How to Remove Musty & Foul Odors in Closets

While closets may be an ideal place for hanging clothes, storing camping gear, or even food they can get stale and smelly. Closets are usually dark places with almost no airflow which is the perfect place for smells to linger and get overwhelming. While this can be annoying, it is pretty simple to remove the closet funk and maintain a clean-smelling storage space. Here are tips, steps, and products we recommend for removing bad smells and maintaining a fresh closet!

What Causes a Smelly & Musty Closet

There are several causes of odors in closets and it is something that can happen to all of us. A common issue is putting anything damp in a closet. Slightly damp clothes, towels, bedding, etc. can start mold and mildew and that wet dog smell that none of us like. It can quickly take over the entire closet and next thing you know all of your clothes, towels, and linens stink. Another common type of odor creator is sporting equipment, shoes, tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor equipment. Most sporting equipment and shoes get sweaty and are a great place for odors to start and stay unless you tackle it regularly. Airing out jersey, pads, shoes, cleats, tents, and sleeping bags is a great step to cut down on odors. Putting away your equipment correctly and completely dry and odor free is key.  

Storing food or products that spoil is a great way to get funk in your closets. Whether it is a pantry or a hallway closet, make sure all your food items are sealed and not leaking. Spilled foods, oils, dressings, and condiments should be cleaned up right away. Regularly check your food items and toss anything that is expired or not sealed. 

If you store pet food in your closets you should store it in plastic containers or storage bags to eliminate odors from lingering. 

Finally, closets lack airflow and sunlight in most homes. Circulating air and sunlight help freshen up the air in a room and the lack of this powerful combination greatly impacts the air in a closet. Closet air is stale and airing out a closet every time the seasons change could help cut down on musty and smelly closets.

Supplies You Need to Freshen Up & Remove Smells in a Closet

Cleaning and freshening up your closets requires some simple products and equipment, and this is what we use regularly in our closets. 

1. All Purpose Cleaner for cleaning dirt, spills, grime, mildew, and mold
2. Bio Bomb Minis for cleaning, sanitizing surfaces, and deodorizing
3. Spray Bottles for mixing your cleaning solutions, we prefer 32-ounce bottles to make sure we have lots of product ready to use and proper dilutions
4. Microfiber towels or paper towels for cleaning up spills, dirt, grime, food, and more 
5. Deodorizer Bomb for very tough odor removal like food, pets, and mold
6. Odor Control Granules for ongoing odor removal and maintenance
7. Dehumidifier or moisture absorbers work great to remove excess moisture and humidity
8. Cedar planks help with insects like moths and offer a woodsy odor that is pleasant

The nice part about most of these products is you can use them over and over for different closets, cabinets, in the garage, in a car, or anywhere you like. The Odor Bomb will be a one-time use but is worth the money and odor knockout power you might need.

Step 1: Clean Your Closet 

The first thing in tackling the odors in a closet is to clean it! Take everything out of the closet and inspect everything to identify any sources of odors and get rid of it or clean it. Clean off the shelves and other storage areas with the All Purpose Cleaner and clean the floor, walls, and ceiling if needed. If you have carpeting in your closet make sure to vacuum it and clean any stains or dirt that might be embedded in the fibers. Bio Bomb Minis are a great carpet cleaning solution and deodorizer that will help break down mildew, mold, and odors that are trapped in the carpet.

After you have cleaned all of the surfaces in the entire closet we recommend you wipe everything dry and let it air out. Fresh air and a fan running in the closet will help dry out the cleaners you may have used and will greatly speed up the process.

If you have found any musty and dirty clothes, linens, towels, sleeping bags, tents, etc. it would be a great time to wash and dry them thoroughly. Blankets and pillows can be aired out and any secret beds your pets have made can be deep cleaned.

Step 2: Odor Elimination Time for Your Closet

If your closest is extremely smelly and general cleaning is not doing the trick we recommend an odor removal bomb like our Bio Bombs. These Odor Bombs work in the entire space by dispersing chlorine dioxide into the air which will touch every surface in the closet or room you place it in. Odor bombs are simple to use, you take one of our kits and just add water, and let the chemical do its job. After an hour or two or overnight you will smell the transformation and cleanliness of the space. We recommend closing the closet doors to concentrate the chemical progress and supercharge the power of the odor bomb. Once the odor bomb is used you can discard it.

Step 3: Remove Humidity from Your Closets

As we stated earlier, humidity in a closet or small space can cause many different issues including mold, mildew, and bad odors. We recommend adding a dehumidifier in your closet if it is large enough and in damp areas like a basement. If that is not an option and you have a smaller space we recommend a moisture-absorbing product that sucks excess moisture out of the air inside of the closet. These absorbers hang in a closet and will help remove moisture in the small space. After a few days, it is a good practice to check the moisture removal bag and make sure it is not leaking or dripping because it is full. These are not as ideal as a dehumidifier but will assist in keeping your closet and storage space dry.

Step 4: Maintain Your Closet

A good practice to maintain the freshness of your closet is to use maintenance products like an odor-absorbing gel or odor-control granule cabinet to capture smells. These products are inexpensive and last up to 90 days and are extremely easy to reload. These products are small and do not take up any precious space making them great for any size closet. Adding a few cedar planks to your closet will help with insects and moths as well and offer a pleasant smell but they can get pricey and do not last very long. Adding ventilation in a closet goes a long way and if can add a vent or slotted closet doors you can help the air quality within the space tremendously.

Step 5: Set Up a Schedule for Cleaning & Deodorizing Closets

Most of us have heard of “spring cleaning” but sometimes once a year is not enough. Try and clean your closets every time the season change or twice a year and you will not regret it. Keeping closets clean, organized, and smelling fresh is a rewarding task and you will feel great every time you do it. The more organized and fresh your closets and storage areas are the easier it is to find something and the better it will smell. 

Some simple products and effort will make any funk closet smell much better. Just like the maintenance and regular cleaning in your home and car it is a good idea to follow suit in your closets.