Musty smell in cupboards

pookiewn

If you put a small container of bicarb with a couple of drops of essential oils in your cupboards it will absorb the musty smell. This will need to be changed every couple of months, but should do the trick!

rockie4

I'll second the bicarb idea! I had a kitchen cupboard with a strange, musty smell and it's worked in there. I just used bicarb on it's own without the essential oils.

bizzylizzy

I have been given a very old sewing box lined with fabric, it has a hinged lid and a drawer. It would be perfect for storing my wool and sewing bits and bobs but it stinks! :eek:
It has been vaccuumed out, and has had 3 applications of Febreze. I have also stood it outside on dry days with the lid open and the drawer out to air. But the smell persists. Any ideas?

sueeve

Bicarb (dry, in a dish) might help. A cheap thing to try.

THIRZAH

You could try putting a couple of bars of strongly scented soap in if the bicarb doesn't work-I got 3 bars of Yardleys Lavender from a charity shop last month , I took them out of the box and am storing them in my underwear drawer until I need them-the whole drawer smells of lavender

zippychick

Hi Bizzylizzy:hello:

BIcarbonate of soda would probably help neutralise the odour?There will be plenty of siggestions on this thread - musty smell in cupboards. I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the information together

thanks:)
Zip

Slinky_Malinky

There was a thread on here recently about a handbag which smelled of smoke. I seem to recall that scrunched up newspaper left overnight helped a bit.

Butterfly_Brain

Cat litter will absorb the smell or if you have some charcoal pop some in a cotton bag and leave in the box with the lid down.

You can also put it in the freezer overnight - that worked for me on musty books

Peartree

Can't believe the words 'white vinegar' havent' been uttered. My vinegar bible recommends it for getting rid of those 'second hand' smells although, to be fair, that does involve washing. The other suggestion is hanging the items over a steamy bath with vinegar in it. Would a steamy cup of hot water and white vinegar fit inside with the lid shut - or maybe a wipe over of the fabric with a cloth dampened with a solution? On the bicarb front, what about picking up one of those fridge freshener things (say in a pound shop), popping one in and leaving it for a few days?

bizzylizzy

I am trying the dish of bicarb, I'll leave it for a few days and if it hasn't worked I'll try the cup of hot water and vinegar. I'm just concerned that if 3 different doses of Febreze hasn't worked, then nothing will....... I may have to remove the fabric and scrub the wood.......
It's too big to fit in the freezer by the way - but that's a good tip for smaller things!