moisture & mildew

in my closet.

There were no signs when I moved in, but when I pulled out my suitcase to take a trip last week, I noticed a small area in that corner of my closet where the wall has started mildewing. Messed up a nice little pair of suede boots, too.

The water heater is in there, but the area most affected is actually not right at the water heater.

Is there anything relatively inexpensive I can do to reduce the moisture in there?

 

roof leak in the wall. Any bathrooms near by or on the floor above? Mildew/mold only comes from constant moisture.

 

Yep, something made that mold appear, and if you don't find the source, it will continue, to get rid off quickly, mix bleach and water in a spray bottle, then spray contanimated area, quick fix, but more investigation is needed.

 

Like behind the wall.

 

Half cup to a cup of bleach per gallon of water.

 

http://www.veritemp.com/Products/Bulk+Silica+Gel/

Usually, you can bake this stuff in the oven until it changes colors and use it over and over.

 

Have you ever mixed bleach and ammonia???

 

I'm glad you caught that. Bleach and ammonia mixed can kill...literally. I meant to say half cup to a cup of bleach per gallon of water or add a couple tbsp of ammonia to a gallon of water.

NEVER MIX BLEACH AND AMMONIA.



My mistake. Thanks VA49er.

 

The setup is kind of odd here. It's a ground floor apartment. Mine is a 1-BR that shares an entryway with another 1-BR, & there are 2 identical apartments on the upper floor. The rear of the closet shares a wall with that entry/foyer area. It's an odd shape--5 walls actually, but tiny & not proportional.

The closet door & the left wall are "normal," shape-wise. Then there are 3 shorter walls kind of angled off to the right. My bathroom is on the opposite side of the left wall. The water heater is in the left rear corner of the closet. The mildewed area is on the opposite side

Damn, I wish I could draw a picture & post it--this is too confusing. But if you have 5 line segments corresponding to the closet walls, the door/wall is A; left wall B; back wall C; short right wall D; slightly longer right wall is E. Water heater is at BC. Mildew is at DE, more on the D side. B is opposite my bathroom. C is opposite the outer entryway. D is opposite my entry, in my kitchen. E is opposite the area where my kitchen & living area meet.

It's a small apartment & a tiny closet, & stuffed full. I guess Imma hafta drag everything out for a closer inspection.

I sure can't afford to replace all this stuff....

 

Your upstairs neighbor might have a leak in their water heater. If it is an apartment call the office and get someone to look at it.