topic Re: Help with Musty Smell in Home

Help with Musty Smell

spud188 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 11:56:53 GMT

Any tips or product to absorb odors.

I sprayed with X-O and currently have had a fan blowing on the area for 24 hours. I got a tub of Damp Rid to put in when I close it up again. Altho it is not wet or damp inside. Just a old musty closed up smell.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:01:51 GMT

It would be helpful if we knew where in the house you are talking about.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

nyc1 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:03:50 GMT

Not sure where you live or where the smell is. Often times if it's hot and humid, a dehumidifier will help a lot, especially if in a basement.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

spud188 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:08:44 GMT

Oh sorry it is a 1951 Chevy. But always stored in a garage. Was not driven for several years. We have it running but the smell is off putting to me. DH does not smell a thing??

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Stevie Nix — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:12:25 GMT

Get it out of the garage, into the sun, open all the doors. Maybe Mother Nature can help.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Abrowneyegirl — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:12:57 GMT

If it is a small space like a closet, bathroom or car the DampRid will work given a little time.

I am amazed at those things.

We live in a humid area in the summer and I tuck them into areas that do not get a lot of air circulation. Due to pets, we keep some doors closed.

My friend left a car window open and it rained......... ugh.

I suggested try a tub of Damp Rid after nothing else helped with the moldy smell and she could have kissed me - after week or so she said the smell was almost gone.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Big Joanie — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:13:13 GMT

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news .. but you may have a real

problem .... several years ago when we had a hurricane hit

the west coast of Florida .. many people that had cars parked

outside and had rain get in them ....left for several days in the

heat ...were never able to get the musty smell out ....sorry ....

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:14:27 GMT

Most likely it has been damp for a long time causing the musty smell. I would try spraying it on the inside heavily with Lysol Spray, close all doors and windows over night. Then on a hot sunny day roll down the windows and let it set in the sun. The musty smell is probably coming from the carpet and upholstry you may never completely get rid of it.

Drive it with all the windows down and fresh air blowing in. Sounds like fun.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Abrowneyegirl — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:15:08 GMT

oops you posted while I was typing. I see now it is a car.

Yes as PP replied put it out in the sun. Place the Damp Rid inside and you should be good in a few weeks.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

deb5555 — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:43:16 GMT

Try coffee beans

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Desertdi — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:45:47 GMT

In a car that old, it could be rotting gaskets, a dead animal stuck in the undercarriage......lots of things.

Perhaps @hckynut has an idea. He is a car buff!

Re: Help with Musty Smell

shaggygirl — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:53:09 GMT

Another thing that absorbs odors is charcoal. You can find a variety of various little bags of charcoal on Amazon.

I got a charcoal thingy on there a couple of years ago....mine is actually a plastic container that I put in the sun for a few hours every couple of months to reactivate the charcoal. It's the only thing that works in a freezer that was used for a few years only for freezing and storing crabs. (when my husband was alive he went crabbing every summer).

Cleaned it out with lemon, with vinegar, with clorox.....nothing worked till the charcoal. I still keep using it in there even though he's been gone for a few years, otherwise that smell comes back in a few days, it's vague but I think I still smell it after about 4 or 5 days. Could be in my head.

So I'd do charcoal and the damp rid, that combo should work. Then air it out in the sunshine and fresh air.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

felixmom — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 12:59:12 GMT

Don't mean to make light of your situation...but all I could think of was that old Seinfeld episode. I even think it was the titled "The Smelly Car"....

Re: Help with Musty Smell

pieman — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 14:18:14 GMT

Yep,,

It was the BO... lol///

Re: Help with Musty Smell

chiclets — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:23:09 GMT

I would try freshly ground coffee, placed in bowls and place around the area and close the car. Leave for 24 hours and then repeat with freshly ground coffee.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Foxxee — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 15:43:45 GMT

OdoBan. It kills molds, mildew and odors. Dries clear.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

alliswell — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 17:16:51 GMT

@shaggygirl wrote:
Another thing that absorbs odors is charcoal. You can find a variety of various little bags of charcoal on Amazon.

I got a charcoal thingy on there a couple of years ago....mine is actually a plastic container that I put in the sun for a few hours every couple of months to reactivate the charcoal. It's the only thing that works in a freezer that was used for a few years only for freezing and storing crabs. (when my husband was alive he went crabbing every summer).

Cleaned it out with lemon, with vinegar, with clorox.....nothing worked till the charcoal. I still keep using it in there even though he's been gone for a few years, otherwise that smell comes back in a few days, it's vague but I think I still smell it after about 4 or 5 days. Could be in my head.
So I'd do charcoal and the damp rid, that combo should work. Then air it out in the sunshine and fresh air.

I agree with @shaggygirl

Charcoal works and it is relatively inexpensive!

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Fressa — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 18:08:28 GMT

I use to put some containers of baking soda around the cabin. Worked pretty good.

Re: Help with Musty Smell

jlkz — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 22:55:36 GMT

Once we had a problem in the weekend house with water from an overhead pipe in the ceiling ( DH had left something open on the second floor and forgot to close the pipe in the basement ).

We went out for the afternoon and I went to get something in the basement and my first step onto the carpeting was a very deep and wet one.

He picked up the carpets and hung them over sawhorses in the garage to drain and dry out. He coated them with a product called ZEP and let them totally dry for a couple weeks. No smell and the basement room smells clean.

He got the product from Lowe’s or Home Depot.

Hope you never have to go through this problem !

Re: Help with Musty Smell

Katcat1 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 04:55:43 GMT

@spud188 Either burn or buy a water essential oils machine. Pick up some different essential oils you like. Your home will smell wonderful.