Cedar Closets and Basement Storage in Ontario Homes
Cedar closets and basement storage areas represent a specific niche in Ontario home cleaning that professional services often address as part of deep cleaning or seasonal cleaning visits. Ontario's climate — humid summers and dry winters — creates conditions that affect these storage areas in ways that differ from main living spaces.
Cedar Closets
Cedar closets are found in many Ontario homes built between the 1940s and 1980s — the aromatic cedar was used specifically for its natural moth-repellent properties and is most often found in bedroom closets used for seasonal clothing storage.
- Cleaning cedar closet walls: Cedar should be vacuumed and lightly wiped, never wet-mopped or treated with chemical cleaners. Harsh cleaners strip the aromatic oils that make cedar effective as a moth deterrent
- Refreshing cedar aromatics: Over time, cedar loses its scent as the oils evaporate. Very light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper (220 grit) refreshes the scent — this is a DIY task, not a cleaning task, but worth knowing
- Mould in cedar closets: Cedar is naturally resistant to mould, but poor ventilation in a cedar closet (especially in Ontario summer humidity) can create mould on stored items and on the cedar itself. Ensure the closet has some air circulation and isn't packed so tightly that humidity can't escape
Ontario Basement Storage Areas
Older Ontario homes frequently have unfinished or semi-finished basement storage areas that collect decades of dust, spider webs, and humidity. These areas are not typically part of standard cleaning visits but are included in deep cleaning or seasonal cleaning packages.