I have a Linen closet that has only sheets and towels in it.?

Question

I have noticed that this closet gets an odd smell in it. Sort of musty. It seems to permeate my clean linens and towels. Is there anything I can do to elimate this odor and keep everything smelling fresh. Thanks

Answer 1

put some dryer sheets in amongst your things. it works like a charm

Answer 2

Forget all those messy powders, sprays and chemicals. Just buy a good carbon odor absorber. Best I've found is a product called FRIDGE-IT odor absorber . It is a great odor absorber that really works. Put a couple in the closet, close the door and the next day, should be alot better. I use it everywhere musty odors are and very happy with it. Not very expensive and no mess. I've seen it in catalogs but also at walmart and some other stores. They have a web site.

Answer 3

Is your linen closet damp? If not, sometimes our linens become musty smelling from being in there so long. A couple of easy solutions and what I do is:

1. Rotate your linens. Most people use their towels, wash them and put them back in. Which means they are in the front again so the ones in back never get used. When you wash your linens, pull the ones in back forward and put the fresh ones in back. You may just have too many. If so, clean your closet out and either store some or donate them.

2. Soak cotton balls in your favorite fragrance or oil. I soak mine in liquid downy. Sit them on a paper towel to dry. After they've dried, put them in the corners of your linen closet. When they start losing their scent, it's easy and cheap enough to replace them. I'm a little anal retentive about mine. I change mine weekly after I've done the laundry.

3. Put dryer sheets in the closet.

4. Before doing the above, I would take everything out and wipe the closet entirely out with the *appropriate type cleaner to remove the musty smell all together and then start fresh with the suggestions above. (*Some people have wooden linen closets, mine is drywall with wood laminate shelves so I wipe mine with lysol water. I use the pink/red lysol, it smells really clean)

Answer 4

I would try removing everything from the closet and cleaning the entire thing with a sponge dipped in pine sol. Let it air dry overnight and then if it still has a musty odor, try placing a couple boxes of baking soda in there as you would in a fridge (with the top pulled off) Also cedar chips would give it a good scent. the pine cleaner should take care of the musty odor.

Answer 5

Had this once myself.

1. Wash down the whole interior of the closet with lysol and let it air dry.

2. paint the inside of the closet to cover over whatever is giving the odor.

3. Inspect the light fixture to see that it is properly insulated. Smells from the attic can seep in otherwise.

4. Mothballs, of course then, it's the mothball smell.

5. Cedar balls or boards to give it a cedar scent.

Answer 6

I would take everything out. Wash down the inside of the closet with murphy oil soap. Line the shelves with contact paper.
You can also buy perfumed paper for drawers and place that on the lining.

Rewash everything and add some baking soda to the wash to get out odors.

This hopefully should do the trick. Also you might want to hang
a stick up air freshener in the closet.

Answer 7

A co-worker of mine suggested putting pieces of chalk in a musty drawer to absorb the smell...same concept should work. Or you could use some (unused!) clay unscented kitty litter in the closet for the same purpose. The drawers in my bathroom cabinet are like that. I am going to give the chalk a try.

Answer 8

I'm a big fan of baking soda. I'd try that before I tried any febreeze or so called "odor neutralizers"

Also, diluted bleach can be used to wash down the interior walls of your closet. You may be able to kill the problem and have less odor in the future.

Answer 9

First spray it and then put some moth ball in it and let it disolve and wait a few days and put clothing back in it. Then if the closet is old paint it as well. Last but least try putting your laundry in plastic bags neatly and store them until use or buy a special cabinet to put you sheets and towels in.

Answer 10

I have this problem to... Sometimes I wonder if the sheets were not "completely" dried when they are folded and put away...if this is they case, so they get a mildew smell since they are folded and cant air out??

Maybe make sure they are VERY dry before folding and putting away??

Answer 11

I guess I would try good old Arm & Hammer baking soda, like in the fridge.
Beyond that I would guess there is something in the wall causing the odor in the 1st place !!
Good Luck.