Mildew in a closet can cause a musty odor.
A musty smell in your closet does not just mean your clothes have an odor. It also could mean you have a problem with fungus growing inside the closet--which could lead to health issues. Does this Spark an idea?
Cause
Musty smells in closets often are caused by fungal growths, such as mildew. Because many closets are poorly ventilated and dark, they provide ideal growing areas for mildew--especially if they also tend to be damp, according to the University of Missouri Extension website.
Solution
To get rid of the musty smell, you must remove the mildew causing it. Clear out the closet and spray down the walls with a mildew-killing cleaning spray. Make sure to get the solution into any cracks and crevices.
Prevention
Prevent mildew from returning to your closet by placing only clean, dry clothing into it. Hang clothing with enough room in between garments to allow air to circulate. Chemicals such as silica gel and activated alumina absorb moisture, so hang bags of them in your closet to reduce dampness and block mildew growth, suggests an article on the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer Sciences website.
Tags: your closet, musty smell
