Throw away or treat - Damp

Elinore

Hi Everyone,

In our previous rental, due to the layout, we had a room where we bought freestanding, but floor to ceiling, Ikea wardrobes fitted. Unbeknownst to us the house had a nasty damp problem mainly due to a long standing leaking pipe under the cement base of the house which the LL refused to fix as the cost would be high - and issues with failing gutters. Being floor to ceiling and masking a cold spot on the wall we didn’t know was the wardrobes hid a particularly large patch.

After moving into our own home we threw away all our previous furniture because it was mouldy. Except the wardrobes were new and expensive (to us) we scrubbed them down and sprayed the backs as the chip board was speckled in waves. This was done a number of times between moving and refitting them in the new house.

We have now been in the new house for few years with no issues with damp but just recently the clothes, in these wardrobes alone, are staring to smell damp again. My work shirt today smells so strongly of damp that it’s prompted me to write this!

Is it a case what once there is damp in furniture, especially chip board it’s really not possible to remove it? Why has it restarted? (Though if I am honest with myself I have been smelling whiff of damp, just a tiny smell and only ever occasionally since they were put up so I’m not sure we ever actually got rid of it properly)

I have been measuring the humidity in the room just in case but it’s perfect and I have been running a dehumidifier to check it there is water to draw out but it’s not really capturing anything – just a small amount of ambient water in the air. The room is well aired even temperature. So is it a case that once the mould is there you are fighting a losing battle?

What I am basically asking is do I have to throw these wardrobes out and start again?

Fire_Fox

What does the wardrobe and contents smell of, dampness or mould?

Thoroughly ventilate/ air out the wardrobe and contents, as well as the room. Check the house inside and out for any water ingress, is the guttering blocked for example?

If mould can be seen or smelled clean the wardrobe itself with a proper mould killer spray not just a general cleaning product.

Wash all clothing with Dettol laundry cleanser or similar (not all are effective IME, so check reviews). Have a sort out - donate to charity, sell on fleaBay - so the wardrobe is not overly full.

Lastly do all maintenance activities listed in your washing machine user manual: clean out the detergent drawer and the cavity it sits in, clean all the seals, run a service wash with a descaling product, etc.

HTH!

JuzaMum

I had a draw unit affected by mould. I cleaned it and replaced the back board which was hardboard. The back didn't look like the original but it worked fine and is still fine now several years on.
Can you replace the back boards on your wardrobes?

Elinore

Hi FireFox and Juzamum,

Thank you for your replies!

The clothes smell of damp I think? I'm not sure of the difference between the two. The house we were in before had HUGE damp moudy patches on walls, under carpets and the underside of our mattress looked like something from a horror film - it smells like that house.

I am a neat freak so the washing machine/tumble dryer is cleaned regularly (inclusive of the traps) and I have a small tidy capsule wardrobe as I am not big on fashion or shopping.

No water ingress, the house is ours so we look after it. the room is bright, clean and aired.

I will respray and take the opportunity to clean all the clothes with detol type cleaner. I will add one of those water traps in there too. Just in case.

Oonce again, thank you.

E