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14 Tips for Eliminating Odors in Your Closets
- By Aaron Sapirman
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- 29 Mar, 2021
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Dirty laundry. Stinky sneakers. Sweaty gym clothes. Mold and mildew. They all emit awful odors and chances are at least one of these things is in your closet right now, possibly permeating its pungent scent into your clean clothes. Fortunately, you can eliminate odors in your closets.
Closets are typically small, dark, and enclosed spaces with little ventilation, making it easy for certain smells to get trapped inside. The keys to making your custom closets smell better are to neutralize and deodorize, keep them clean, and use proper storage.
Keep reading for 14 tips on how to get rid of odors and leave your closets smelling fresh and clean.
Neutralize and Deodorize
Activated Charcoal – Hands down, activated charcoal is one of the best air fresheners available because it doesn’t just mask odors it actually eliminates them by purifying the air. It comes in a block or powder formula and both are equally effective. The block form is probably the easiest to use. Simply put a small block of activated charcoal into a shallow dish or plate and you’re good to go!
For larger closets, you may want to place several blocks in different places. Periodically, take the blocks outside and set them in the sun for a few hours. This is nature’s way of recharging them. The heat will release any trapped odors and make the activated charcoal ready to reuse. Each piece should last a few years. If you purchase the powder form, the home experts at Hunker suggest making a sachet to hang in your closet. All you need to do is take a piece of cotton fabric and cut out a circle, place a scoop of activated charcoal in the center, and then tie it up with a string.
Baking Soda – Baking soda is another popular and effective odor absorber, air freshener, and eliminator! As a bonus, it’s super inexpensive too! All you need to do is put about half a cup of baking soda into a small jar and stir in ten drops of your favorite essential oil. You can leave the jar open, but it’s probably a better idea to use a perforated lid so you don’t need to worry about it spilling.
Coffee Grounds – Regular or decaf? It doesn’t matter when you are using coffee as it’s a natural odor absorber. Simply fill a container with coffee grounds, poke a few holes in the lid, and place it in your closet. The coffee grounds will absorb lingering scents. Remember to switch out old grounds for new grounds on a monthly basis.
Cedar – Cedarwood is great at absorbing moisture. That’s why people have been using cedar closets and chests for storage for generations. You can achieve the same results by using cedar hangers or putting a block of cedar wood in your closet. Absorbing moisture will ward off any musty scents.
Once you have eliminated odors from your closets, why not do something to keep them smelling clean and fresh?
Bar Soap – You can create a budget-friendly sachet by using a bar of soap. To release the scent, simply wrap a new bar of soap in a thin piece of fabric or slip it into a clean sock. You can hang the sachet from a closet rod, place it on a shelf, or tuck one in a drawer.
Perfumed Cotton Balls – You can infuse your favorite scents into your closet by soaking a few cotton balls in perfume or cologne and placing them in a small jar with a perforated lid or covered in a thin piece of fabric. This will allow the scent to escape. You should replace the cotton balls frequently for best results.
Dryer Sheets – One of the easiest and most affordable solutions for ridding your closet of odors is to place a few scented dryer sheets around. Recommended by Readers Digest, these fabric softener sheets emit a long-lasting and refreshing scent.
Keep It Clean
The key to eliminating odors in your closets is to keep them clean and organized. By pairing down what you have, you can prevent smells from occurring.
The Purge – Start by taking all of your clothes, shoes, and other belongings out of your closet. Get rid of what you don’t want or don’t wear.
Laundry Day – Once you have narrowed it down to just the stuff you want or need, inspect your clothes for stains and lingering smells. Wash anything that is dirty or smells a little stale. You could also try letting clothes air out, ideally outside. Fresh air and sunshine kills odors and bacteria.
Leave the Locker Room – Between sweaty gym clothes and stinky sneakers, the stench can be overpowering. That’s why you should consider airing out your workout wear in the garage or outdoors until it is dry. You want to let the sweat scent dissipate before putting your exercise gear into the laundry basket. And, if possible, do not keep your dirty laundry basket in your closet. The bathroom is a better choice. This will help ensure that your closet stays odor-free.
Fresh Step – Shoes are a common cause of closet smells. You don’t know what you may have stepped in, so be sure to use a damp rag to clean the bottom of your shoes before putting them away in your closet. You can combat the stench of stinky athletic shoes by placing sachets of baking soda or activated charcoal inside.
Give It a Good Scrub – As part of the cleaning process, you will want to give your closets a thorough wipe down, followed by a complete sweep and/or vacuum. This is especially important if you are experiencing a mold and mildew scent. Using a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, wash the shelves and cabinetry from top to bottom. If you spot mold or mildew growing you will need to step up your cleaning efforts.
Using a spray bottle, thoroughly cover the mold or mildew patch with vinegar and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then scrub the spot with a brush, rinse it with water, and let it dry. To ensure you don’t get any regrowth of mold or mildew, spray the area again with vinegar. Be sure to let it dry completely before putting your belongings back into the closet.
Use Proper Storage
Once you have cleaned your closets, along with your clothes and shoes, it’s time to put everything away. Hopefully, your purge was successful. You want to make sure you have ample airflow to prevent odors from getting trapped inside.
Breathing Room – When restocking your closets, strive to maximize air circulation to eliminate odors. Consider space-saving velvet hangers that allow more room between items.
Box It Up – Another great tip is to use wicker or linen baskets instead of plastic bins. They allow air to flow through so your clothing doesn’t get a musty odor. You can always add a fabric softener sheet to your storage basket to infuse a pleasant scent.