Start by airing the case out completely — leave it fully open in a well-ventilated room for at least a day rather than a few hours, since trapped moisture in seams and lining is usually the actual cause of the smell, not surface dirt that a wipe-down would fix.
An open container or a cloth pouch of baking soda left inside a closed case for a day or two absorbs residual odor effectively, and is safe on fabric linings that harsher deodorizing sprays can sometimes discolour or stain.
What travelers ask
Does baking soda actually work, or is it a myth?
It genuinely absorbs odor rather than masking it, which is why it works on musty luggage smell specifically — an open container or a cloth pouch of baking soda left inside a zipped-shut case for a day or two noticeably reduces trapped odor.
Last reviewed 26 August 2026