How To Get Rid Of The Smell In The Closet, Including Clothes, How To Wash It So That It Doesn't Smell Musty

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to get rid of unpleasant odor in the closet

The disgusting smell from furniture creeps into the nose, irritating and causing discomfort. Clothes saturated with the "aroma" of the closet can not only disrupt important negotiations, but also spoil the impression of a person forever. You can get rid of the problem by determining the cause and taking a set of measures to eliminate it.

Content

• 1 What can cause an unpleasant odor

  • 1.1 Smell of the materials of the new cabinet

    1.1.1 Video: causes of bad smell in new furniture

  • 1.2 Musty smell
  • 1.3 Naphthalene smell
  • 1.4 The smell of old age
  • 1.5 Smell of sweat
  • 1.6 Tobacco smell
  • 1.7 Medical odor

• 2 How to get rid of the smell

  • 2.1 How to fix an old or new closet using a household ozonizer

    • 2.1.1 Safety when working with the device
    • 2.1.2 Video: Using the Ozonizer

  • 2.2 How to eliminate the smell of chipboard new furniture

    2.2.1 Video: how to get rid of an unpleasant odor in the closet

  • 2.3 How to eliminate the smell of musty in a dresser with linen

    1 Video: how to get rid of mold and musty smell in a linen closet

  • 2.4 How to eliminate the mothballs smell in the closet with clothes

    2.4.1 Video: how to get rid of the smell of mothballs in the closet

  • 2.5 How to get rid of the smell of old age in a rare closet

  • 2.6 How to get rid of the smell of sweat in the wardrobe

    2.6.1 Video: How to Get Rid of Sweat Odor on Clothes

  • 2.7 How to eliminate a strong unpleasant odor in the closet for shoes

    2.7.1 Video: How to remove unpleasant odors from the cabinet

  • 2.8 How to get rid of the tobacco smell in the wardrobe

    2.8.1 Video: How to Get Rid of Tobacco Odor

  • 2.9 How to eliminate odors in the medicine cabinet

• 3 Preventing unpleasant odors in the closet

  3.1 Video: how to provide a pleasant aroma in the closet

What can cause an unpleasant odor

Before trying to get rid of a foul-smelling scent, it is worth finding out the reasons for its appearance. A bad smell can be caused by one or a combination of several factors, each of which adds a different note to the stench exuding conglomerate.

The smell of the materials the new cabinet is made of

In the production of cabinet furniture, chipboards, complex compounds of industrial chemicals, laminating films, varnishes, and glue are used. All these components have a characteristic chemical odor. Chipboards are made from wood-shaving materials. For gluing, phenolic-formaldehyde resins are used, the vapors of which are released through the uncovered side sections of the furniture.

Harsh chemical odor from new cabinet may be caused by poor quality materials

Video: the reasons for the unpleasant smell of new furniture

Musty smell

If the humidity is high, mold and heavy musty air can form. You may encounter such a problem if you put damp or insufficiently dried items in the closet, for example, after washing. Increased humidity throughout the room will inevitably lead to dampness and mold formation on the cabinet walls. Another cause of mold and musty odor may be a closet near the outer wall of a corner apartment. In the cold season, due to the temperature difference, condensation will accumulate on the back wall, and, as a result, mold and a characteristic odor will appear.

A heavy musty odor can be caused by increased room humidity and mold.

Mothballs smell

The reason for this specific unpleasant odor is the moth remedy of the same name. According to experienced housewives, naphthalene does an excellent job of eliminating harmful insects, but the smell firmly eats into all things stored in the closet, and without additional weathering or washing makes them unsuitable for wearing.

The smell of mothballs permanently eats into all items stored in the closet, making them unusable

The smell of old age

The source of such a smell can be both the cabinet itself and the things that were stored in it and have not been used for a long time. Clothes and shoes have a certain service life, after which the structure of the material changes. If, after washing, the product still emits the same unpleasant odor, it is better to get rid of it, it will no longer be possible to restore its original qualities.

