How to Get the Musty Smell Out of a Closet
Opening the coat closet hits you with a mix of must, old mothballs, and stored-wool smell, from coats sitting unworn for months in a closed, sometimes damp closet. Air out the closet and coats, store them clean, and switch to cedar, and it freshens.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why the coat closet smells
Closed closets get stagnant and can hold humidity, so wool coats and stored items go musty. Old mothballs leave a harsh chemical smell that clings, and body oils on coats from last season go stale.
All of it soaks into everything hanging there. Airing it out and storing coats clean is what clears it.
How to freshen it, step by step
- Air out the closet and coats. Open it up, take the coats out, and air them outside or in a ventilated room. Airing does the most for musty and mothball smells.
- Clean the coats. Brush wool coats, spot-clean, and launder or dry-clean per the label before storing, since stored oils go stale and attract moths.
- Deodorize the closet. Wipe it down and set out baking soda, activated charcoal, or cedar, which absorbs odor and deters moths without the mothball smell.
- Handle mothballs carefully. Mothballs are pesticides, so if you use them, follow the label and keep them contained. To clear the smell, air the items out thoroughly.
- Lower the humidity. If the closet is damp, add a moisture absorber or improve the airflow.
Cedar is the gentler swap for mothballs. It deters moths and absorbs odor without leaving the harsh chemical smell that mothballs soak into your coats.
Keep it from coming back
Store coats clean, use cedar instead of mothballs, and keep the closet ventilated and dry.
Air the closet out periodically, and do not overpack it, so air can move.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the musty closet handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your home, Sunday Reset fits well. It is cool and clearing, with peppermint, eucalyptus, and grapefruit, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get the musty smell out of a closet?
Air it out, take the coats out and air them too, wipe the closet down, and set out cedar or baking soda. Lower the humidity if it is damp.
How do I get rid of the mothball smell?
Remove the mothballs and air the coats and closet out thoroughly. Cedar or lavender sachets are gentler alternatives that do not leave a chemical smell.
How should I store wool coats?
Clean them first, store them with airflow rather than crammed together, and use cedar to deter moths. Do not store them dirty.
Why do my coats smell musty?
A closed, sometimes damp closet lets wool and stored fabric go musty. Airing them out and keeping the closet dry fixes it.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
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