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The Daily Insight

How to avoid food smell on clothes

Author

Emily Cortez

Published Feb 13, 2026

How do I make my clothes not smell like food?

A quick steam of clothing after dining in a pervasive setting can effectively neutralize any aromas from delicious dishes – and if you don’t have a steamer, don’t fret. Take a hot shower and leave your clothes hanging nearby, and both you and your threads will feel refreshed as ever.

Why do my clothes smell like food when I cook?

Your home’s air conditioning unit may be the reason your clothes smell like food! Odors will travel through the ductwork and air vents when your air conditioner is on. That’s because the fan will suck the air out of your kitchen and blow it directly into other rooms of your house, including your bedroom and closet.

How do you cook without smelling food?

This one-two punch is best: After cooking, leave a bowl of white vinegar on your countertop overnight (to absorb stubborn odors). In the a.m., simmer cinnamon sticks, lemon peels and ground ginger in water on the stove (at least 15 minutes) to take care of any lingering stench.

How do you keep your clothes from smelling in the closet?

Tricks to Keep Your Closet Clothes Smelling Fresh
  1. Air Fresheners. Air fresheners can work well for keeping clothing smelling great.
  2. Bar Soap. Strongly-scented soaps wrapped in thin fabric (to protect your clothing from the soap) can share their fragrance with the rest of your wardrobe.
  3. Coffee Grounds.
  4. Dryer Sheets.
  5. Perfumed Cotton Balls or Tissue Paper.
  6. Vinegar.

What is the best closet deodorizer?

  1. Moso Natural Air Purifying Bag – Most Effective. The Moso Natural air purifying bag is the best odor absorber for closets.
  2. airBOSS Closet Odor Eliminator.
  3. Arm & Hammer FGAH32 Moisture Absorber.
  4. Damprid Moisture Absorber, Fresh Scent.
  5. Vacplus Moisture Absorber Packets.

Why do clothes smell musty in closet?

In the months when winter weather batters the outside of your home, the inside often takes on a closed-in smell. This is nowhere more prevalent than in your clothes closets. Clothes hung when they’re not completely dry, and wet or dry shoes and outerwear, all contribute to that musty smell when left inside the closet.

Why do my clothes stink after I wash them?

Sometimes the source of unwelcomed odors is your washer itself. Fabric softener and detergent can build up, block filters and harbor bacteria. So, as you wash again and again, your clothes are exposed to bacteria in the water. Run the hot water cycle once more to make vinegar traces disappear.

How do you remove musty smell from fabric?

Sprinkle a generous amount of dry baking soda over the musty clothing. Allow the baking soda to absorb the odor-causing particles overnight. After 24 hours, take the garments outside and shake off the baking soda. A soft brush may be used to gently brush off any remaining baking soda particles.

How do you get the musty smell out of stored items?

Pour either baking soda,² borax,¹ or some white vinegar into the bowl and set it in the container. Put the smelly item in the container next to the bowl. Seal the container and leave it overnight. ²

What absorbs bad smells in Room?

Some of the best odor eliminators are coffee grounds, tea, vinegar, oats, and baking soda. Leaving a bowl of any of these odor absorbers out in a room that’s due for a little freshening up will help clear out the less-than-pleasant smells from the air.

What is the best thing to absorb odors?

Baking soda is very effective at absorbing odors from the air as well as from surfaces. Put baking soda in your trash can to eliminate orders, and sprinkle it on any surface an odor emits.

Will musty smell go away?

To get the last of the musty smell out of your house, use a natural odor absorber like activated charcoal or baking soda. These products will absorb the smell, so you’ll want to throw them away and replace them every two weeks or so.

Is musty smell dangerous?

A musty smell can be dangerous in as much as that it can be an indicator of mold growth in your home. Some reported symptoms of mold exposure are itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, headaches, asthma-like symptoms, or throat irritation.