How do I get rid of a musty smell in my closet?

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.
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What causes musty smell in closet?

More often than not, your clothes smell musty because of an excess amount of moisture in your closet. High moisture is sometimes due to where you live and the season, but it can also be a sign that you have a problem with your insulation or a crack in the foundation of your home.
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Why does my closet smell weird?

Circulating air in an old house can cause an unappealing odor smell all on its own. Try to avoid packing clothes on hangers tightly together, as this also contributes to poor closet circulation.
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Will a bowl of vinegar absorb odor?

Vinegar absorbs odors and neutralizes them to leave a room with a fresh scent. White distilled and apple cider vinegar both work well at absorbing odors. When you use vinegar, you will need several shallow bowls. Fill the bowls with the vinegar, and place them in the room with the odor.
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Can you have a musty smell without mold?

The musty smell that is harbored within your home's walls can be the cause of several factors residing in the environment and/or conditions that are present in the indoor space. Although most people's initial thought is that musty smells only come from mold development in the environment, this is simply not the case.
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What Can I Use to Get the Smell Out of My Closet? : Home Cleaning Tips



What kills mold smell?

Vinegar, baking soda, and hot water should be sufficient to get the job done, but you can also choose to make a bleach solution. To do it, mix one cup of powdered bleach with one cup of warm water in a bucket and use that as your scrubbing solution.
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What does a musty smell indicate?

The smell of mold is typically described as “musty.” It's a stale and damp scent that lingers in the air. It's one of the first and the clearest sign of mold or mildew. If the initial scent is not very pungent, then it's likely that the mold has just started to form.
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Will a dehumidifier get rid of musty smell?

There's a musty smell in your home

Moisture in the air tends to hold and trap odor, Bautista says. A dehumidifier will dry out the air and take away this moldy scent.
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Does boiling vinegar purify the air?

So, does boiling vinegar actually clean the air? The short answer is no, as far as current scientific research is concerned. Acetic acid, the active component of vinegar, is capable of killing pathogens, but only through direct contact.
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What can I boil to make house smell good?

Question: What can I boil to make my house smell good? Answer: You can boil just about any foods that have a pleasant aroma to make your house smell good. Apples, berries, orange peels, lemon peels, lime peels, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon sticks, mint leaves and more. A simmer pot is a great way to do this.
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Does white vinegar get rid of musty smells?

Unpleasant odors lurk in the carpets, rugs, and upholstery. To remove these musty smells, fill a dish with half an inch of white vinegar and leave it out in the room until the smell dissipates.
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Does baking soda and vinegar remove odors?

Baking soda is great for absorbing the smells, but it doesn't happen instantly. -Combine with vinegar and use it in lieu of soapy water to scrub down particularly odorous surfaces.
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How do I get rid of mold and mildew smell in my house?

8 Best Ways To Get Rid Of Mildew Smell
  1. Prevention is the key. Daria Kulkova/Shutterstock. ...
  2. Open the windows and improve airflow. Yavdat/Shutterstock. ...
  3. Try a diluted bleach mixture. ...
  4. Use white vinegar. ...
  5. Try baking soda and water. ...
  6. Get a dehumidifier. ...
  7. Save silica gels or use other humidity eaters. ...
  8. Keep odors at bay.
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Does baking soda absorb odors?

Baking soda, unlike most commercial air fresheners, doesn't mask odors, “it absorbs them," says Mary Marlowe Leverette, a home economist and blogger. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate in a convenient box) neutralizes stubborn acidic odors -- like those from sour milk -- as well as other funky smells lurking in your home.
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How can I deodorize my home naturally?

How To Deodorize House: Important Steps
  1. White vinegar. Removes odors naturally, both on surfaces around the home and in the air.
  2. Baking soda. Absorbs odors. ...
  3. Boiling spices. Like cinnamon in a little bit of water releases their fragrance into the air in a non-harmful, chemical-free way.
  4. Burn soy or beeswax candles.
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Can you boil lemons to make your house smell good?

The fresh smell of lemons makes them a natural choice to freshen a room. For hours of fragrance, simmer them by themselves or with some cinnamon sticks or cloves on top the stove or in a simmer pot. Add water as needed.
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Does boiling cinnamon get rid of smells?

To remedy any unwanted odors, turn to your spice drawer. Simply boil a few cinnamon sticks for two minutes and then turn the heat to low and let the warm, spiced scent waft through your home; turn the heat off once the pleasant smells take over. It's a stupid-simple trick that works wonders.
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What can I boil to freshen the air?

The Stovetop Simmer
  1. Cut any fruits, oranges and grapefruit are two of my favorites! ...
  2. Add spices, extracts, and herbs—think cinnamon, rosemary, thyme, clove, etc.
  3. Fill your pot 3/4 the way with water, cover and bring to a boil.
  4. Once it reaches the boiling point, reduce to low and simmer—with the lid off!
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What kind of vinegar gets rid of odors?

White vinegar is made up of about 5-8 percent acetic acid, and it works to neutralize alkaline odors. To use it as an air freshener, find a misting spray bottle or atomizer. You want a fine mist, as it will produce tinier droplets with more surface area to remove the odor-causing molecules from the air.
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Is it toxic to boil vinegar?

Can boiling vinegar or boiled vinegar make you sick? The only way boiling vinegar can harm you is with the fumes it releases which contains highly concentrated quantities of acetic acid. Consuming or using vinegar that has been boiled will not harm you in any way once it has been cooled and no longer releases fumes.
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Why does my house smell musty all of a sudden?

Musty smells in houses may be attributed to several causes, including: Mold and mildew: Leaky pipes, a damaged roof, high humidity, and exposed dirt in the crawlspace may all contribute to moisture buildup. This moisture combined with the stagnant air and dark corners can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.
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How do I know where the mildew smell is coming from?

If you smell mildew, first check for visible leaks near water sources. Then search for signs of water damage such as discoloration or chipping paint which may indicate that the leak is inside a wall, ceiling, or floor. Once you find and repair the source of the leak, dry out the affected area completely.
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Can air purifiers remove smell?

While HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are designed to deal with large particles, they do not remove odors, chemicals, gases or VOCs. This means they are primarily ineffective for odors.
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