How to Get Rid of Musty Smells From a Briefcase

A clean, dry briefcase is less likely to develop mold odor and stains.

When you open your briefcase only to be greeted by a musty smell, there's probably mold or mildew lurking somewhere inside. This tiny, living organism grows and thrives in areas that are moist, warm and dark. A tightly closed briefcase can supply all of these conditions, providing mold colonies with a place in which to spread stains and odors. To effectively get rid of the musty smell in a briefcase you must remove the source first, which helps to deodorize and get rid of the odor.

Things You'll Need

• Clean cloths
• Vacuum
• Bowl
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• Baking soda
• Cotton ball
• Vanilla extract

Instructions

1. 

   Sunlight naturally kills mold spores as fresh air deodorizes accompanying smells.

   Empty the contents of the briefcase. If any of the contents have mold or a musty smell, lay them in direct sunlight to kill the mold spores and deodorize the items.

2. Wipe out the inside of the briefcase to remove moisture. Place the open briefcase in direct sunlight, either outdoors or inside, to kill mold and mildew spores and allow the briefcase to dry. Once the briefcase is dry, vacuum out the inside to remove dead spores.

3. Blend 1 cup rubbing alcohol with 1 cup water in a bowl. Dampen a clean cloth with the alcohol solution and use it to wipe out the interior and exterior of the briefcase to kill any remaining mold and remove accompanying stains and odor. Let the inside of the briefcase air-dry.

4. Sprinkle baking soda inside the dry briefcase. Close the briefcase and allow it to sit overnight so the baking soda can absorb remaining musty smells. Vacuum the baking soda out of the briefcase the next day.

5. 

   Use vanilla to naturally absorb musty odor and leave a more pleasant scent.

   Treat any last traces of musty smell by tucking a cotton ball with a few drops of vanilla extract on it into an interior pocket inside the briefcase. Remove the cotton ball after 24 or more hours.

Tips & Warnings

• If snow or rain causes your briefcase to get wet, dry it out as soon as you arrive to your destination to prevent mold and mildew development.

• Wipe the inside of the briefcase down with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. Vinegar is a natural mold and mildew killer and will deodorize the briefcase material.

References

• University of Missouri; How to Prevent and Remove Mildew-Home Methods: Removing Mildew; Wanda Eubanks, Betty Feathers; April 1998
• University of Illinois Extension; Thrifty Living: How to Remove Mold and Mildew; Barbara Dahl
• University of Kentucky; Odors: What's That Smell?; Linda R. Adler, M.A.; January 1997
• Mother Earth News; Greener Cleaners: 5 Ingredients for Less-Toxic Cleaning: Baking Soda, Vinegar; Annie Berthold-Bond; April/May 2004
• Good Housekeeping: How to Clean Mildew: Upholstery, Mattresses