Sweating inside wardrobes?!

[OrchidFlakes]

We have only owned this house since June and despite a favourable survey it's been a bit of a house of horrors. The latest joy seems to be brown sweat running down the inside of the fitted wardrobes.

The wardrobes are cold inside (built on an external wall) they are ikea pax (should this be remotely relevant!) I have damp traps in them and have had for some months now. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Looking long term, am I best to rip out the built in wardrobes and go for freestanding to give better ventilation to the room and prevent damp on our clothes or is there another fix?

Finally - any good DIY/home owner books or websites - I feel out of my depth here and DH seems wholly unconcerned more likely burying his head in the sand that we might need to spend yet more money poor thing

My first guess would be that the wall behind the wardrobes is really damp. I'd take the buggers off to see what's behind them. (My 2nd guess, FWIW, is that you'll find whatever the previous owners were trying to hide when they installed the wardrobes but that might just be my cynical side coming through.)

Depending on the age of your house, you might want to check out the Haynes manual for the 1930s or Victorian House. Good overview of highlights and pitfalls, for a novice audience. For more technical guides to all kinds of diy jobs, Collins do a really good Complete DIY Manual.

Thanks Sandthorn - they were devious buggers and left us all sorts of delights including bailiffs calling all hours of the day and night! I fear it' that wall too given as there's an unused chimney stack above and it's partner in the spare room is leaking... oh the joy...

It's a 1928 house so I'll look for they Haynes manual - thank you

It sounds like condensation. Do you dry clothes on radiators? Ventilation is the key. You can also use dehumidifiers. We've got the same issue in our bedroom behind our freestanding wardrobe- so that in itself is unlikely to be a solution. We are just ventilating like mad. I think we must be heavy breathers!

Worth checking your pointing and gutters too, but it really does sound like excessive condensation.

if the damp is brown, it is coming from inside the chimney. Is it a disused chimney that is capped, or is it ventilated top AND bottom as it should be?

Just a warning that my sister had a similar problem. When they removed the wardrobes and the bitumen backed wallpaper the found water running down the internal walls.
Good luck!