How to Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh In Drawers & Closets
Keeping your clothes smelling fresh isn’t just about how you wash and dry them; it’s also about how you store them.
If you’re dealing with musty, damp, earth smells in your clothes, drawers, or closets, it’s time to take action.
These odors signal that excess moisture is present, which can lead to mold and mildew.
Exposure to mold and mildew can cause respiratory irritation, significant allergic reactions, skin rash, asthma attacks, and even chronic disease.[1]
That’s why it’s important to identify what’s causing the musty smell and remove it naturally.
In this article, you’ll learn practical tips on how to keep clothes smelling fresh in drawers and closets by ridding them of musty smells. We’ll touch on why clothing gets musty in drawers and how to prevent and remove these odors.
Why Does Clothing Get Musty in Drawers?
Several reasons.
Drawers are often closed, which can trap moisture, prevent air circulation, and lead to improper storage. We’ll explain each in more detail below.
Trapped Moisture
The leading cause of musty drawers is trapped moisture, which often leads to the growth of mold and mildew.
When moisture, mold, or mildew gets trapped in clothing fibers, it can create that stale smell.
Lack of Air Circulation
When dresser drawers are closed, they lack proper air circulation. Without ventilation, stale and humid air gets trapped, leading to unwanted musty odors.
Improper Storage Solutions
Densely packing clothes, especially damp or dirty items, into drawers quickly spreads musty smells.
Combined with moisture, low light, and poor air circulation, this creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow.
6 Ways to Keep Your Clothing Smelling Fresh Naturally
Let’s explore six ways to keep your clothing smelling fresh naturally. We’ll look at natural air fresheners, vacuum-sealing, dehumidifying, baking soda, breathable storage containers, and exposure to sunlight.
1. Natural Air Fresheners
Remove musty odors with natural air fresheners. Believe it or not, there are plenty of inexpensive and effective options out there.
Fragrance-free and natural scents can help keep stored clothes clean and smelling great.
Try these to keep clothes smelling fresh in drawers and closets:
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Vodka: Pour one part inexpensive, unflavored vodka and three parts distilled water into a spray bottle. Use as an air mister.
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Activated charcoal: Place activated charcoal pouches in drawers and closets to absorb musty odors. They can also be slipped into stinky shoes.
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White vinegar*: Pour one cup of white vinegar into a small bowl and place it in an inconspicuous, safe spot in your closet where it won’t spill. Swap out after it no longer absorbs odors.
- Vanilla extract: Place a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract in a small saucer in your closet or drawers to freshen them up.
*Note: Although vinegar is considered non-toxic and safe, we recommend keeping this bowl out of reach of children and pets. Vinegar can hurt or even damage the eyes and irritate the lungs if inhaled.
Looking for more natural ways to freshen up the air in your home? Read 7 Non-Toxic Air Fresheners & How To Remove Odors Naturally.
2. Vacuum Sealing
Store out-of-season clothing (like bathing suits in winter) in vacuum-sealed bags to preserve freshness and prevent musty odors. Make sure that the clothes you store are clean and thoroughly dry!
These bags save space and can be tucked under beds or stored away in closets, protecting clothes from dust and moisture.
Note: After removing items from a vacuum-sealed bag, always wash them in cold water with a human-safe detergent, like Branch Basics Laundry Detergent. This helps refresh the fabric and bring your clothes back to life so they’re ready to wear.
3. Dehumidifying
Musty smells in closets or drawers often indicate a moisture problem. While common, excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew.
Buy inexpensive hygrometers to mount in various locations in your home, `including closets, to check the humidity level. Sometimes, bringing in a dehumidifier is necessary.
Our homes should be kept at 40 - 50% humidity.
A dehumidifier is programmed to maintain a humidity level, typically 50% or less, where mold and mildew cannot grow. Place one in a closet or bedroom to control moisture and eliminate musty odors.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is an excellent non-toxic odor absorber that can be used to keep clothing, closets, and drawers fresh. Here’s how:
Closets and Drawers
Keep your closets and drawers smelling fresh by storing open baking soda boxes inside them.
The baking soda absorbs and deodorizes odors from clothing and shoes.
For best results, change out the boxes once a month.
Clothes
Freshen and deodorize clothes with baking soda. Add a cup or two to your laundry wash load to help remove and control musty odors.
Shoes
Sprinkle shoes with baking soda overnight to absorb odors. Dump or vacuum out before wearing.
For more ways to use baking soda around the house, check out Cleaning With Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): 12 Surprising Uses.
5. Breathable Storage Containers
When it’s time to store seasonal or delicate items, it’s best to use fabric or mesh garment bags, which allow air to circulate and prevent musty odors.
Avoid airtight containers, like plastic bins, as they can trap moisture and cause stale smells.
6. Exposure to Sunlight
Exposing clothes and shoes to sunlight is a very effective, fast, economical, and natural way to remove musty smells.
Simply place items in a sunny spot with good air circulation and leave for a few hours.
Learn more about how sunning can help keep clothes smelling fresh in Sunning: How to Take Advantage Of The Summer Sun by Outgassing (AKA Offgassing).
4 Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Clothing
To prevent excess moisture and musty odors, avoid these common storage mistakes.
1. Storing Damp Clothing
Damp clothing is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Soiled damp clothing is even more vulnerable. Always make sure garments are completely clean and dry before putting them away.
2. Improper Container Sealing
Containers that aren’t sealed well can trap humid air and moisture. This encourages mold and mildew growth and creates stale, musty odors.
3. Using Strong Chemical Fresheners
Although conventional air fresheners “smell good” and are marketed to eliminate unwanted scents from your home and clothes, the immediate and long-term effects of synthetic fragrance exposures are hazardous to your health. [2][3][4]
Not to mention, strong chemical fragrances can cling to fabrics, making it difficult to remove them from clothes, only masking the odor you initially sought to eliminate.
Ultimately, chemical fresheners are just a temporary solution to a more significant problem, and they’re undermining your health.
For more information, see Fragrance Is The New Secondhand Smoke | Eliminate Synthetic Fragrance To Improve Your Health and How to Remove Fragrance from Clothes & Hand-Me-Downs.
4. Ignoring Regular Closet Cleaning
A cluttered, dusty closet can lead to the buildup of dust, dirt, grime, and even moisture. To prevent this, make it a habit to declutter and organize your closet each season.
Vacuum and dust regularly, open closet doors when possible, and rotate your clothes seasonally.
Toss the Toxins with Branch Basics
If you’ve been taking notes, you now know how to keep clothes smelling fresh in drawers and closets! Musty smells often indicate trouble, but knowing how to identify, address, and prevent them is key.
If you’re looking to clean up your laundry and home cleaning routine, check out Branch Basics Premium Starter Kits.
Our all-in-one cleaning system contains only human-safe, biodegradable, plant- and mineral-based ingredients and absolutely no fragrance.
With just one Concentrate plus water, you can create enough cleaning and laundry products to clean your entire home and so much more.
We also offer a full line of human-safe laundry products, including our fragrance-free, ultra-safe Laundry Detergent, Oxygen Boost, and Wool Dryer Balls.
Learn more natural laundry tips and how to create a healthy home in our Wellness Center and our free Toss the Toxins Course.
Resources:
Marilee Nelson
Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.