Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How do I get the sour smell out of my closet?
One of the best products anyone can use is baking soda. You can sprinkle this on the floor, leave it for a few hours, then clean it up. If this does not work you may need to clean the walls in the closet with some vinegar and water. If vinegar is too strong alone you can add some lemon or lime juice.
There is a product called Nok-Out. It is highly rated and recommended by columnist Mary Hunt. You can get it on Amazon.
A box of baking soda will draw out the smell, along with airing it out!
Baking soda in box sit in closer
Vinegar in a water bottle spray cloths or closet area.
You really need to find out the cause of the smell before trying to get rid of it. Is it shoes? Yucky gym clothes? A coat that got wet and didn't dry before putting it away? Is there mold?
I would take everything out of the and have everything pass the smell test before you put it back. If one things has the offending smell, take care of that item by cleaning it or washing it, or whatever needs to be done depending on what it is.
Once you have everything out, wipe down all the walls, floor, ceiling, and back of the door. If you have carpet in the closet, you may want to sniff that and remove it if it is the offending item.
If you see mold or anything like that that could be causing the odor that will need to be dealt with very carefully as molds can be very dangerous to deal with, especially if you have allergies.
When I have had mold issues, I use 1 part bleach to 3 parts hot water and scrub the mold with a scrub brush that gets sterilized when done by soaking in boiling water.
If that does not get rid of the odor, then you can take one of the other poster's suggestions or try a tray of kitty litter or activated charcoal from the pet store at the bottom of the closet, close it up and let it absorb the smells, then toss the entire mix in a trash bag, seal, and remove from the home.
Remove everything and use charcoal, then air it out for a week
