Defeat Odors in Your Custom Closet System Once and For All

Remove the Source

First things first – you need to find and get rid of the source of the smell. Sometimes the source is obvious. A little digging might reveal dirty laundry that fell behind the hamper and has gotten overripe since it was forgotten or a piece of food that was dropped unseen on the floor. Eliminate the source, and the worst of the smell will probably go with it.

What can you do if you can’t find the source, or if you do find it but the scent is still lingering? In either case, the only answer is to clean the closet. Either there’s something in there that you haven’t found, or the source is more nebulous – for example, you may have put clothing away while it was still wet and that created a musty, mildewy scent. Pull everything out of the closet, vacuum the floors, clean the walls, and wash any clothes that carry the smell.

Neutralize the Odors

You can neutralize odors in a few different ways. You can buy an odor-neutralizing spray – look for something that eliminates odors rather than covering them up with a different fragrance. If you don’t like sprays or chemicals, there are a few ways to eliminate odors more naturally. When cleaning the closet, use white vinegar on the walls and floor. The vinegar smell will fade as it dries, and it will take odors with it.

Another option is to use baking soda or activated charcoal. Both substances work similarly. Put the charcoal or baking soda into a bowl or ventilated container and put it in the closet. The materials will absorb the odors, leaving the closet without a smell. You can throw out the baking soda when the job is done. If you’re using charcoal, you can reactivate it so it can be reused by putting it in the sun for a few hours. Primal Survivor suggests storing charcoal you’re not using in its original packaging or in Mylar bags or mason jars to extend its life.

Add a Fresh Scent

It may not be enough just to get rid of the odors. Sometimes a closet may not have a foul odor, but it can smell flat or stale. What you need is a fresh, pleasant scent. Depending on what kind of smell you want and how strong you want it to be, there are a few ways to add a great fragrance to your closet.

You can soak tissues or cotton balls in essential oils and store them on closet shelves and surfaces. This can be a good choice because it allows you to spread the scent around the space instead of confining it to one part of the closet. Dryer sheets are another good option. Stick them in drawers, on shelves, and even in coat pockets. If you’re crafty, you may want to consider making your own sachets with something like cedarwood or fresh lavender.

If you’re looking for a mild, clean scent, consider storing unwrapped bars of soap in the closet. Put the soap on a piece of wax paper or in a container so it doesn’t leave any residue on surfaces, and make sure no clothing is touching the soap. Scented candles can serve a similar purpose – lighting them in the closet may not be the safest choice, but even an unlit scented candle can give off enough of its fragrance to refresh the air in a closet.

Conclusion

A foul odor in the closet isn’t a problem that you should ignore. Find and get rid of the source of the odor and plan on cleaning the closet out while you’re at it. User odor-neutralizing substances to get rid of any trace of the unwanted smells. Then use your favorite method to add a new, fresh scent to your custom closet system.

Source

• https://www.primalsurvivor.net/does-charcoal-go-bad/