Safe way to make linen drawer smell good?

[BoomBoom]

When clean linens, towels and clothes get stored away, they develop an old, musty smell. I don't want to wash them again - they're clean and I'm water conscious. I tried bundled up cinnamon sticks but the scent is too faint. Most potpourri I've seen are too strong or has weird chemicals. Cedar blocks is not an option because cedar wood is harmful to parrots. Are there any safe items I can put in the drawer / cabinets that can impart a pleasant, lasting smell?

Suggestions would be much appreciated!

 

[Sherbert.the.Bird]

This is probably the more expensive route to go, but possibly vacuum sealing the linens? I do not own a vacuum sealer so I cannot tell you the effectiveness of this. Perhaps other parronts might know?

 

[BoomBoom]

Thanks for the suggestion! It's a good option but probably the last I'd go for (party due to the expense but mostly because I'm too lazy to do all the vacuum sealing and unwrapping). Hope to hear more tips

 

[IndySE]

Hmm. Maybe using lavender or rosemary to bundle with them instead ? They're strong-smelling herbs and parrot-safe I believe. Good luck !

 

[plumsmum2005]

You could store bars of soap there if still used? And/or scented drawer liners. I will only do any of this in a parrot free room.

Might be worth investigating how much air flow and heat reaches the areas they are stored in? Musty smell = dampness usually.

If the furniture is not fitted to the wall etc then try pulling a foot or so into the room and away from outside walls as well as ensure it is adequately aired and heated.

 

[Kentuckienne]

Yes, the musty smell is from microbes, mold or mildew. The way I deal with it is to make sure anything made of cloth is absolutely bone dry, and then store it in something that breathes. I have some plastic bins that aren't air tight, and I put some things inside pillowcases in a cedar trunk. The area where they are stored is dry. When I take them out, I put the in the dryer for a few minutes with a damp cloth, and that takes out the wrinkles and the stale smell.

If your things are getting that smell from being in a drawer, the wood may be contaminated. I have a dresser I got from a relative that was kept for years in a back room, and anything put in it picked up a mildew smell. So I washed it down inside with dilute bleach, which didn't help much. Then I put a thin coat of varnish on all the interior surfaces - inside the drawers, the outside and bottom of the drawers, inside the walls of the dresser, on the runners - all exposed wood. Let it dry thoroughly. No more smell and that was years ago. You could also use shellac, since there won't be much water or alcohol inside the drawer, and it doesn't have to be a heavy coat. You might be able to use a spray varnish even.

 

[SailBoat]

The advise provide in the above Posts is excellent!!!

You have 'work' to do!!! So, get over being lazy or get use to the smell! It is that simple.

Being 'water conscious' and having stinky stuff is an choice, an odd choice, but still a choice. Worst yet, you are quickly headed to a point that smell is not going to come out short of having it dry cleared, or if you wait too long, trashing all that stuff. Both are a costly choice of not solving the problem.

Covering the smell with a scent is a very short term answer to a problem that is becoming worst with time. Mom's not coming over to solve this, so get over being lazy and get to work!

If you do not get this taken care of and soon, you are developing the foundation of a 'sick' house that will cause you and your Parrots to become sick!


FYI: Those items are no longer 'clean' they are chemically dirty with microbes, mold or mildew!

 

[BoomBoom]

Thanks for the suggestions! I didn't know the musty smell could come from dampness. I think I know how it happened, probably stored something not completely dry. The cabinets are built in but they've always been quite dry.

 

[plumsmum2005]

That is easily fixed them. If not try and locate the start of the problem.

 

[Bundiibird]

I always keep a open small container of bi carb soda in my cupboards and fridges just to withdraw any smells as well. As mentioned making sure nothing is damp in the linen cupboard.

My mum and grandmother always did the bi carb thing so now so do I.