A cedar closet is a closet made of or lined with significant amounts of cedar wood. Cedar has a smell that is pleasant to most people, but disliked by many bugs, especially moths. This makes it useful for storing clothes and keeping away the moths that will often eat and make holes in cloth.
A cedar-lined closet is like a sanctuary for your clothes. The moisture-absorbing properties of cedar help maintain a suitable environment for different types of fabrics, warding off mildew and mold.
Comments Section Cedar closets were big in pre-90s as a way to keep moths and pests from damaging your clothing. My understanding is that the oil in the wood has repellant features. It has since become quite unpopular and is usually covered up with drywall during renovations.
Dear Melanie: Cedar closets are not as common as they used to be, but they are still effective for deterring moths and the resultant holes in woolen clothes. Most people find the cedar scent to be nostalgic and quite pleasant, but the scent can fade over time.
On average, a full room this size will be in the range of $700 to $1,000 in material. Labor cost, if not doing this as a DIY, will depend on your area. Most contractors, on average, will be around $800 plus for a project like this. We offer the best cedar closet solution out there.
Conclusion. Cedar rings are a natural and effective way to keep your clothes smelling fresh and free from pests. While the lifespan of cedar rings can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of the wood and the storage environment, they can last for up to two years or more with proper care.
Cost. Pine's availability places it as the clear winner when comparing initial expenses. Pine costs between $9 and $24 per linear foot, depending on your supplier. Cedar has a higher starting price of $20 per linear foot, which can rise to $35 based on the type of cedar you use.
Cedar chests typically dry out the items that are stored within them, which is fine if it's clothing or paper. But you don't want a leather bag to dry out or it could become brittle and crack. Because of the potential for damage, it's best not to keep leather bags—or shoes or belts—in a cedar chest.
Cedar is an effective natural deodorizer and mold inhibitor, making it a great choice for closets and drawers. Cedar for closets is especially useful for humid climates, since it absorbs excess moisture from the air.
Cedar controls the growth of mold and mildew by keeping the closet at a low moisture level.
As previously mentioned, cedar oil provides protection against moths, silverfish and cockroaches. A cedar wood lined closet is also vastly superior to keeping insects away when compared to most other types of wood, or synthetic materials such as drywall. The best way to stop pests is to prevent them.
Western red cedar is famous in the construction world for its durability and aesthetic appeal, which reduces maintenance time and the need for painting, raising the price. When it comes to lumber, you get what you pay for, and western red cedar lumber is more than worth the price.
It can be difficult to cover the grain in cedar wood. If you don't want any of the grain to peak through, apply a primer like KILZ 2® Latex Primer before you put on your first coat of paint. I was okay with a little of the wood grain showing through because I wanted that rustic, slightly worn look.
When aromatic cedar is used to line an enclosed space, such as a closet or a cedar chest, the scent can fill and protect the entire space from unwanted pests.
Cedar offers a great and pleasant-smelling way to discourage insects from feasting on your clothing, but it must be kept fresh if it is to be of any use.
A cedar-lined closet can be a great way to give a space a clean smell and even offer protection against fabric-damaging insects, like moths. Store-bought cedar lining kits, as well as cedar planks, can be found at most home improvement stores and are often easy to install.
Lack of air circulation: Closets are often closed, dark, and poorly ventilated spaces. Without proper airflow, moisture can get trapped, allowing bacteria and mold to grow, which can cause unpleasant odors.
We know that the insect repelling power of Cedar comes from the oil of the tree, which the clothes moth simply does not like the smell of, so will not lay it's eggs where the fragrance is prominent. The strength of the oil is key. It can evaporate and it's scent dissipates over time.
Over time, however, the intensity of the scent diminishes, which can reduce their effectiveness against moths. Typical Effective Lifespan: Generally, cedar blocks remain effective for about one to three years.
Cedar can and will rot and decay, it just takes alot longer than other wood. It can become weak and brittle so it depends on the design of your chairs and the thickness of the planks as to whether or not they'll hold up and support the weight you're going for.
The scent itself is not responsible for deterring moths as much as it is camouflaging the scent of a moth's natural target—keratin. Again, it's only a temporary distraction, as the oils in cedar do not last long.
If you're running a tighter budget, Siberian Larch is a particularly great cedar alternative. 'B' grade Siberian Larch can allow you to make further savings, as well as providing more knots (and arguably rustic character!) compared to the clear-grade 'A' version.
Cedar's soft wood is easy for woodworkers to work with, but it will dent more easily than hardwoods like Maple or Oak. Its hardness is comparable to Pine, and, like Pine, isn't the best choice for tabletops, desktops, or other furniture that gets heavy use.