Musty clothes in cupboard

[Britchic]

Hi everyone,

That's just it really... I find that my clothes are smelling musty when I get them out of my cupboard, especially if they've not been worn for a month or so. Most stuff goes in clean, but I do put back eg jumpers that I've worn just once.

I've tried putting tumble dryer sheets in between the cloths / hanging on hangers - but that's quite overpowering for the first few days, then pretty useless after a couple of weeks!

Does anyone have any ideas? I almost wonder if I should take everything out and wash it all (which is really daunting.....).

Thanks for any ideas.

I love some advice on this also

In such a situation, I’d take everything out. Wash & dry it.
Clean cupboard- musty smell is often mould so then spray with mould killer and let air dry.
Then put clothes back in with a tub of dessicant to test if you have a damp issue on cupboard.

You shouldn’t put clothes already worn back into a cupboard. You need a chair or use the end of your bed as a sort of clean enough to wear again wardrobe pile.

I would take everything out, give it a good clean with an antibac spray (leave it few minutes to let it work before wiping away), keep it open for a couple of days with your windows also open.
In the meantime wash your clothes well, with a laundry cleanser to get rid of the bacteria causing smells, and let them dry outside the cupboard until they are very dry.
d!

Thank you so much for your responses.

Looking through my cupboards it will be a huge task (not to mention cost!) to wash everything, but maybe it has to happen. Useful to think about cleaning the cupboards too.

I know I shouldn't put stuff back having worn it, but there are certain things that I just don't want to wash that often, nor do I want to have them hanging round on chairs - wooly jumpers, delicate tops that I wear for just a few hours, a cardigan that I throw on every so often....!

Anyway, thank you for your replies - time to get cracking!

Try emptying and cleaning the cupboard first, then something like bicarb sprinkled all over to absorb smells and moisture (then hoover up bicarb). Scented sachets could help. As with airing worn clothes before hanging them up again. Put on a hanger in front of an open window or on the washing line for a few hours

How often do you air your cupboards op? I try to remember once a week to open all my cupboard doors in the house when the windows are open to let them air.

I NEVER air my cupboards!! Hadn’t even thought about it….. so that’s a very good point….! Because they have lights that come on when they open, they always stay shut. But I’ve realized I can switch the lights off. Ok that’s going to be a weekly thing (once I’ve completed the daunting task of cleaning EVERYTHING inside!!).

And thanks for the tip on bicarbonate, I’ll try that. I do hang the clothes I’ve worn on a hanger overnight before they go away, but not infront of a window, which would be better.

Thank you so much for your replies!

I think it's when stuff is packed in too tightly. So opening the doors, and also allowing some space in them.

It may be one damp item that's gone back in, which has caused it to start.

I don't think you have to wash everything, but try and hang it still on the hangers on the line in the sun for a couple of hours.

I find some of my bedding that hasn't been used for ages and pyjamas that are at the back of the drawer often get a 'cupboardy' smell. It's different to that of damp and very distinct to having been in a drawer for ages. No advice from me, though that's an interesting point about airing cupboards out.

Make airing a daily thing, not weekly!!!

The issue with putting back worn things is it's the deodorant/perfume that creates a musty smells

I also think it’s an overstuffed cupboard thing, you might need a clear out so there is some air getting between things.

If I’m putting worn stuff back in my wardrobe, I hang it on a door for a couple of days and fabreeze it first, that might help.

My grandma used to keep soap bars in her wardrobes to keep her clothes smelling nice. It might be worth a try.

Has anyone had any luck with this
my spare bedroom wardrobe smells musty no sign of damp and mould that I can see but they are fitted and one of the sides is on external wall
the wardrobe dehumidifier thing is also collecting water
can someone help

It will be due to damp.

In UK, the most common cause is people draping wet washing indoors, followed by a bathroom that does not use an effective extractor fan.

At this time of year you should have your windows open a lot so it is possible there is a leak, most likely in the bathroom, perhaps around a shower.

An external wall can be damp if there is a broken or blocked gutter spilling down it.

I have checked in bathroom can’t see anything unless I physically remove the wardrobe and check
behind it . We don’t drape washing indoors and do have a fan running when we shower always and open windows too
we also tanked the bathroom which is adjacent to the room with fitted wardrobe

I have checked in bathroom can’t see anything unless I physically remove the wardrobe and check
behind it . We don’t drape washing indoors and do have a fan running when we shower always and open windows too
we also tanked the bathroom which is adjacent to the room with fitted wardrobe

It's probably a leak, then.