How to Eliminate Closet Odors
A smelly closet can be a real stinker, but getting rid of the smell doesn’t have to be! There are a plethora of solutions to eliminate and minimize odors throughout your home, many of which can be applied to your custom closets.
Your first step is finding the reason behind the odor; from there you can work towards eliminating the yuck and getting your closets smelling fresh!
Follow the plan of action below to identify and eliminate the odors causing a stink in your closets!
Find the Source of the Stink
When it comes to odor elimination, the first step you will want to take is finding where the foul smells are coming from. A great way to find the source is to remove all of the items from your closet and smell as you go. This will help you rule out if the stink is coming from one item (like a smelly shoe or mildewed shirt) or if there are more factors at play.
Sort through your belongings to make sure that the foul odor is not linked to something like dirty laundry before you move onto the next few steps of odor elimination. If you do find that the odor is coming from dirty laundry, you can easily fix this problem by washing the items. Another great way to keep the smell of dirty laundry out of your closets is by regularly washing your dirty laundry hamper, especially if it is made of cloth. If you have a basket-weave style hamper, you can spray it down with white distilled vinegar and set it out in the sun. If your hamper is plastic, give it a quick spray with your favorite multi-purpose cleaner and wash it down with the hose.
If you find that the source of the smell is not from your dirty laundry, smelly shoes or soured clothing - you can narrow down the reasons by checking into the following:
- Damp or mildewed items in your closet
- Poor air circulation can cause a stale scent
- Old house smells from previous homeowners
- Scent from leftover mothballs
- Leaky pipes
Depending on the source, there are five effective tried and true ways to eliminate disgusting odors.
Clean Everything
Every now and then your closets just need a good cleaning. This means everything! Clean out the items within your closet and wash anything that may be a bit dirty. Once you remove all of your personal belongings, begin cleaning from the top down to really make sure you’re getting it fresh! Use your favorite, safe household cleaners or white distilled vinegar to spray down the walls, hanging rods, hangers and even the floors to ensure that you get every portion of your closet clean. Many cleaning guru’s suggest using a damp cloth and warm water to wash down the interior walls, baseboards and accessories for an extra deep clean.
Use Activated Charcoal to Absorb Odors
One way to absorb odors is by using a product called activated charcoal. According to Hunker.com, utilizing activated charcoal as an odor neutralizer is as simple as setting the charcoal in the space where you notice the foul smell. Activated charcoal safely helps to eliminate everything from the smell of smoke and pet odors to mold and mildew. This environmentally safe product absorbs odors into its porous make-up, allowing smells to get in, but not escape. It comes in many forms, including powder, granules, stones, filters, and hanging discs. You can get it at your local home improvement store.
Essential Oil Room Fresheners Are Your Friend
You can make your own room spray for your closets with safe, non-hazardous essential oils or buy them online. If you choose to make your own creation, it’s simple! Fill a clean spray bottle with distilled water, add 30 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oil, shake well and voila, you have your very own room spray!
For an extra fresh closet, include lemon, lavender or grapefruit scents- all of which are easy on the nose and not too strong for most people. Use your homemade freshener a few times in your closet throughout the week and you will notice an improvement in scent quickly!
Switch to Cedar Hangers
Cedar hangers are a great upgrade for any closet, especially if you are trying to minimize moisture while eliminating odors. Cedar naturally absorbs excess moisture, keeps bugs like moths away and adds a fresh, woodsy smell to any space. You can leave the cedar hangers with their natural occurring cedar-wood scent or you can rub them down with your favorite fragrance to boost the smell-good effects. Just make sure that if you do spray the cedar with essential oils, that the oils fully absorb into the hangers before you rehang your clothing. If you don’t, you may notice stains on your clothes from the essential oils.
Old Fashioned Baking Soda
Baking soda is literally a cure-all for foul odors. Not only does it help to absorb smelly odors, it also eliminates them.
Mywellnessme.com notes that baking soda is one of the most natural ways to help eliminate odors and is a top pick for helping you get your closets smelling right! You can use it in several ways. Pour a bit in a mason jar and add essential oils for a natural air freshener and deodorizer. Or if you just want a plain and clean scent, leave out the oil and put a fresh box of baking soda in your closet every two to three weeks.
Conclusion
The methods mentioned above will help you identify the cause of the smells, eliminate the odors, and assist you in creating fresh-smelling closets. Whether you decide to use them all, or just select a few - your closets will be smelling as good as new in no time at all!