Stinky Closet - What Can Get the Odor Out??

You need to determine what is causing the smell. Is it the carpet? Is it the clothes? I'd empty out the whole thing and give it a close inspection and proceed from there.

Mine was stinky too then I discovered it was my 3 pair of Uggs that was the source :(
Once I bathed the inside of them with baking soda for a few days, my closet was normal again.
Shoes will definitely make a closet smelly.

Hard to say...what kind of smell?

If it's the carpet--rip it up and put new stuff in the closets or leave the wood flooring. Carpets can really stink.

If it's just an overall stinkiness, try sprinkling some baking soda on the carpet, then vacuum it up in about an hour. If it's musty and damp--get O. of those absorbing cans with the stuff in it that attracts dampness.

Hard to say without knowing what kind of smell...

My mom had a stinky closet. Could not figure out what it was. A few weeks went by and she was out and she kept smelling it and thought it was getting on her clothes! she finally was pulling everything out (a got rid of some stuff she no longer wanted) and could not figure it out. She later discovered it was these shoes she had bought at Kohl's. The rubber sole smelled horrible (like it was rotting). She had been wearing the shoes when she was out and smelled the stink. she returned the shoes. The other's they had there smelled bad as well. You can treat the smell but unless you find the actual cause it WILL NOT go away.

I just moved into a home where the closets had been closed for some time. Take your favorite scented bar soap, put it in a plastic cup (or any cup) and put in the back of the closet. This works like a charm! :)

What kind of stinky? musty/moldy; bed shoe/sneaker smell, sweat, food gone bad, dead animal?

My son's sneakers and cleats (of the season) smell so bad that wherever they are the area smells bad. The best t hing for that is sunlight (pull out the laces and tongue expose to sunlight for a day or two, then pour baking soda in (a lot) and leave for a day then pour out. It never gets rid of the stinky, fishy, wet-dog, weird, boy-foot-sweat smell but it helps alot.

If it's musty/moldy then you have pull everything out and mayb the carpet too. See where the musty smell is coming from and get rid of it.

Is if possible that something is in the pocket of one of the items of clothing?

It's also possible that a criotter died behind the wall - gross to think about but completely possible.

you really have to p ull everything out and see where the smell is coming from.

I agree with Jubee. Take everything out.. This is a good time to get rid of stuff you all no longer wear, need or use.

Then vacuum the carpet really well.. Get down on the carpet and see if it smells.. Make sure there are no leaks in the closet. Look for mold in the corners and up around the ceiling.

Then place 2 boxes of baking soda in there to collect odors.. Purchase some Dry Eeze.. it is a product you can hang and it takes out all moisture...Closets do not have vents so they tend to hold any moisture in there.

As you place your clothing back into the closet, make sure the smell clean.. check the pits..

Then the shoes and boots. You will be amazed how bad they can smell when all together in there. You can make little shoe inserts to help collect the odors out of old socks filled with baking soda and rice, tie them up with ribbon.. Throw them into each boot, tennis shoe or any other shoe that has a musty smell..

Make sure that your winter clothes are clean.. coats, hats, gloves, ski clothes.

Gimee caps can collect sweat and people (men) do not think to have them washed.

Also any bed linens. Make sure they are clean. Comforters, blankets. quilts. Old sheets that have not been used in a long time can collect moisture and get a musty odor or collect odors from the closet.

It is a project, but it is worth it.

Declutter and Febreeze

I would sprinkle baking soda and activated charcoal over the carpet and let it sit for a day or two and vacuum it up.

Definitely check the shoes and clothes and hats, etc. Check pockets too!

You can put something in there to absorb dampness if you think it is collecting too much moisture. Another option is to leave the light on all the time to help it stay a bit warmer and dryer, and leave the door cracked so that it is getting some circulation, or change to a louvered door.

Wipe down all the walls and shelves with white vinegar (more eco-friendly than bleach and won't harm your clothing or your lungs!) You can add a few drops of essential oil if you want- the oil smell will linger, but the vinegar smell evaporates pretty quickly.

I would try to take up the carpet, personally, if you think it is the source. If you can't remove it completely, and the odor absorbers aren't working, you can rent a shampooer and clean it.

Good Luck!

You do have to get to the source to be able to figure this out.
Empty the closet.
Inspect the walls, floor/carpet, celiing.
Is there mold/mildew?
You're going to have to find the source of the moisture and stop it before you bleach the walls, clean the carpet (you might have to rip it up to check underneath it), and clean all the clothes (they'll have mold spores in them and need to be washed before being stored again) in order to fix the problem.