Condensation in Wardrobe

[Crazyone84]

I have posted this in another category so hoping to catch all help and replies

Here we go, this is my set up:
Old 1902 solid brick wall, semi detached house.
External wall north facing and doesn't really get much natural sunlight into that room.
The external wall has a blocked up chimney breast and 2 alcoves either side.
In each alcove are fitted wardrobes with full high doors.
This is my daughters room.
Since moving in 3 years ago we have always had problems with condensation inside these wardrobes as they are against a cold solid brick wall with clothes and boxes in.
The steps we have taken to try and stop the condensation which turns into mold are:
Ventilation holes in the doors at top, middle and bottom points.
Open the doors when possible (can't when she is playing in there playing or sleeping)
Open the window when possible (again only when she isn't in there as a cold room naturally)
Place small damp collectors/dehumidifier crystals both on the floor and hanging ones.
Most recently (spent alot) of money on Wallrock Thermal Liner, complete waste of money and I had to rip it off the wall last night as was basically acting like a sponge for all the moisture in the cupboards!
Installed a wardrobe heater in one side, this seemed to have helped a little.
As of last night, i have put a plug in dehum inside the wardrobe
What I need help with:
Is there a way I can eliminate this moisture that keeps being trapped inside the wardrobes? I cant have my daughter sleeping in a moldy room and I can't have a wardrobe heater and plug in dehum running constantly in there, just not economical or practical
In our downstairs we had a false cavity wall made in the alcoves with insulation board (PIR) and re plastered. The walls feel warmer and we haven't suffered with condensation, could I do the same in her wardrobes?
or should I just rip the bloody things out.......if I did I would worry about what we would use for storage for her against that wall and would it effect freestanding wardrobes, drawers etc?
Help please!!!!!!!

I removed all the fitted wardrobes when I moved to my current house as they all had the same problem.

You could remove the doors and have nice curtains, or alcove shelves with an air gap are an option. We place wardrobes or large pieces of furniture against interior walls.

I was going to suggest polystyrene wallcovering but see that you've already tried Wallrock Thermal Liner and that hasn't worked. I don't know what Wallrock is made of but it's website says it's absorbent (which doesn't seem an ideal product for a condensation problem).

Polystyrene isn't absorbent and is a lot cheaper than Wallrock, so I would try that and if it doesn't work, a false cavity wall might be the answer.

www.diy.com/departments/diall-thermal-insulation-roll-l-10m-w-0-5m-t-2mm/1906878_BQ.prd

Although polystyrene wallcovering products talk of its thermal properties, it doesn't noticeably make the room itself warmer, it creates a thermal barrier between the cold surface of the wall and moist air in the room. It feels warmer to the touch than a bare cold wall, which should be enough to prevent moist air condensing on the surface.

You need to remove the fitted wardrobes. If you google about this, it's not recommend to fit them with external facing walls. If you have a normal wardrobe, there's a gap between the back of the wardrobe and the wall so there's space to breath. Everything you have done is a waste of money sadly.

Get some ikea pax wardrobe to fill the space.

Another PP also said no large furniture and tha'ts right too. I put all my non fitted wardrobes against internal walls too, and then put desks and beds against the external one. That way I can see if there's any problems with damp very quickly.

Either remove the fitted wardrobes and use free standing.
Or else see if you can put vents in the actual external wall.

We had a similar issue in a little storage room. A vent in the exterior wall helped a lot - although not 100%.

Plus the exterior vent would make the wardrobe and therefore bedroom very cold in winter.

So maybe simplest to swap fitted furniture for freestanding.

@Yarnival I fear I may have to remove them which will not be easy or mess free! I will also struggle with where to put furniture as not the biggest of rooms and wouldn't want her bed against such a cold damp wall.

@Plexie yes the wallrock was very absorbent which it didn't suggest and specifically advertise for damp cold walls that suffer condensation, I will be writing to Wallrock with my thoughts!
regarding your suggestion of polystyrene roll, have you personally used this? we need something not necessarily to warm the room but to create a cold bridge to stop condensation forming

Years ago when I lived in a humid climate a light bulb (old style which warm up when on) was kept on in cupboards.
but I think you will have to take out wardrobes and cheapest might be open shelves with stuff not touching walls.
also bedrooms get steamy from a night time of breath. Open window at night.

We have the same wall and it's a little box room. We have nothing at all on the alcoves and keep a dehumidifier and fan heater in the room. It's not ideal as it's a child's bedroom but the alternative is damp and mould.

I grew up with polystyrene liner on my bedroom (exterior) wall. Cold house and just a small heater in the room. Never had condensation but that might not be due to the liner. The exterior wall of the small toilet still has it (tiny, unheated, toilet only so no steam like a bathroom). Again, no condensation but can't say it's due to the liner. The wall surface is definitely warmer to the touch than a bare wall would be.

Don't know how it would work in a wardrobe instead of on an open wall. And is the wall inside the wardrobe accessible from floor to ceiling? If there are parts you can't cover they might still attract condensation and mould.

We're in a house older than yours, it needs insulating. They do plasterboard insulation which basically just goes straight onto the wall. If you can afford to lose 5-7cm that is.

After all the comments I'm edging towards removing the wardrobes and going for free standing. Not the quickest fix but think long term it will be better, 🤞 In the midst of removing it'll definitely need replastering so maybe I buy some insulation boards like we have done downstairs in the house. Oh the joys!!! I'm just fed up of trying methods and still scrubbing mold, 😮‍💨

Thank you to all who put in their thoughts