Mold Prevention Tips

Mold is everywhere in area I live. It is in every closet, under cabinets, and linens. It can ruin everything, if you aren't careful. I have a couple ways I deal with it. Depending on your location, and finances, one will work for you.

If you have the plastic bags that sheets, and blankets come packaged in, they work great. I have always kept mine, and they are great for storage. It's a heavier plastic and has a zipper.

If you do not have these, you can use the largest freezer bags possible. You will need child size hangers or you can cut down the wire ones. Plastic small hangers for a child's closet is the right size. They can be found at any discount or dollar store.

At Petco or any pet store they sell charcoal filters either pre-made or ones you make yourself. I would use both. The ones you fill up yourself is very easy to dump into top part of the plastic bag, which you can divide in half by simply stapling it across the middle. The pieces of charcoal absorb the moisture, mildew allowing extra liquid to go to bottom of the bag.

If you hang it in closet, add some drops of essential oil leaves a wonderful smell. It will take the moisture out of the air preventing mold and mildew. Most of the mildew is where we have too many things, to close together in a dark closet. It helps not hanging up anything damp, and leaving the closet opened when possible if only for a couple hours a day.

There is a product called Damp Rid however it is very expensive but works great. Those same containers can be found at discount stores or dollars stores.

Instead of paying so much for replacements you simply use charcoal or charcoal filters we used in our fish tank. This cost little and can be dumped right into the toilet. The filters of charcoal take moisture out of the air preventing mold. You can also put charcoal in old plastic pitchers, plastic bowls or containers. Make sure they are placed where they won't get dumped over, and are out of the way of children. I was so surprised when I saw how much moisture this pulls out of the air. Hanging the baggie last about 3 weeks.

If you don't want to buy the filters or make the ones from the fish store, just take brick of charcoal, hit with a hammer making them small enough to fit into the top of the hanging bag. A whole bricket can be placed in closet, under sink, with towels, and other tightly stored items.

Don't hang anything up or put away until completely dry. Mildew spreads onto other things, walls, and anything that it touches. I found keeping my hanging things not so close together helps keep air flowing between the items of clothes.

When I store my sweaters, instead of taking up room in closet I wrap these in news paper (cheaper than tissue). I find that this absorbs moisture prevents mildew. This also works when putting away summer items; making room so clothes have more space between them.

Never keep anything wrapped in plastic. This is a great area for mildew to grow. Always take things out of plastic. Covering in plastic may ruin your favorite dress or coat. Having as much air as possible is what prevents mildew. Don't hang up if its damp and use charcoal or buy product like Damp Rid to take away extra moisture. If you live where it is very damp, have dark closets that are tightly packed, and a bathroom where steam makes towels damp; all of this causes mildew.

Everything I had stored, I now have wrapped until ready to use. I got rid of things I didn't use or need allowing more room and air flow to available. That back, dark area in my closets isn't the best place to put my nicer clothes. My black leather skirt turned green! Having charcoal to absorb any moisture that I can has really helped. I like adding the essential oil.

Leather jackets, skirts even shoes, boots can be sprayed to help with mold and mildew. The cost of water proofing things that get wet saves in the long run. Once you wash these items the water proofing tends to wear out or over time. Heat (like blow dryer) can reactivate the water proofing, if you find it isn't repealing water like it should. In some case washing less is better, especially if something has been water proofed.

Source: I live in San Diego where everything is damp. I was told by a neighbor about damp rid products. Since we use to have fish I knew the filters were made of charcoal.

Growing up in Indiana, my dad always packed things away with a couple charcoal bricks. He used moth balls, but I dislike the smell. In San Diego I haven't seen moths, only lots of mold, mildew and moisture.

By Luana M. from San Diego, CA