15 Secrets to Keeping Your Custom Closets Smelling Fresh

You can’t eliminate the bad odor if you don’t know what’s causing it. While dirty clothes, pest droppings, dust and sweaty shoes can make the bad odor smell worse, mold or mildew may be the cause. Mold forms when moisture is trapped in your closets and has no place to go due to lack of ventilation. To find where moisture may be coming from, search for water leaks in the walls or ceiling. If your closet attracts humidity because it’s next to a bathroom or in the basement, consider getting a dehumidifier.

Getting rid of mold and mildew will also get rid of the musty smells they caused. Mold could be green, black, red or blue while mildew is usually white or gray. Fill a spray bottle with two capfuls of bleach and hot water. Spray the mold or mildew and let sit until gone. To prevent mold from reappearing, keep moisture away from your closets. Custom Closets of Houston discusses some additional ways to prevent mold from growing in your custom closets in Super Simple Tips for Avoiding Mold Growth in Your Custom Closets

To keep your closets smelling fresh, you should regularly give them a thorough cleaning. Remove everything from your closets. Vacuum your closet floors to remove dirt and dust. Using an all-purpose cleaner or soap and water, clean all the surfaces in your closet including drawers, cabinets, shelves, walls and closet rods. If you have a carpeted floor, consider steam cleaning. Before returning your clothes and other items, make sure all surfaces are completely dry. Air out your closet and use a fan to speed up the drying process.

Even if you only wore an item once, wash it with scented detergent to remove any odors on your clothes. Ensure clothing is completely dry before putting back in the closet. If clothes are not fully dry, the dampness will lead to other problems. If you keep a hamper in your closet, make sure not to put wet towels or damp clothing inside.

Cramming clothing too close together prevents air from circulating in the closet. When you remove everything from your closet to clean it, go through the items and purge anything you no longer need or want. Then, arrange the clothing so air can flow more easily. Do not store anything on the floor to keep it clear.

Trade wire hangers for wooden hangers, as wood is better at protecting your clothes and preventing bad odors. The wood absorbs any moisture in the air to prevent dampness. While wood is a natural deodorizer, you can give your clothes a pleasant fragrance by purchasing wooden hangers with cedar or lavender scents. Cedar also prevents moths from destroying your clothing.

Used dryer sheets retain their fragrance after one wash and can absorb bad odors. Place a few used dryer sheets in closet drawers and cabinets. You can also put a couple of sheets in the pockets of your clothes.

Baking soda is a well-known tool used to absorb nasty odors and moisture odors. For a quick fix,  fill a bowl with baking soda and leave in your closet for one day. For longer odor-fighting power, TheSpruce.com recommends storing an open box of baking soda inside your custom closet and leave it for up to a year. Make sure you put it in an area it is unlikely to be knocked over.

Coffee is not just for drinking. Coffee grounds also absorb bad odors in closets. Fill a container with coffee grounds and poke several holes in the lid. Store the container in your closet and replace the grounds every month.

Vinegar is a naturally effective deodorizer and can be used to refresh a number of spaces, including your closets. Vinegartips.com suggests taking equal parts of white vinegar and equal parts of water and pouring them into a spray bottle. Use the mixture on your clothing (turn items inside out before using). You can also spray the vinegar solution in your closet to knock out odors. Another way to eliminate odors is to place a bowl of white vinegar in your closet.

Activated charcoal both absorbs odors and purifies the air in all spaces, including your custom closets. Place a block of activated charcoal in a breathable container and store in your closet. To reuse activated charcoal, put the block in sunlight for a few hours, and then return to your closet.

Chalk absorbs moisture. Put a few pieces of chalk in a sachet, tie it and poke a few holes in the fabric. Place in a few spots in your custom closet.

Spray your favorite perfume or essential oil on cotton balls or tissue paper and let them dry. You can place the cotton balls directly in the closet or place in a glass jar covered with a piece of cloth. 

Scented soaps can help your closets smell wonderful. Wrap a strongly-scented bar of soap in a piece of thin fabric and place in your closet.

Buy or make your own potpourri. You can also reuse potpourri, which may no longer be effective in a large room but still has enough fragrance for a small closet. You can put the potpourri in a basket or make sachets to hang in your closet.

If you have bad odors in your custom closets, you need to find the source so you can address it. 



This article outlined simple, effective methods you can use to eliminate unwanted smells and keep your closets smelling fragrant and fresh all year long.

Sources

• https://www.customclosetsofhouston.com/tips-for-avoiding-mold-growth-custom-closets
• https://www.thespruce.com/using-baking-soda-to-freshen-closets-1900313#:~:text=Baking%20soda%20is%20sodium%20bicarbonate,it%20easy%20to%20remove%20them.
• https://vinegartips.com/2016/11/16/vinegar-secret-fresher-fall-wardrobe/