Information You Yeed To Know Before Buying
Electric Wardrobe Heaters

Damp in Wardrobes

(WHO) World Health Organisation is concerned about this situation because excessive dampness and mould are a threat to health. Occupants of damp or mouldy rooms are at increased risk of experiencing health problems such as respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Mould is a naturally occurring substance as it is an integral part of the outdoor environment and it plays a large role in the breakdown of leaves, wood, and other plant debris. When it grows indoors inside wardrobe and cupboards, it can have serious health consequences. Moulds are types of fungus, which need moisture to grow; as such they are found in damp, dark and poorly ventilated areas. Condensation can be a big problem in fitted wardrobes. Most moulds gather their food from dead moist organic matter such as wood, paper, fabric, dust, plant soil, and cooked or raw food; however, they can also grow on the surface of damp materials such as cloths wallpaper and the walls inside wardrobes. Moulds spread by releasing thousands of tiny spores into the air and these spores are a source of indoor air pollution, which lead to mould allergy. Some people are more sensitive to mould than others, and some groups are especially vulnerable. Additional effort should be made to keep away from damp and mould babies and children, elderly people, those with existing skin problems, such as eczema, or respiratory problems, such as allergies and asthma.

What is condensation?

Three factors contribute to the condensation of water on building surfaces: high humidity of indoor air, low temperature of the walls/surfaces, and poor ventilation.

Low temperature: Condensation can be worse when it is cold. The humid bedroom air comes into contact with cold indoor surfaces of the wardrobe, transforms into surface mist and then into water that runs down the inside of the wardrobe causing mould to grow on wallpaper and walls. Wardrobe dampness is often found in wardrobe who's wall are on North-facing walls, the cooler side of any home

Signs of damp in wardrobe :

• White powder on walls due to dampness coming through the wall.
• Black mould (aspergilus niger) usually due to poor ventilation.
• White mould on leather, clothing etc. generally due to these items being damp when placed in the wardrobe plus poor ventilation.

How to stop the mould

To reduce the problem, first empty the wardrobe, and clean all surfaces with a mould killer/disinfectant, then dry thoroughly.

Ensure that all clothing/footwear placed in the wardrobe is absolutely dry and aired. See whether adding ventilation is possible If it is on a cold outside wall, think about insulating that wall with a suitable covering - blown vinyl wallpaper may help, or thin polystyrene sheeting,

Remember, all the clothing and footwear you wear absorb moisture from your body, so when you put the clothing away that moisture is released in storage.

Fitt a Tubular Wardrobe Heater to keep the Condensation Away

Wardrobe Heater are small compact heaters for drying out, wardrobes and wherever well-distributed heat is required. Because the heat is distributed evenly along the entire length of the tube, the Damp Chaser is both safe and effective. Effectively stopping mildew, mould, musty odours. As an added bonus, they are simple and cheep to operate compared with a dehumidifier — just set them up and forget them

They come with a 10-year guarantee. Click on the size you need and that will take to more info

Running cost compared with a dehumidifier

• Dehumidification unit uses 11.76 Kilowatts per day   
  Daly running cost £1.76   
• Wardrobe heater uses 288 Watts a day
  Daily running cost £0.4   
  
  Working on £0.15 per     Kw    

HERE'S HOW:As air in the storage area is warmed by the Dampp-Chaser, it expands. The expanded air causes pressure inside the storage space to be slightly higher than air pressure outside the enclosure. This pressure differential pushes stale air out of the storage area and fresh, clean air seeps in to replace the stale air.

FACT:Protect your Family from MOULD ALLERGIES  conditions found in most storage areas (dark, damp, with stagnant air) promote the germination of mould sports which tiger asthma and allergy symptoms. Since allergy-prone persons spend one-third of each day in the bedroom, it's important to control mould out-breaks in that area by plating a Dampp-Chaser in your storage areas

Placement  Mount the damp chaser horizontally on the wall or simply set it free standing on the floor of the storage area. Keep the area around the rod free to allow free air circulation. The rod produces a radiant heat that will not scorch or burn cloths or carpets

Facts About Mould

• Bleach does not kill mould in wood. see below
• Before you consider cleanup you should detect and repair the moisture source first. Otherwise mould will return.
• Mould, mushrooms and yeast are types of fungi.
• Fungi are found both indoors and outdoors.
• Mould can be different colours - furry, slimy or powdery. Some have musty, stale or earthy odours.
• Mould needs water, oxygen and food to grow. It can grow almost anywhere there is water, high humidity or damp conditions.
• Some people are allergic to moulds. The most common symptoms of mould exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose or trouble breathing. Mould can also worsen asthma symptoms or other allergies.
• Painting over mould will not kill or seal it up.
• Just because you can't see mould, doesn't mean that you don't have it.
• The best way to prevent mould is to remove the water and moisture sources.

Cleaning Mould

Cleanup:

When attempting to clean a wardrobe, the first step is to remove as much mould as possible. A HEPA vacuum cleaner is effective for this purpose. Wear gloves, mask and eye protection when doing this cleanup. as by defult Wardrobes are confined places.

Ask family members to leave room that are being cleaned, especially remove infants, children or the elderly. Work for short time periods and rest in a location with fresh Air out bedroom well during and after the work.

Mould Cleaners:

Non-porous surface

A mixture of 80% white whine vinegar and 20% water. Vinegar is a mild acid which can kill 82% of mould species. However it also has the advantages of being natural and safe. Vinegar is non-toxic and doesn't give off dangerous fumes like bleach does.

Bleach can kill virtually every species of indoor mould that it comes into contact with, along with its spores, leaving a surface sanitized and resistant to future mould growth. however, using bleach is only effective if the mould is growing on non-porous materials such as tiles, bathtubs, glass and countertops. Bleach cannot penetrate into porous materials and so it does not come into contact with mould growing beneath the surface of materials such as wood and drywall. Using bleach on these materials will kill the mould above the surface but the roots within the material will remain and the mould will soon return.

Porous surfaces eg wood

A mixture of 3% Hydrogen Peroxide. This can be got from any chemist. Hydrogen peroxide kills mould as it is anti-fungal as well as anti-viral also, anti-bacterial. Hydrogen peroxide is a good alternative to chlorine bleach because it is safe to use and doesn't damage the environment, nor does it leave behind toxic residue or produce toxic fumes like chlorine bleach does. Since hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent it may also help fade the stain mould leaves behind. Spot test hydrogen peroxide on the material you're going to be cleaning to make sure it won't fade the material's colors.

Tea Tree Oil At the ratio of 1 teaspoon per cup of water. Of all the natural mould killing solutions tea tree oil is the most effective. Although it is also expensive, a small amount of tea tree oil goes a long way in killing mould. Tea tree oil is an essential oil which is harmless to humans and pets. Tea tree oil is antifungal, capable of killing all types of moulds. Tea tree oil is antibacterial as well. Spray the solution on the mouldy surface or use a clean cloth with the tea tree oil solution to clean away mould.