7 Ways to Fend Off Mold in Your Closets

Doug Haines • March 8, 2022

There’s nothing worse than selecting a killer outfit for a special event — and then realizing you’ve got a funky odor you can’t escape. Mold and mildew in the closet are typically the culprits when it comes to unpleasant smells. But don’t reach for the flame thrower quite yet.

You can fend off mold and that undesirable stank for good with these 7 clever tips:

Do a deep clean
Keep the air moving
Eradicate moisture
Ditch the plastic bags
Beware of activewear
Light it up
Invest in your favorite scents

In addition to unattractive aromas, mold in your closet can cause health issues and structural damage to your home. Keep reading for all the tools necessary to ensure your closets remain mold-free!

Avoid Mold in The Closet by Cleaning

While you don’t have to go full Marie Kondo, it’s wise to regularly clean out your closets and inspect for any signs of pesky mold. The first step is taking everything out, and getting rid of the items that no longer suit your lifestyle. Clothes that are clean and damage-free are much appreciated at your local thrift shops. Throw out anything that’s ripped, stained, or generally useless.

A messy closet can easily disguise the tell-tale signs of mold:

Water damage on your ceiling, walls, or floor
That unmistakable musty stench
Blue, green, white, or black spots on your walls or clothing
Stained carpeting

You’ll also want to wipe down any shelving or drawers with a mixture of bleach and water and place any affected clothes in the wash. This will help kill any clinging mold, according to the experts at How Stuff Works.

Bonus Tip: Before wiping down your closet with the bleach & H20 solution, make sure that it's completely empty.

Airflow is Key

Once you’ve emptied your closet and given everything a generous swipe of cleaner, now it’s time to examine your airflow. Closets very rarely have vents or fans, which means stale air can get trapped in there and foster mold growth.

Dehumidifiers, air purifiers, and oscillating fans are superb at reducing moisture, keeping the air clean, and ensuring you have a healthy airflow around your favorite wardrobe pieces.

Dry It Out

Unwanted dampness is a major factor when it comes to mold. Roof leaks and other undetected water intrusions can set the stage for some truly unpalatable and unwanted fungal freeloaders.

If you reside in a humid climate, there are a few easy things you can do to make sure your closets stay dry as a bone:

Don’t store things on the floor
Wipe outside shoes with disinfectant
Make sure laundry and linens are completely dry before storing
Give yourself room — overcrowded closets can hide dampness
DampRid, bamboo, charcoal, and chalk can all absorb excess moisture

No Plastic Bags

Everyone loves the smell of professionally laundered or dry-cleaned clothing. While it’s great that your neighborhood laundry encases your duds in plastic bags to get them home safely, you should get rid of them as soon as you can. Don’t store clothes in your closet in these sacks.

Not only are they a hazard for small children, but these kinds of bags also cause other problems. The Spruce notes that even a small amount of moisture from the dry cleaning process can get trapped inside, causing a build-up of a chemical called Butylated Hydroxytoluene, which causes yellowing and weakens clothing fibers, as well as nurtures mold growth.

Workout Funk

Whether you love hot yoga, spin class, or an invigorating jog, sweaty exercise clothes thrown into a hamper bring the risk of mold, mildew, and nasty smells. Storing anything damp in your closets is a big no-no if you want to keep them free of mold.

So how should you handle your activewear to avoid the funk phenomenon? Pitching them directly into the wash is best, but if that’s not possible, install a cloth or wood clothes hamper with a sturdy lid next to your washing machine.

Let There Be Light

Pesky mold spores thrive in damp, dark environments — and what’s darker than a windowless closet? But adequate and frequently used lighting can give your old closet new life, reduce moisture, and help you fend off mold and mildew forever.

What kind of lighting is best for this situation? Just ask home renovation guru Bob Vila:

LED lights are versatile, easy to install, and long-lasting.
Remote control strip lighting gives you illumination when and where you need it.
Movable track lighting is perfect for a spacious walk-in closet.
Motion-sensor-activated lighting offers hands-free convenience.

The Nose Knows

Since odor is a telltale sign of mold, a fresh-smelling closet means you’re winning the battle. There are many options for instilling a long-lasting and pleasing scent in these traditionally foul-smelling areas. Here are a few ways of doing so:

Cedar planks, hangers, and sachets
Coffee grounds are awesome for absorbing moisture and giving you a lift
Herbs like lavender, rosemary, and sage can be grown in your garden
Dryer sheets and essential oils

Final Thoughts

Unfortunately, mold is a fact of homeownership that everyone has to face at some point. Moisture, darkness, dirty clothes, dry cleaning bags, sneaky water leaks — these factors can all aid the growth of mold and mildew if you’re not vigilant. But mold in the closet is a problem that’s easily eradicated with the tips explained above.