How to stop damp and mould in a wardrobe

Why wardrobes get damp

Outside walls are colder than the room air in winter. Behind a wardrobe, that wall gets even colder because the furniture blocks warm air from reaching it. When moist bedroom air seeps into that gap and inside the wardrobe, it can drop below its dew point and condense. Clothes packed tightly inside hold onto any moisture.

Bedrooms are naturally humid in the morning because people breathe out water vapour overnight. Drying washing in the bedroom or a nearby room adds a lot more.

Built-in wardrobes on outside walls and wardrobes in alcoves beside a chimney breast are especially prone, because air barely moves behind them. Bay windows and corners where two outside walls meet are the coldest spots in most bedrooms, so avoid putting storage there if you have the choice. If you are not sure which walls are coldest, feel them on a cold morning or check where condensation forms first.

Fix 1: move it and let air in

Pull the wardrobe at least five to ten centimetres away from the outside wall, or move it to an inside wall if you can. Leave a gap at the top and under the base for air to move. Open the doors for a while each day, especially in the morning when you air the bedroom.

Do not pack clothes tightly. Leave space between hangers so air reaches each item. Store out-of-season clothes clean and fully dry, in breathable bags or boxes rather than sealed plastic.

• Gap of 5 to 10 cm from outside walls
• Move to an inside wall if possible
• Doors open for a while each day
• Space between hangers
• Breathable storage for out-of-season clothes

Fix 2: never put away damp clothes

Washing that feels dry on the outside can still hold moisture in seams, collars and thick areas. Put it away only when fully dry, and air coats and shoes after wet days before closing them in. If drying indoors is slow, see how long clothes take to dry indoors and how to dry clothes indoors quickly.

Fix 3: moisture traps and hanging bags

Moisture traps with refillable crystals and hanging dehumidifier bags absorb small amounts of water inside a closed wardrobe. They help with light dampness and are cheap to try. They cannot keep up with a humid room, so they work best alongside the other fixes. Check them regularly, empty the collected liquid carefully and replace refills as the pack says. Our comparison of electric dehumidifiers vs moisture traps shows where each fits.

Silica gel sachets do a similar job in shoe boxes, handbags and boxes of stored clothes.

Fix 4: lower the bedroom humidity

If the whole bedroom is damp, the wardrobe will be too. Ventilate in the morning, keep trickle vents open, keep some background heat on in cold weather and avoid drying washing in the bedroom. A dehumidifier set to around 50 to 55 % helps a lot in a damp bedroom; quiet models can run during the day while you are out. Our guide to damp walls in a bedroom covers the room as a whole.

See quiet dehumidifiers for bedrooms →

Cleaning mould inside a wardrobe

Empty the wardrobe and clean any mould on hard surfaces with a suitable mould remover, following the label, then leave the doors open to dry fully. Wash affected clothes at the hottest temperature their labels allow, and take delicate items to a dry cleaner. Leather can be wiped with a product made for leather. If the back panel is chipboard and badly stained, replacing the panel may be easier than cleaning it. Our guide on how to remove black mould has safe cleaning steps.

Note:Wear gloves, ventilate the room and never mix bleach with other cleaning products.

Frequently asked questions

Do hanging dehumidifier bags work in wardrobes? They absorb small amounts of moisture in a closed space and help with light dampness. They cannot fix a damp room on their own.

How far should a wardrobe be from the wall? At least five to ten centimetres from an outside wall lets air circulate and keeps the wall surface warmer.

Can I put a dehumidifier in a wardrobe? Electric units need airflow and should run in the room, not inside a closed wardrobe. Keep the room dry and the wardrobe will follow.