Baking soda or carpet powder.
Chest of drawers smells musty.
Wet a cloth with the solution and squeeze out any excess moisture.
If you have an old dresser just line the drawers with dryer sheets or if it s a vintage trunk just find a way to stash a few of them inside.
It s crucial to deodorize the drawers before using the piece of furniture.
Smelly dresser drawers can be caused by spills substances transferred from clothing bacteria mold mildew fungi insects and rodents.
If you do not remove this smell and instead use the chest of drawers to store clothing the clothing itself will absorb the musty smell.
Maybe it would seal in the smell.
Excess moisture results in a musty scent in furniture and the offensive odor tends to concentrate in the drawers which see little air movement or light.
Cause of musty smells musty smells are the result of mildew in your clothing or in your dresser.
Then if you find the smells remain maybe from mothballs musty or new wood laundry soaps drawer sachets or spilled perfumes work on the drawers to eliminate the odors.
Musty smell still strong.
Mildew spores accumulate in dark and damp environments and even if we can t see them the smell gives them away.
Drawers can provide an ideal environment for mildew and once it begins.
Mildew requires moisture organic dirt and oxygen to grow but doesn t require light.
Place a lunchbox sized container of baking soda fresh coffee grounds or cat litter inside for a couple of days with the doors drawers closed then remove the container.
Step 1 open all of the dresser drawers and leave open for 24 hours.
How to prevent mildew in drawers.
This is a really great little trick for lots of yucky smells.
Again this one is for more mild to moderate smells.
Bacteria and mold or mildew are the most common cause of odors.
Step 1 use white bread and white vinegar.
Wipe all unvarnished surfaces inside the drawers.
Combine three parts water and one part household bleach if the odor remains.
Thoroughly cleaning the drawers usually solves the issue although very old furniture or items stored in a damp area for a long length of time may require sanding.
Scented drawer liners may help but likely clothing will then smell of artificial scent as well as mustiness sorry.
If the odors penetrate wood in a chest of drawers they will be more challenging to eliminate.