How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Closets

Humidity can lead to mildew in your closet, which is not good for your respiratory system or for the smell it leaves on your clothes. It's relatively easy to get rid of mildew and its smell (and keep it away!) with a few easy instructions.

Things You'll Need

• Bleach
• Scrub brush and rags
• Bucket
• Baking soda
• Dryer sheets

Instructions

1. Clean out the closet. Remove EVERYTHING from the closet and when possible hang everything outside to air out. If you don't mind the smell of floral, you can spray the clothes with a floral fabric spray. This is a great time to weed things out, so separate everything into three separate piles, "Keep," "Throw," and "Give away."

2. Mix a solution of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of hot water. Put on rubber gloves and scrub every inch of the closet interior. Bleach kills mildew like nothing else, even though it leaves a strong odor. If your closet is carpeted, be careful not to drip bleach on it.

3. Go back over the walls with hot water to remove or minimize the lingering smell of bleach. You might want to add a few drops of lavender or citrus essential oil.

4. Place small containers of baking soda in the corners of the closet, including the corners of the shelving and the corners at floor level.

5. Stuff pockets of the clothes that you return to the closet with dryer sheets cut in half. Add dryer sheets to boxes, in with blankets, or wherever you need to protect an item from a future mildew smell.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a box of dryer sheets handy so that you can replace them regularly. You can also add sachets of your favorite smells in your closet. There are also odor and humidity remover kits available in most major department stores.