UK households who hang up clothes in wardrobe face £460 charge
UK households who hang up clothes in their wardrobe face a £460 charge in a brutal Cost of Living blow - if they have a mould infestation. A couple in the north of England lost £500 after their wardrobe got ravaged by mould, they have shared.
Rosie, 28, and Nick, 27, from Leeds, lost £460 due to mould infestation. Nick was getting dressed for a wedding when he discovered his suits had been ruined by a mould infestation and the mould also caused damage to Nick and Rosie's wall.
“Usually you don’t think anything of storing away your clothes on a hanger and popping them on whenever you plan to wear," said Rosie, speaking to Fabulous. "But it really is worth taking the extra time to protect your more expensive garments from problems such as mould or moths – we learned the hard way, for sure!
READ MORE Met Office speaks out over UK being hit by 'notable' snow next week
“With the cost-of-living crisis going on we could have used the £460 elsewhere, with the rising gas and energy bills. But in future we’re definitely going to take extra precautions to protect our clothing, as unfortunately unexpected accidents do happen.”
Nicola Barker - Head of Buying at menswear retailer Suit Direct, warned: "Although some shirts and suit trousers can be tumble-dried, the best method to protect your clothing against damp is to air dry them in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight.
"Always make sure the area is properly ventilated as damp clothing is a hotbed for mould." She urged households to spritz your clothing with a water repellent spray and the miracle product can cost as little as £1.99.
"To use, spray it all over the outside of your clothes before storing them in your wardrobe," she recommended. "For an added layer of protection, silica gel packets are key; they naturally soak up moisture wherever they’re placed so popping them in pockets of suits and jackets is recommended."
"Always avoid plastic covers as they can trap in moisture and leave your clothes smelling damp," she warned. "If you have several outfits, ensure that you space them out evenly inside the closet to prevent creasing," she says. "For extra moth and mould prevention, place a few cedar blocks or sachets of lavender in your wardrobe.
"For those items of clothing you aren’t wearing regularly, use vacuum bags to seal out the moisture while minimising the amount of space they take up in your wardrobe."