Musty Closet Deodorizer

Steps

1. Pour half a cup of baking soda into a small bowl and add 5 drops of essential oil. Stir with a fork until the oil is distributed evenly through the powder.
2. If using dried lavender buds, fold 1 tablespoon into the baking soda mixture.
3. Place the scented baking soda in the center of a muslin or cheesecloth square.
4. Gather the corners together and secure with twine or a rubber band to form a small sachet bundle.
5. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make a second sachet.
6. Place one sachet on a closet shelf and hang the other from a hanger hook or closet rod using a length of twine.
7. Squeeze the sachet gently once a week to reactivate the powder inside.
8. Replace every 4-6 weeks, or whenever the scent fades and the closet smell returns.

Why It Works

Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is amphoteric, meaning it can neutralize both acids and bases. Most musty closet odors come from mildew-producing volatile organic compounds that are mildly acidic. When these airborne molecules contact the baking soda, they undergo an acid-base reaction that converts them into odorless sodium salts. The breathable fabric allows air to circulate through the powder while keeping it contained. Cedarwood essential oil adds a pleasant woody scent and contains cedrol and thujopsene, compounds with mild antifungal properties that help discourage the mildew growth causing the mustiness in the first place.

Tips

• If your closet is particularly damp, place a small dish of plain baking soda on the floor as well. Moisture absorption is a separate problem from odor, and more surface area helps.
• Cedarwood oil is a traditional moth deterrent. Using it in closets where you store wool or silk gives you a two-for-one benefit.
• Do not use scented baking soda sachets directly on leather goods, as prolonged contact with the powder can dry out leather.
• After removing the old sachets, sprinkle the used baking soda down your kitchen drain with hot water as a drain freshener.