THIS IS A HAMMER By Samantha Mazzotta
Q: The closets throughout our home are extremely musty-smelling, to the point that our clothes don’t stay fresh when hung up in them for over a day. I bought air fresheners for each of them, but they don’t work. Any suggestions? – Jay P., White Plains, N.Y.
A: Dampness is the primary cause of mustiness and odors in closets, but how that dampness gets into the closets and how you can get rid of it takes a few steps. First, the way closets are configured often contributes to the problem. They generally are recessed back into the wall and are closed off by doors. Both of these things impede airflow and allow for stagnant, humid air in these spaces.
Standard air fresheners don’t help if there’s very little airflow in the closet. What you can do immediately to improve the situation is to open the closet doors and remove everything – clothes, boxes, baskets, toys – all of it. Set up a fan on a side table so that it blows air directly into the closet. Let the closet air this way for 24 hours.
Then refill the closet – but with half as much clothing and other stuff as before. Cluttered, overstuffed closets can cause that musty odor to come back in no time, because all that junk is blocking any airflow.
While the fans are running, hunt for possible moisture problems in the house. Go into the attic with a flashlight and look for any possible leaks, while smelling for mustiness or mold. If your home has a basement, inspect it as well. Check all the ceilings: Are there any light brown, circular areas visible? These are water stains, caused by either a leak in the roof or a leaking pipe.
If you smell mustiness and mold but can’t find what’s causing it, or if you see water stains on the ceiling or walls but can’t locate a source, call a contractor who specializes in moisture problems. Be sure to mention mustiness in the closets to the contractor if he or she doesn’t ask first. Eliminating sources of humidity or leaks will be most important, but if the closets’ problem continues even after you declutter them, talk with the contractor about ways to improve airflow in these spaces.
HOME TIP: Placing a single open box of unscented baking soda on a closet’s upper shelf is a cost-effective way to manage minor moisture and odors in the enclosed space.
Send your questions or home tips to ask@thisisahammer.com.
(c) 2014 King Features Synd., Inc.
