Deal with mould inside a wardrobe

Clean mould inside a wardrobe, find the cause, dry the space, and stop it coming back.

MW-01Clear the wardrobe and check what's affectedTake everything out and look closely at clothes, shoes and shelves for black spots or a musty smell. Put anything affected straight into a separate pile for washing on a hot cycle or airing outside. Wear disposable gloves and a mask while you do this, since disturbing mould releases spores into the air.

1 pack · Disposable gloves

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1 each · Disposable face mask

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MW-02Work out what's causing the mouldFeel the wall behind the wardrobe for cold or damp patches, and check if it's an outside wall or a cold corner of the room. Black speckled mould usually means condensation; brown tide marks or a wall that's damp to the touch even in dry weather point to a leak or penetrating damp, not just condensation. If you find damp patches, a musty smell coming from the wall itself, or plaster that's soft or bubbling, get that checked by a damp specialist before you carry on, since cleaning alone won't fix a wet wall.

MW-03Kill the mould with a mould-and-mildew spraySpray a shop-bought mould-and-mildew treatment directly onto every affected surface inside the wardrobe, including the back panel, floor and corners. Leave it to work for the time stated on the bottle, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Open a window while you do this so the room can air.

1 each · Mould and mildew spray, 500ml

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2 each · Cleaning cloths

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MW-04Treat bare wood or painted surfaces underneathIf the wardrobe back or the wall behind it is bare wood or painted plasterboard, wipe on a fungicidal wash after the mould spray. This kills spores that have got below the surface, which a normal clean won't reach. Let it dry fully, then repaint with an anti-mould paint if the surface looks patchy or stained.

1 each · Fungicidal wash, 1L

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1 each · Anti-mould emulsion paint, 2.5L

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1 each · Paintbrush

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MW-05Dry the space out completelyLeave the wardrobe doors open and run a dehumidifier, a fan heater, or just open a window for 24 to 48 hours before putting anything back. Mould only regrows on surfaces that stay damp, so this step matters as much as the cleaning. Don't rush this even if the room feels dry.

MW-06Add an air gap and a moisture absorberFit small rubber spacer pads to the back feet of the wardrobe so it sits 10 to 20mm away from the wall, letting air move behind it. Place a moisture-absorbing tub or hanging crystal pack inside the wardrobe to soak up damp air between airings.

1 pack · Rubber spacer pads

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1 each · Moisture absorber tub, 500g

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MW-07Reload the wardrobe and start an airing habitOnly put back clothes and shoes that are completely dry. Leave the doors open for an hour a day where you can, and avoid packing it so full that air can't move between items.

MW-08Tidy up and check again in two weeksWash cloths and rinse gloves or bin them, and wipe down anything the mould spray touched outside the wardrobe. Check inside again after two weeks. If mould comes back quickly in the same spot, that points to a damp problem in the wall rather than condensation, and it's worth getting a specialist to look.

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