How to Get the Musty Cardboard Smell Out

The cardboard soaked up damp air and grew mildew. Move your things to sealed bins, dry them out, control the humidity, and the smell goes.

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A musty smell from stored cardboard boxes comes from the cardboard absorbing humidity in a basement or attic, often growing mildew. Cardboard is a sponge for moisture. Move your things into sealed plastic bins, dry the contents out, and control the humidity, and the smell goes.

We make small-batch beeswax candles in New York City, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus. 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 after, with the full MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.

Cardboard vs sealed plastic bins

Plastic totes solve this for good. Unlike cardboard, they do not soak up basement humidity, so the musty smell has nothing to grow in.

Why cardboard goes musty

Cardboard is porous, so it pulls in moisture from damp storage, and mildew grows on and in it. The smell then soaks into whatever is stored inside.

Because the cardboard itself holds the moisture and mildew, it cannot really be deodorized. The EPA's household mold guide comes down to controlling the moisture that feeds it. The box is best replaced.

How to fix it, step by step

1. Move items out of the cardboard. Take your belongings out of the musty boxes, since the cardboard is the source and cannot be saved.
2. Air and clean the contents. Air the items out, wash or wipe what is washable, launder musty fabric, and air books and papers with absorbers.
3. Switch to sealed plastic bins. Repack in airtight plastic totes, which do not absorb moisture or smell and keep pests out.
4. Add absorbers. Drop silica gel packs or a moisture absorber into bins stored in damp areas.
5. Fix the storage humidity. A dehumidifier or better ventilation in the basement or attic keeps it from recurring.

Keep it from coming back

Store things in sealed plastic rather than cardboard in any damp area. Keep bins up off a concrete floor on a shelf or pallet.

Control the humidity in the space, and check stored items periodically.

Freshen the whole room once the source is gone

With the musty boxes handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch, 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 a basement or storage room, Touch Grass fits well. It is earthy and green, with fig, cedar, coconut, amber, and tonka bean. 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.

Candles for the room after the cleanup

Touch Grass

Fig, cedar, coconut, amber, tonka bean

Green and earthy, like fresh air through an open window. You'll love this if you love the smell of a garden after rain.

40 Hours $32 / 80 Hours $65

Shop Touch Grass

Room Service

Vanilla, tobacco, saffron, orchid, tonka bean

Our top seller, and the one for a large open room or a finished basement. You'll love this if you love a good hotel lobby.

40 Hours $32 / 80 Hours $65

Shop Room Service

Wine Down

Lavender, chamomile, sage, cedar, sandalwood

Soft and herbal, and the pick if damp storage smells give you a headache. You'll love this if strong mall candles bother you.

40 Hours $32 / 80 Hours $65

Shop Wine Down

Specs

Frequently asked questions

How do I get the musty smell out of cardboard boxes?

You usually cannot fully deodorize cardboard, since it holds the moisture and mildew. Move your items into sealed plastic bins and air the contents out.

Why do my storage boxes smell musty?

Cardboard absorbs humidity in basements and attics and grows mildew. The smell soaks into whatever is stored inside.

Are plastic bins better than cardboard for storage?

Yes, in damp areas. Plastic does not absorb moisture or odor and keeps out pests, so it avoids the musty problem entirely.

How do I keep stored items from smelling?

Use sealed plastic bins, add moisture absorbers, keep bins off the floor, and control humidity with a dehumidifier if needed.

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