Old furniture can store unpleasant odors

Sweat smell

If, among other things, there is a dirty and sweaty item, it gives off a very unpleasant sour odor. The closed space is quickly saturated with this smell and a general stench atmosphere is created. Other clothes that have absorbed this stench will smell bad for some time after they are taken out of the closet. A strong, unpleasant smell in the shoe cabinet can be caused by dirty or insufficiently washed shoes and sweaty insoles.

Dirty shoes with sweaty insoles have a strong unpleasant odor

Tobacco smell

A very persistent amber, which is impregnated with smokers' clothes. If an item with such a scent is hung in a closet, the nicotine perfume will spread to other items. Another reason is the closet in the room where people smoke. Even with the doors tightly closed, it is not an airtight space and, with a high degree of probability, things placed in it will smell of tobacco.

Smoking in the room leads to persistent unpleasant odors in the closet

Medical smell

If medicines are stored with clothing, the clothing will acquire a characteristic medical odor. And it will take some effort to purify the products and the air. If there is no medicine in the closet, but there is a smell, you should look for its cause. Sometimes medical odor comes from items that have nothing to do with medicine. For example, chipboard, plywood and some other materials contain phenols and formaldehydes, the smell of which, under certain conditions, can resemble a medical one.

An unpleasant odor in the closet can be caused by medicines stored with clothes.

How to get rid of the smell

Consider ways to eliminate unpleasant odors coming from the cabinet.

How to fix an old or new closet using a household ozonator

This professional device cleans the air well not only in the closet, but throughout the apartment. It is used for disinfection and elimination of unpleasant odors of various origins, including chemical and harmful substances. When deodorizing wardrobes for clothes and shoes, it neutralizes fungi and microbes, destroys dust mites, and ensures fresh air. Eliminates the smells of varnish, paint, chipboard in a new cabinet. The principle of operation of the device is based on the generation of ozone from indoor air under the influence of an electric current. Maximum permissible concentration of ozone in the air space should not exceed 0.1 mg / m ^W. At high concentrations, ozone is a poisonous gas. Therefore, in order to avoid any negative consequences, you should use the device very carefully, having previously read the instructions.

1. Empty the closet.
2. Arrange for fresh air to enter the room, open windows and doors.
3. Ozone is heavier than air. Therefore, for more effective air purification in the cabinet, install the device at a height of 1.5–2 meters.
4. Switch on the device. For an old cabinet, set a timer for 10 minutes, for a new one - for 10-30 minutes.
5. Close the cabinet doors.
6. If possible, leave the premises for the specified period.
7. When opening the cabinet doors, protect the respiratory system with a damp gauze bandage.
8. Ventilate the area well for 30-40 minutes.

The ozonizer is used to disinfect and eliminate unpleasant odors of various origins, including chemical and harmful substances

Safety when working with the device

• Do not use the device in rooms with high temperature and humidity.
• Do not inhale air in the immediate vicinity of a working device. It is dangerous to health. It is recommended to leave the room while the device is in operation.
• During operation, a high voltage is generated inside the device. Therefore, it cannot be opened during operation.
• Make sure that no water gets on the device during operation.

Video: using the ozonizer

How to eliminate the smell of chipboard new furniture

1. After buying new furniture, do not rush to actively use it. Leave the cabinet for 2-3 days with doors and drawers open in a well-ventilated area. If the furniture is made of high-quality materials, then during this time the unpleasant smell will disappear or its level will significantly decrease.
2. Prepare a vinegar solution: 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 liter of water. Spray the interior of the cabinet with mortar. Close the doors and let sit for one hour. Then wipe the surfaces dry and leave the cabinet with the doors open for another day.
3. If the odor persists, you can use tea bags. Place them at the corners and joints inside the cabinet. Close the cabinet doors tightly and leave for 7-10 days. Black and green tea absorbs odors well. After eliminating the odor, the bags should be thrown away; they should not be reused for preparing a drink.

