How To Combat Damp And Foul Odor From Rice Cabinets

If there’s one thing that bothers us, it’s picking up an item of clothing from the closet and smelling an unpleasant, rancid smell. Even if the shirt or dress is new, this stored-up smell always sticks to the fabric in a very persistent way. Therefore, we want to show you how to remove moisture from cabinets and present the best measures to avoid it.

Both to avoid the bad smell in the closet and to eliminate it, there are several tricks that can be easily implemented. Some people put apples with cloves, others put a cloth bag with dried herbs (like lavender, for example) and still others put small bags of rice.

Next, we’ll teach you how to prepare your own rice bag to remove moisture from cupboards and other interesting information. Don’t miss it!

Moisture in the closet: why does it occur?

Moisture in the closet can occur mainly due to two causes:

• Lack of daily ventilation.
• Infiltrations into the environment.

You should also keep in mind that there are woods or conglomerates that tend to deteriorate easily and generate mold and mildew. That’s why it  ‘s so important to ventilate rooms every day, for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

At these times, the ideal is to open the windows and cabinet doors so that air also circulates in these places. If you want, you can also open the drawers.

Although it is not always necessary to remove everything that we have in the closet for it to be fully ventilated, it is advisable to do so at least 2 or 3 times a month. 

Rice can help fight bad smells in the cupboard

It is curious how an element as recurrent and economical as rice can be useful to combat humidity and bad smell in the closet. The secret for this lies in a very interesting aspect: this food (when raw and dry) is able to absorb the moisture around it.

To get rid of bad smell, follow these steps:

• Fill a (clean) cloth bag with raw rice. You can also place a bowl of rice in a corner of the cupboard or small bags in several parts.
• Place the bag in a corner of the closet or on a hanger.

• Change the rice every 15 days.

More tricks to reduce closet stench

• Dry clothes, towels, or sheets properly before storing them in a closet. Never store clothes a little damp, much less between autumn and winter.
• Avoid storing dirty clothes or shoes, as this can trigger the proliferation of mold and fungus.
• Also avoid storing clothes in very limited spaces, as they are too tight or compressed.
  • To avoid bad smells and the appearance of mold, clothes should be stored with enough space for air to circulate.
  • Compact shelves are spaces where fungi proliferate easily. Therefore, it is better to use hollow shelves.
• Open the cabinets and windows in the house every day so that the air can enter for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Some more guidelines against moisture and bad odor

Instead of placing bags of rice to eliminate moisture, you can also place bags of baking soda in a corner of the closet to deodorize the furniture and minimize moisture in the room.

On the other hand, it is also possible to leave a light on (with a low wattage bulb) inside the cabinet from time to time. Heat will cause the moisture to dissipate. However, you need to be careful in order to avoid problems.

If the moisture problem persists, it is advisable to wash and dry everything thoroughly and leave the cupboard empty for a while. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may take a short time or several hours.