[Candy]

Help!!! I need a frugal way to get mildew moldy smell out of a closet and dresser. If anything is in either for more then a week the clothes need to be rewashed which is getting costly, frustrating, and time consuming.

There is no visible mold it’s just the odor I have damp rid in them, a small dehumidifier, along with putting odoban carpet fresh in containers, even used new dryer sheets placed in them to try to help with it but nothing is helping.

[Crystal]

You should consider emptying out the closet and check all corners and trimming for any signs of possible mildew/mold damage.

Then consider painting with Kilz.

[Nancy]

1. Identify and Address the Source:
Check for visible mold or mildew:
If you find mold, clean it with a solution of bleach and water (1 part bleach to 10 parts water) or a commercial mold cleaner.

Inspect for moisture:
Look for leaks, condensation, or damp areas that could be contributing to mold growth.

Ensure proper ventilation:
Open the closet door occasionally to allow air circulation, and consider using a small fan or dehumidifier to reduce humidity.

2. Clean the Closet:
Wipe down surfaces: Use a mild, mold-killing cleaner to wipe down the walls, shelves, and doors of the closet.

Clean or replace any dirty items: Wipe down shoes and accessories, and consider washing or replacing any items that have a musty smell.
Vacuum or sweep the floor: Remove any dust or debris that could harbor odors.

3. Neutralize Odors:
Baking soda: Place an open box or bowl of baking soda inside the closet to absorb odors.

Activated charcoal:
Use activated charcoal in a breathable container or pouch to filter out mold spores and absorb odors.

Coffee grounds:
Place a bowl of used coffee grounds in the closet to absorb odors.
Dried lavender or dryer sheets:
Place pouches of dried lavender or dryer sheets in the closet to add a pleasant scent.

Essential oils:
Add a few drops of essential oils like tea tree, lavender, or eucalyptus to a cloth or wool dryer ball and toss it into the dryer with your clothes.

4. Prevent Future Mold Growth:
Maintain proper ventilation: Keep the closet doors open occasionally and use a fan or dehumidifier to reduce humidity.

Clean regularly: Wipe down surfaces and address any moisture issues promptly.

Store clothes properly: Ensure clothes are dry before putting them away in the closet.

Consider a dehumidifier: Use a dehumidifier to reduce excess moisture in the air, which mold needs to grow.

[Mary]

If you have any way to get the dresser outside into direct sunlight do it. Pull the drawers out, lay the dresser down so the sun can get into it.

Spray the inside of the dresser and the drawer with hydrogen peroxide.

Leave out for two days if you can. Don’t let it get rained on. That should kill any mold. Wipe with a lemon oil polish when you put it back.

If there’s carpet in the closet pull it out.

Get a mold wash from the hardware store and wash everything inch.
You may need to paint.

Someone else suggested using Kilz. That is what I also would recommend.

Good luck.

[Sheree]

We have a dresser like that, unfortunately I think it’s time to toss it.

I’m sure the moisture (our hose spigot broke in the wall and we had a bit of a flood)

and such got soaked into the particle board and it’s a lost cause
I tried dryer sheets, coffee grounds, dumped an entire (BIG) box of baking soda and let that sit for a week+
STILL stinks up anything inside

[Francess]

at this point, id hire a pro. they deal with mold all of the time…they may have an easy solution for you.

if you re still smelling mold, I would think live mold is still present.

[Sarah]

Try the damp rid bags & buckets they work great to get moisture out!

[Gordana]

I would get an inexpensive ozone generator and run it in the closet and room. You should not be in the house during that time.

Next, I would treat all the surfaces by spraying on Mold Control. Let it dry thoroughly.

I would also get a uv light and run it in there with all the drawers opened.

This helped the musty oder we had in one of our rooms when we couldn’t find evidence of any mold.

[Hal]

Take everything out and wash the walls and floors with white vinegar. Then put an open box of baking soda and leave it in the closet.

Switch out once a month.

Good luck!

[Autumn]

Try an ozone generator. They run $75 or so, but definitely worth it, not only to kill the smell but also the source.

[Kim]

Take out the carpet and open up the walls of the closet? Roof leak, pipe leaking?

There is definitely mold if you smell it.

[Cindy]

I would look behind the Sheetrock. You have moisture coming from somewhere. We once moved a tall hutch and noticed a small dark spot on the ceiling.

Come to find out we had a tiny leak in a pipe from the second floor bathroom.

We ended up having to tear out the entire wall and clean it with bleach, new drywall etc.

We had no idea!