Black or green tea is excellent at absorbing unpleasant odors

If, 10 days after the purchase, the cabinet still retains a strong, persistent chipboard odor, you should contact the sales organization with a request for a Certificate of Conformity for the purchased furniture products. This document must indicate that the furniture has passed the necessary safety tests in an accredited laboratory or test center, and meets the requirements of the technical regulation. Read the test reports and check if this laboratory is included in the state register. If the trade organization refuses to provide the necessary documentation, demand an exchange of goods or a refund. It may require additional expertise and damages through the court.

Video: how to get rid of an unpleasant odor in the closet

How to eliminate the musty smell in a dresser with linen

1. Empty the closet. Dry clothes and linen well. This is best done outdoors in direct sunlight. But, be careful, on a hot summer day, brightly colored clothes can burn out under the sun. It will be better to dry such things in the shade.
2. Wash contaminated clothing if necessary. The laundry can be boiled. If the clothes are hopelessly damaged by mold, it is better to get rid of them.
3. A damp, mildewed cabinet is also best taken outside to dry. If this is not possible, treat all the walls and shelves of the cabinet with hydrogen peroxide. There may also be mold on the back of the cabinet. Therefore, move the cabinet away from the wall and process it from the outside. Leave to dry completely, no need to rinse off the peroxide.
4. In the next step, open the windows and treat the surface of the cabinet with ammonia. During work, the respiratory organs should be protected with a damp gauze bandage. The composition of ammonia contains ammonia, which is harmful to health. Ventilate the closet and room well.
5. Treat the cabinet from all sides with ultraviolet rays from a quartz lamp. This will help get rid of the mold bacteria. The lamp must be positioned so that the rays hit the cabinet. Processing should be carried out within 30 minutes on each side. It is recommended to leave the room while the device is in operation.
6. For best results, use baking soda. You can put it in a container and put it in a closet for several days. But it is better to sprinkle it in a thin layer over all horizontal surfaces of the cabinet. Close the doors and leave for 1–2 days. It could be longer. Then collect with a vacuum cleaner. Soda is very good at absorbing moisture and odors.

Video: how to get rid of mold and musty smell in a linen closet

How to eliminate mothballs in your wardrobe

1. Items saturated with mothballs must be hung out in the open air in the shade for 1-2 days for ventilation. For example, you can do this on the balcony. During this time, the smell will completely disappear and the products can be returned to the cabinet.
2. To eliminate the smell of naphthalene in the cabinet, it is most effective to use mustard powder. It can be scattered over the surface of shelves covered with paper, or poured into a container and placed in a cabinet. You can make bags of mustard and then spread or hang them inside the cabinet. As an express version of the bag, you can use a handkerchief: put 3-4 tablespoons of mustard powder in the middle, tie the corners of the handkerchief crosswise and place the bag in the cabinet. The cabinet doors should be closed tightly and left for 1–2 days. During this time, the mustard will absorb the amber.

Mustard powder effectively removes bad odors

Video: how to get rid of the smell of mothballs in the closet

How to get rid of the smell of old age in a rare closet

If the piece of furniture is a heirloom and needs to be preserved, you can try to eliminate the bad smell. This can be done as follows:

1. Treat the inside of the cabinet with a mild white solution. Take one cap of the product for one liter of water. Wipe the surface with a damp cloth and then wipe dry.
2. You can get rid of the unpleasant odor with milk. Take a small amount, for example 0.5 liters, boil, pour into a heat-resistant container and place in the cabinet. Close the doors tightly. Leave it there for half an hour until the milk cools. Then open the cabinet doors for ventilation. The milk should be discarded. Drinking and using it for cooking is strongly discouraged.
3. Pour baking soda into a small container. Drop 5-10 drops of essential oil on top of the baking soda. You can choose any aroma based on personal preferences. For example, lavender or tangerine oil. Place the container in the cabinet for several days, close the doors tightly. It is convenient to use an empty and thoroughly washed cream jar as a container.

