Damp in a Wardrobe: What to Do About It

Clothes that smell musty, a small green patch at the back of a shelf: damp in a wardrobe is a common worry, especially against a cold wall. Air moves poorly inside and vapour builds up. The good news is that a few simple steps are usually enough to bring a healthy storage space back. Here is what to do about damp in a wardrobe.

Where does damp in a wardrobe come from?

A wardrobe backing onto a north-facing or outside wall often stays colder than the room. The surrounding water vapour condenses inside, with no way to escape since the doors stay shut. Textiles put away still slightly damp, or a room that is already too humid, make the problem noticeably worse.

The signs that should alert you

• a mouldy smell that soaks into the linen;
• dark or whitish marks at the back and in the corners;
• clothes or leather spotting with mould;
• a damp feel to the touch on the back panels.

What to do about damp in a wardrobe

To drive out damp in a wardrobe, the idea is to keep the air moving and the inside nice and dry.

• open the doors regularly to air out, especially after a shower or a wash;
• pull the unit slightly away from the cold wall to create an air gap;
• store only perfectly dry linen and avoid packing it too tightly;
• slip a moisture absorber or a desiccant sachet at the back;
• clean off mould marks with white vinegar diluted half and half with water.

Precautions and the underlying cause

Wear gloves and a mask, open the window and test the vinegar on a discreet spot first. Never mix vinegar with bleach. If the trouble keeps coming back, it is often the whole room you need to air out and freshen, and using a dehumidifier can help when the space is really damp.

Preventing damp from coming back

Once the storage space is fresh again, a few habits keep it from relapsing. Leave the doors ajar now and then, especially in a lightly heated bedroom, and space out the piles of linen a little so the air passes between the shelves. Store only perfectly dry textiles: a barely damp garment is enough to bring the bad smells back.

A seasonal check helps too. As winter sets in, look at the back and the corners, where the cold of the wall is felt most. If the unit is built in against an outside wall, a simple spacer that lifts it a few centimetres off the wall already improves airflow. And if the whole room smells musty, that is what to treat first, not just the unit.

Frequently asked questions

Which absorber helps with damp in a wardrobe?

A refillable moisture absorber or a simple bag of silica gel does the job in a small enclosed space. Remember to replace it as soon as it is saturated to keep it working.

Does bicarbonate soak up damp?

A dish of bicarbonate of soda or coarse salt takes up a little moisture and some odours, but its effect stays limited. It is a stopgap, not a real underlying fix.