therefore best kept high in the wardrobe, where it is drier than at the bottom.
Blouses with a satin look, such as the Rosamund in white, made of acetate with some elastane, can become blotchy if they absorb moisture. These too hang best with some space around them. Synthetic blends and lyocell dry faster, but are not immune: a polo with a quarter zip such as the Edmund in dark anthracite melange is best dried outside the wardrobe first after a wet bike ride.
Trousers with a brushed inside, such as the Frederick in black, feel warm and soft, but that soft inside also holds moisture a little longer. Hang them loose first after a rainy day.
Do not forget shoes and bags
Leather and suede need extra attention with damp. Never put shoes away wet in a closed wardrobe; let them dry first at room temperature with some newspaper inside, not on the radiator. Use cedar wood shoe trees, which absorb moisture and keep the shape. Store bags stuffed with paper in a cotton dust bag, not in the original plastic packaging. Check leather items you rarely use for white spots every few weeks.
Found mould: what now?
If you see mould, first empty the wardrobe. Wash clothes with light spots or a musty smell at the highest temperature the label allows, preferably with some extra rinse water. Then let the clothes dry completely, preferably outside. For sensitive fabrics such as wool and acetate, follow the label strictly and our care instructions; if in doubt, go to a specialist. Clean the wardrobe with a solution of water and vinegar, including the back panel and the corners, and leave it open for a day to dry. If you see mould on the wall behind the wardrobe, the problem is bigger than the wardrobe alone: improve the ventilation or have the cause investigated.
A dry wardrobe is a calm wardrobe
With good ventilation and dry clothes, the wardrobe stays fresher. A wardrobe with space between the hangers is also easier to see at a glance. When tidying up, look critically at what you really wear; fewer pieces means more air. This way your shirts and blouses stay better protected against damp.
Shop the look
Hamilton: shirt with Italian collar, white
Maximilian: tailored wool cardigan, beige
Rosamund: lavallière blouse, white
Edmund: polo with quarter zip in lyocell, dark anthracite melange
Frederick: trousers with brushed inside, black
Frequently asked questions
Why do my clean clothes smell musty in the wardrobe?
Usually the clothes were not completely dry when stored, or the wardrobe is too damp. Let laundry dry for longer, ventilate the room and leave space between the hangers.
Do moisture absorbers really help?
They absorb part of the moisture and help in small, closed spaces. They do not replace ventilation and dry clothes.
Can I put a wardrobe against an outside wall?
You can, but leave a few centimetres of space between wardrobe and wall, so air can circulate behind it and the back panel becomes less cold.
How do I get mould spots out of clothes?
Wash the garment at the highest temperature the label allows and dry it completely, preferably outside. For sensitive fabrics, follow the label or go to a specialist.