Hot milk can be used to absorb bad odors

How to get rid of the smell of sweat in your wardrobe

1. Remove the dirty product from the cabinet and clean it from the smell of sweat. To do this, add baking soda and acetylsalicylic acid to a bowl of warm or hot water at the rate of 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 aspirin for 1 liter of water. Stir well so that the aspirin dissolves. Submerge the garment in a bowl for one hour. Then rinse and dry the product.
2. If the smell in the closet is not strong, the rest of the clothes may not be reached. But to purify the air, put a small container filled with salt in the cabinet. Close the cabinet doors and leave for a day. The salt will absorb unpleasant odors.
3. If the cabinet is heavily saturated with an unpleasant smell of sweat, remove all clothing from the cabinet and ventilate it in the fresh air, and treat the walls and shelves of the cabinet with vinegar solution.
4. Additionally, do the following. Dip a terrycloth towel in the vinegar solution so that it gets completely wet, then remove and squeeze well. Fix a damp towel on a clothes ram and hang it in the closet for one hour. After this procedure, ventilate the cabinet from the smell of vinegar, and rinse and dry the towel.

Salt is an effective remedy for removing unpleasant odors and absorbing excess moisture

Video: how to get rid of the smell of sweat on clothes

How to eliminate a harsh, unpleasant odor in a shoe cabinet

1. Check out the shoes. Identify foul-smelling steam, wash, clean, wash insoles.
2. Treat the inside of the cabinet with vinegar. You can use undiluted vinegar. Apply it to a sponge or tissue and wipe down the interior walls and shelves of the cabinet. Close the closet for half an hour. Then open the doors and leave it there until the vinegar smell is completely gone.
3. Place small bags of salt or activated charcoal tablets in clean, well-dried shoes. Salt and charcoal are excellent absorbents, absorb moisture and unpleasant odors. They can also be put in the closet separately from the shoes, after placing them in a small container.

Activated carbon is an excellent absorbent, absorbing moisture and unpleasant odors

Video: How to remove unpleasant odors from the cabinet

How to get rid of tobacco smell in your wardrobe

1. Items should be removed from the cabinet and ventilated in the fresh air. Wash if necessary.
2. To handle the cabinet, soak a terrycloth towel in clean water, squeeze it well and hang it in the cabinet. The damp cloth will absorb the tobacco smell.
3. Burn the bay leaf in an ashtray and fumigate the space in the closet with it.
4. Buy a pack of unroasted coffee beans from the store. Heat the skillet well and pour the contents of the pack onto it. Fry the beans until browned. Then put them in a heatproof container and place them in the cabinet. The coffee aroma is pleasant and very persistent.
5. To completely eliminate the tobacco smell, it is necessary to carry out a comprehensive measure to clean the air not only in the closet, but throughout the apartment.

Video: How to get rid of tobacco smell

How to eliminate odors in the medicine cabinet

1. Check the tightness of the medical packaging. Dispose of misshapen drugs such as a cracked jar, a leaking ointment tube, or a torn plate of pills.
2. Treat the inside of the cabinet with rubbing alcohol or vodka. Keep the doors open a little to eliminate odors.

Check the tightness of the medicine packaging in the home medicine cabinet

Prevention of unpleasant odors in the closet

• Do not store clothes and shoes in the same closet. If this is not possible, zone the closet space so that shoes are stored in a compartment separate from clothing.
• Do not store medicines in your closet. There should be a special separate cabinet or first aid kit for medicines.
• Store only clean and well-dried clothes and shoes in cabinets.
• Check your clothing regularly. Get out of the closet, shake, shift. This procedure should be carried out at least once a month.
• Make it a rule to get rid of items that have never been used in one year.
• Fill your wardrobe with pleasant aromas: dried herbs, perfume, essential oil. And then there will be no room for an unpleasant smell in the closet.

Video: how to provide a pleasant aroma in the closet

Fill the cabinet with pleasant aromas and then there will be no room for an unpleasant smell in the cabinet

Using the tips in this article, you can not only eliminate the current problem with an unpleasant odor, but also prevent this in the future.