[Monique]

Buy a bag of charcoal briquettes, the kind you use to barbecue and lay them out on a tray

[Michele]

Bleach or vinegar scrub, remove drawers and do behind them and outside of dresser. Once dry over night varnish or paint all inside surfaces.

If this is by not possible store a box of baking soda inside cabinet. Drawer linners (roll of it at dollar store. can help a little too if it’s cedar.

Be sure clothes v is very dry and not packed to tight in dresser. To allow fir air flow. Sometime once it smells it’s impossible to remove smell.

Try place in a huge bag with a box of baking soda. This will absorb smells.

Fresh dry Coffee grounds also do this. I place a open small bowl in closets near shoes

[Mary]

Hey, best to
1- stop any source of moisture or water getting into the closet and on dresser Or the whole room first. (Mold has spores and they get everywhere and the best thing to do is wipe down the whole room!!! With bleach water)

1a – Do not let any children live, visit, stay, or sleep in this room or elderly and keep everybody out until the whole room is completely Disinfected and sterilized with bleach water and everything that needs to be is painted.

2 Clean the closet out and you’ll have to (see attached instructions in pictures)

– Get a good sealing mask and gloves
– spray bleach water all over the closet lightly to kill the mold And disinfect.

– Close the door to this room So it does not ventilate to the rest of the house unless it opens outside then open it and
– Open a window(s) and

put a fan to ventilate.
– do not breathe bleach! Damages lungs!!
– Once 100% dry.

– Then paint the closet with Zinsser mold and mildew paint or primer and paint the entire closet.

– Once dry after one or two days go and see if you smell mold or Mildew anymore!!?

– If you do Smell mold and mildew then you need to put on another coat or

– find where u have more mold/ Mildew is in the room And
Treat that with mold spray and Zinsser mold sealing paint.

3- If You don’t clean this up and seal it with zinsser, You can get a bloody nose and make everybody in your house Seriously sick And have to go to the hospital because of black or pink mold poisoning.

4- Then you need to Put the dresser outside
4a- And use bleach water to spray In a well ventilated area and let it sit 20-30 min (Bleach is dangerous to breathe) and
4b- wipe down with bleach water and let dry 100% to kill all the mold on every Square inch of that dresser, Inside and out.

4c- Then Paint with Zinssers Or another mold sealer. And you have to paint inside Every drawer and the dresser.

4d- After a few days, If you
Smell mold and mildew from the dresser.

4e-Then you need to put another coat of Zinsser paint everywhere. And continue these steps until you smell no more mold and mildew!!

4f- Then you can use “oops” paint from Home, Depot or Lowe’s. And paint the dresser another color.

[Kimberly]

empty everything. i’ve used a mild solution of bleach and water as a rinse, then light rinse to remove the mixture. set out in sun, no rain, for a couple of days.

put all the top/upright side w drawers removed and set out as well, then another 2 days of the underside of all as well. don’t soak the wood.

do same in empty closet. and put a space heater aimed at all the angles. that will take longer. leave it empty for a week and see if the smell returns.

if so, call a pro. and consider leaving the dresser out of the closet. and get some of the damp rid products.

the bucket one works wonders!

and i’ve heard activated charcoal works. no experience w that one.

[Carol]

Newspaper and carpeting are great odor eater/ attractors. After a wk toss n replace. But yes, you’ll have to find source.

Could b in drywall/ paneling & best to replace.

[Christine]

I’ve tried a bunch of stuff. The only other thing left for me is to spray with clear coat.

I’ve tried odor ban, charcoal, baking soda, scrubbing it with every cleaner, etc.

[Regina]

I usually wash down the dresser with a lite solution of vinegar and water inside and out.

Do not use on raw wood, always test an area first! Remove drawers, let sit out in sun a few days.

Put in garage when sun goes down, then put back out. Usually the sun and air will do it after 3 days.

The closet you may have to buy something for it and paint.

[Linda]

No clothes. Try moth balls in pantyhose. Cedar. Or cinnamon sticks. Dryer sheets are the best. Then damp it bags.

Home Depot has the ones. U can hang best things ever. Best of luck.

Joann going out of business. Maybe cinnamon sticks there.??

[Norbert]

Try spraying hydrogen peroxide on all the surfaces… or get an ozone generator, place in room close door and let run for awhile then a good ventilation.

[Tann]

Try vinegar spray! I had an issue on a foor and tried all the mould sprays but the vinegar worked brilliantly and got rid of it!

[Patti]

Sand the insides of the drawers? Take the drawers all out and look at the inside of the actual piece of furniture to see if it has mold anywhere too!

[Lisa]

Is it possible your washing machine is the source? Do you have a front loader?

They can make clothes smell horrendous if not cleaned properly about once a month.

[Author]

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