My closet smelled like damp basement no matter what I did. I hung dryer sheets in it, sprayed air freshener, and lit candles near the door. The smell always came back within days, because I was covering the odor instead of removing the cause. Once I actually fixed the moisture problem, the smell went away and it has not come back.

Find the Moisture Source First

A musty smell is almost always moisture. If you do not fix the damp, every other trick is just perfume over mildew.

• Check the walls behind the clothes for water stains or peeling paint.
• Feel the back corner of the floor. If it is damp, you have a leak or condensation problem.
• Look at the ceiling for brown spots. A leak above the closet is a roof or pipe issue.

If you find a real leak, fix that first. Once the source is gone, you can handle what is left.

The Cleanup

1. Empty the closet completely. Every hanger, every box, everything.
2. Wash or dry clean anything that smells. Clothes hold the odor and will recontaminate the closet.
3. Wipe down the walls, shelves, and floor with a mix of one part white vinegar to three parts water. Vinegar kills the mildew smell at the source.
4. Let it dry completely with the door open. Drying is half the job.
5. Treat any visible mold spots with a mold cleaner and scrub.

Keep It Dry Going Forward

• Leave the closet door open a crack. Stagnant air is how mustiness builds.
• Use a moisture absorber, the kind with silica gel or calcium chloride. Empty the water reservoir when it fills.
• Do not store damp clothes, ever. One damp sweater can seed the whole closet.
• Let shoes air out before you put them away. Shoes are a classic hidden moisture source.

The Result

It took me one afternoon of emptying, washing, and vinegar wiping, plus a two dollar moisture absorber. My closet has smelled like nothing at all for six months, which is exactly what a closet should smell like. The dryer sheets are gone and so is the fake floral fog.