Clean, fresh, and nice-smelling clothes can significantly enhance your mood and confidence level. However, mildew and moisture in the wardrobe can give your clothes a foul, musty odor. The unpleasant smell can spoil your mood and leave you feeling frustrated.
We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to help you with this problem. You can stop clothes from smelling musty with simple hacks and keep your wardrobe fresh.
What Causes washed clothes to smell musty?
Multiple factors may be at play behind your clothes’ musty smell. However, the following are the most common reasons why your clothes may smell musty.
- Moisture and Mildew: If your washed and cleaned clothes smell musty when you take them out of the wardrobe, the moisture and mildew inside may be to blame.
- Bacteria Growth: If you do not dry your clothes well, they may harbor a smell that causes bacteria and give your clothes a foul odor.
- Dirty Washing Machines: It can lead to a buildup of mold and bacteria, which can give your clothes a musty smell.
- Damp Dryers: The same goes for your dryer; if your clothes smell damp when you take them out of the dryer, chances are that your dryer has trapped moisture.
- Prolonged Wetness: Leaving clothes in the washer for too long can also lead to mold and mildew growth and give an unpleasant odor to your clothes.
- Improper Detergent Use: Using too much or the wrong detergent can lead to residue buildup or leave excessive soap in your clothes, which can cause a musty smell.
- Overloading the washer: Another reason your clothes may smell musty, as it prevents them from being rinsed and cleaned properly.
How to get rid of the musty smell from clothes in the wardrobe?
You can make the musty-smelling clothes in your wardrobe smell-free using several different methods. However, whether you have a designer or ordinary wardrobe, the following are the most trusted methods.
- Take the clothes out of your wardrobe and check if they are permeated with musty odor; if so, you must wash them.
- Since now you have an empty wardrobe, check for mold or other sources that may cause a musty odor in your wardrobe. You can use a mold cleaner to remove the mold from your wardrobe. Sometimes, pet urine can also lead to such smells, which may require a urine neutralizer.
- Once cleared, you can dust the wardrobe and use the mixture of one part warm water and one part vinegar to wipe your closet and drawers using a sponge or microfiber cloth. It will further help you get rid of persistent smells from the wardrobe.
- Once you have completed the above steps, leave the empty wardrobe doors open for a few days, as the air circulation will further eliminate dampness and mildew growth.
- However, if the smell persists, you can put a plate of baking soda inside the wardrobe to remove the musty odor. Repeat this process until the smell is completely eradicated.
Maintaining an organized and inviting wardrobe becomes essential once you’ve tackled the musty smells and freshened up your clothes. At this point, you might also think about how to add color to your wardrobe to keep it not only fresh but also visually appealing.
Expert tips on keeping your wardrobe and clothes fresh
According to Ann Lightfoot, a professional organizer and cofounder of Done & Done Home, spending a few hours cleaning your closet can lead to stress-free living. This seems true in all senses, as a clean and tidy wardrobe means fresh clothes, which means you feel good about yourself. Follow the following tips to keep your closet clean and your clothes smelling fresh.
- The first and most basic step to keeping your wardrobe and clothes fresh is to keep it organized. This will increase airflow and prevent humidity.
- Include your wardrobe in your cleaning routine and vacuum it regularly, at least once a week.
- You can put activated charcoal bags in the wardrobe to remove mold spores and other contamination from your wardrobe without using any chemicals.
- You can use a dryer sheet with clothes that you do not wear frequently. It will absorb moisture and bad odors and keep your clothes fresh. Alternatively, you can also use a wardrobe dehumidifier for this purpose.
- If you’re struggling with overcrowding, learning how to downsize your closet can also help improve airflow and reduce humidity, preventing musty smells.
- Apart from the above, you can also use essential oils for natural and fresh-smelling clothes. Soak a few cotton balls in the essential oil of your choice and tuck them in the back of the wardrobe shelves.
Whether maintaining a high-end closet or learning how to build a wardrobe on a budget, these simple tips will help you keep your clothes fresh and free of musty smells.