Can't get rid of musty smell from wardrobe

Iwanttobefree

I thought I'd found a bargain on facebook, a nice double wardrobe with chest of draws delivered for £65.

It looks really nice and fits in the room well.

But opening the doors or draws, there's this awful musty smell.

The draws themselves are modern plastic covered chipboard with a white hardboard base, but the underside of the hardboard stinks.

Likewise a lot of the wardrobe is melamine, but parts are wood or hardboard.

So far after googling, we've had bicarb of soda in everywhere for a week, we've bleached every surface, we've white vinegared every surface, the doors and draws are all open to allow airing, it doesn't stink anywhere like it did, but it still stinks enough that if you put clothes in it, they too would stink.

I've removed one draw, placed it upside down outside in the hot weather to see if the sun clears the smell, no luck so far but it only went outside this morning.

I also covered it in white vinegar to see if that helps (still outside in the sun), still smells.

Personally I think we need to chalk it down to experience and dump it (wouldn't sell it to someone else knowing it stinks), I don't think the smells ever going to properly go, but it's a shame as it's so nice looking.

Anyone got any ideas we can try while saving up for a new wardrobe (after this experience, wife doesn't want to get another 2nd hand one)?

Many thanks

rach_k

If you're going to throw them away anyway, I'd give one of those 'odour remover' sprays a try. We've used pet odour ones and they're generally very good. I'm not sure whether you'd need something specifically for musty smells but I know you can get the pet ones for hardwood floors - perhaps give something like that a go, along with airing outside for a lot longer.

I wonder if biological washing detergent might help too.

They're 'drawers' by the way

theonlywayisup

Could you paint it? I don't mean the outside, but the hardwood bits under the drawers? One of the Zinsser products would probably block the smell.

https://www.toolstation.com/zinsser-cover-stain-primer-paint/p56164?store=FH&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=CjwKCAjwmNzoBRBOEiwAr2V27bzdrA4Xz6AxJtGbT042kJ264PBtZ5fKodnNldwttv7d9FFjBzzNUxoC4R0QAvD_BwE

I found this which also recommends paint but something called Murphys wood soap too...

https://sarahjoyblog.com/5-ways-remove-musty-smell-old-furniture/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murphys-134005-Oil-Soap-32-Ounce/dp/B0006ZHCK0

DE5T1NY

The wife and I lived in a new build apartment (a flat to me) and within a few months we began to notice our clothes in the cupboards had a blue coloured mould on them, we use mildew remover to fix this problem. But before you try this method check the label because it does carry a real health warning for some people.

Iwanttobefree

Thanks all. One of the drawers as been in the garden under direct sunlight for two days and the smells still there.

Will give painting it a try. Otherwise I don't think it's going to go

Iwanttobefree

Painted yesterday. Could still smell it today, so dumped it.

faerielight

Painting it would sort it out and lock in the mustyness