[Zim]

Hello everyone,
This isn't the post I planned on making after my account was approved, but I've run into a bit of a problem. My home has a moisture problem that can't be taken care of permanently until the rainy season ends. In the meantime I found mold on an older suit I'd bought at a thrift store for a costume party over a year ago (it was dry cleaned before I wore it, but in an at home kit).

The suit was already in bad shape so I got rid of it. I've bought a dehumidifier and it's taken care of the moisture seeping into the house. I checked my other suit and jackets and they look good. Are they at risk after being close to the suit that molded? Should I take everything to the cleaners?

Thank you for any responses,
Zim

 

[Peak and Pine]

I checked my other suit and jackets and they look good. Are they at risk after being close to the suit that molded? Should I take everything to the cleaners?

No. Mold isn't contagious. But a look test may not suffice. Bury your nose in anything you suspect, smell for must. Then wash the washables, hang the rest outside for as long as possible in all kinds of weather, the last 24 make warm and sunny. Pack your stuff in plastic tubs, like Sterilites ($6 at WM for the 18 gallon size. Anything bigger tough to lift.) Make dessiccant pouches, sprinkle those in and store in the driest part of the house. What I just said worked for me, for that stupid time I stored stuff in a leaky basement.

 

[Flanderian]

Hello everyone,
This isn't the post I planned on making after my account was approved, but I've run into a bit of a problem. My home has a moisture problem that can't be taken care of permanently until the rainy season ends. In the meantime I found mold on an older suit I'd bought at a thrift store for a costume party over a year ago (it was dry cleaned before I wore it, but in an at home kit).

The suit was already in bad shape so I got rid of it. I've bought a dehumidifier and it's taken care of the moisture seeping into the house. I checked my other suit and jackets and they look good. Are they at risk after being close to the suit that molded? Should I take everything to the cleaners?

Thank you for any responses,
Zim

I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to your question as a certainty.

I think the remedial steps you've taken should be helpful going forward. But mold spreads via spores, and if the affected suit was stored near them, I would have to think that it's possible spores may have been transferred to them. Now whether or not, if there are spores, they will result in problems with your other things given the precautions you've taken, I have no idea.

I ordinarily recommend dry cleaning as infrequently as possible. And I'm not even sure if, as 100% certainty that dry cleaning can remove every possibility, but I'd have to think it likely would. So I guess the question is, given the incumbent uncertainty, is it worth it to you to run them all through the dry cleaner, considering the downside, to make 99% sure you worn't have a mold problem?

 

[Color 8]

I would probably freak out, launder all the launderables, have everything else dry cleaned, sanitize the whole storage area with bleach solution and get a dehumidifier prior to putting anything back.

I took similar measures to solve a m*th problem about 5 or 6 years ago and have never regretted it.

 

[Peak and Pine]

A couple of recommendations above for dry cleaning. Here's one against it. It isn't necessary. You take away the moisture you take away the mold. That's where the sun comes in. Hang it outside on a sunny day.

Yes, the dead mold may remain. It brushes right off. Yes, a smell may remain. Two nights on the porch blows it away. Dry cleaning may work as well, but you have to swipe your debit card.

 

[Dhaller]

I rented a house for a year once with no air conditioning, and it rained the entire summer (quite literally, daily) - great for keeping it cool, but nothing ever felt dry, ever.

Clothes I had there got pretty musty, but an application of the Peak and Pine method (sunning them) worked well.

By all means, if laundering the lot brings peace of mind, do so, but if a good day of sunshine freshens them (sunshine is some amazing stuff), it's probably not needed.

DH

 

[vonSuess]

Well, I'd take them to the cleaners. I realise many don't feel this way, but I'm not reluctant to have my suits cleaned and pressed. It's only about $10 American around here per suit and the things seem to last me roughly forever even if cleaned and pressed after each use...

 

[Zim]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. To provide some more information, only the suit jacket and pants had any visible mold, everything else in the closet, walls included showed no signs. The moisture is coming in through a corner in the ceiling on the opposite side of the room. Nothing is damp thankfully, but without the dehumidifier the humidity in the house is way too high.

Peak and Pine - My sense of smell is terrible but I'll enlist my wife's aid. Never thought of making dissidents. Sunny days are rare where I live now, and humidity levels high. Is hanging clothes outside safe in those conditions?

Flanderian - I try to dry clean infrequently as well. On the plus side a couple things in the closet are probably due a cleaning, and the others haven't had much wear cleaning.

Color 8 - That's how I felt when it happened.

Dhaller - The only tough part might be getting that sunny day.

vonSuess - I haven't had problems having clothes dry cleaned either, but I always worry it will affect their lifespan, especially since I have to thrift or ebay a lot of my tailored clothing.

It sounds like sun or dry cleaning are my options. I'll keep an eye on the weather this week. Worst case I may have to opt for the cleaners. I swing dance and one of my regular partners is sensitive to mold.

Thank you everyone for the replies. Knowing my options (and that everything wasn't ruined) is a huge relief.

 

[JBierly]

The dehumidifier should solve the problem. I would dry clean anything that looks suspect. Otherwise don't worry too much.

 

[Mr. B. Scott Robinson]

Agree on the dehumidifier solution. I had an identical problem when living in Asia. I put a dehumidifier in my closet and emptied over a gallon of water a day from the bucket.

Problem solved.

Cheers,

BSR