This article was co-authored by Melanie Garcia. Melanie Garcia is the Co-Owner of Oranges & Lemons, a small, family cleaning business based in Downtown Los Angeles, California (DTLA) in operation for over 40 years. Oranges & Lemons operates while partnering with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Hand in Hand: Domestic Employers Network.
There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Suitcases tend to get stored for most of their life and are usually only used for travel. Depending on where they're stored, they can start to smell musty, and this odor can transfer to your clothes. Rid your suitcase of that musty smell by washing it, using an odor-absorbing material, and taking care to store it properly.
Steps
Cleaning the Inside
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1Vacuum the interior. Open your suitcase and vacuum the inside using a crevice attachment. Carefully get rid of the dust, crumbs, and other debris. Use your fingers to pick debris out of places your vacuum can’t reach
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2Wipe it down with a mild cleaning solution. Dissolve ½ teaspoon (2.46 mL) of liquid dish soap in one cup (120 mL) of warm water. Dunk a clean cloth in the dish soap and water solution and wring out the cloth. Use the slightly damp cloth to wipe down the inside of your suitcase.[1]
- Be very careful that the cloth isn’t too wet.
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3Dry it. Use a clean towel to dry the interior of your suitcase. Carefully blot up any especially wet spots. Leave it open to let it air dry for a day or two.
Removing Odors
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1Choose an odor-absorbing material. Pick between clay kitty litter, baking soda, freshly ground coffee, or active charcoal. All will work equally well. Make your decision based on cost and which material you most want to work with.[2]
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2Cover the interior with the material. Dump enough kitty litter to fill your suitcase about halfway. Sprinkle very liberal amounts of baking soda or coffee grounds to cover the entire bottom of the suitcase. With the charcoal, add a few lumps to the suitcase. Close your suitcase and leave it for about a week.[3]EXPERT TIPMelanie Garcia is the Co-Owner of Oranges & Lemons, a small, family cleaning business based in Downtown Los Angeles, California (DTLA) in operation for over 40 years. Oranges & Lemons operates while partnering with the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Hand in Hand: Domestic Employers Network.Professional House Cleaner
Melanie Garcia
Professional House CleanerOur Expert Agrees: You can remove smells by sprinkling an odor remover like baking soda inside the suitcase. Let the baking soda sit for at least one night and then vacuum it out. Another option is spraying a mixture of orange essential oil and water in the case to leave a fresh scent.
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3Clean out the material. After a week, open your suitcase and check that the smell is gone. Carefully dump the material in the garbage. Vacuum up any remaining material.[4]
- If some smell remains, put a small bowl of baking soda in your suitcase and close it up for another few days.
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4Spray it with vinegar and water. Combine white vinegar and water in a 1:3 ratio. Put this in a spray bottle. Use it to spray the inside of your suitcase. Leave the suitcase open and let the vinegar and water solution air dry.
- You can try this with lemon juice instead of vinegar.
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5Wad up some newspaper. Use enough newspaper to fill the whole inside of the suitcase. Close the lid and leave it for a week or two. Speed up the odor absorption by replacing the newspaper every few days.
- Add some active charcoal to accelerate the absorption process.
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6Use vinegar and white bread. Put a piece of white bread in a shallow bowl. Pour white vinegar over the bread to saturate it. Put the bowl in your suitcase and shut the suitcase. Let it sit for 24 hours to absorb the smell.[5]
Storing Your Suitcase
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1Store it in a cool, dry place. Also make sure there is good ventilation where you store your suitcase. Cover a cloth-sided suitcase with a cloth to help prevent mildew. Air it out every couple of months to prevent the musty smell from returning.
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2Keep it fresh smelling in storage. Place a dryer sheet or an opened bar of soap in the suitcase when you store it. Change the dryer sheet or bar of soap when you air out the suitcase every few months. You can also spray it down with your vinegar and water solution when you air it out.[6]
- You can also put unwrapped and unlit scented candles or a small jar of coffee beans in your suitcase to keep it smelling fresh.
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3Add cedar shavings. Store your suitcase with cedar shavings. You can also use pine shavings. These will absorb smells and the moisture that leads to the musty smell. Replace these every couple of months.[7]
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow can I prevent a musty smell in my suitcase while packing?
Community AnswerSpray some perfume in the suitcase. Also, put a couple unused tea bags in the suitcase, an unwrapped bar of nice-smelling soap, or some unused dryer sheets. -
QuestionMy straw hat smells of mildew from the beach. How do I get rid of the smell?Community AnswerYou'll need to tumble-dry your hat. This is bring back its color and natural scent.
References
- ↑ http://www.fabhow.com/clean-your-suitcase.html
- ↑ http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/howto/odors/
- ↑ https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/how-to-get-rid-of-that-musty-old-people-smell/
- ↑ http://www.kellyelko.com/2014/07/how-to-clean-vintage-luggage/
- ↑ https://www.hunker.com/12002353/how-to-use-vinegar-to-remove-a-smoke-smell
- ↑ http://herpackinglist.com/2013/08/how-to-clean-your-luggage/
- ↑ http://www.attagirlsays.com/2012/09/06/how-to-get-gross-smells-out-of-old-furniture/
About This Article
To remove a musty smell from your suitcase, all you’ll need is some soapy water. Start by vacuuming your suitcase to get rid of debris, then wipe it down with the soapy water. Dry your suitcase with a towel and leave it open for a day or 2. You can also use coffee grounds or baking soda to remove bad odors. Simply cover the bottom of your suitcase with the coffee or baking soda and leave it in for a week. Then, dump the grounds or powder in the trash and vacuum the inside of your suitcase. You can also absorb odors with a vinegar and water solution. Just spray a solution made of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water on the inside of your suitcase, then leave it to air dry. For tips from our Cleaning co-author on how to get rid of a musty smell with newspapers, keep reading!
