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My cabinets have a musty type smell any ideas how to remove it?

I just moved into an older house (built around 1945) I also live on the Coast so the air is always moist. Installing new cabinets is NOT an option but I feel like everything smells like the cabinets...yup even the food we store there. Any ideas to neutralize the smell?? Thanks

Public Comments

  1. Wash down the inside of the cabinets with baking soda and water. Then put a charcoal briquett on each shelf, tucked way back in the corner, or an open box of baking soda on each shelf. Charcoal and baking soda are natural odor absorbers. It that doesn't work-- Paint the inside of the cabinets, but put a few drops of real vanilla flavoring in the paint before painting. If that doesn't work-- You will need to get a can of "Kilz" (Home Depot or Lowe's) and paint the inside of the cabinets. Kilz helps remove stains and odors.
  2. You can try to attack your entire house with Febreeze, haha.. Another idea might just be to leave the windows open for a while and let things air out, if you're not doing it already. Other ideas.. air conditioning, air fresheners, fans, whatever.
  3. Keep the doors open. You might even want to remove the doors. Anything that allows the air to circulate will help.
  4. Use baking power, this usually removes a lot unpleasant odors. You can also open packets that will help remove the moisture. They can be obtained from most hardware stores. Make sure you open the baking soda boxes so it has a chance to do its work. Also suggest you use them in your refrigerator.
  5. The only thing that will totally fix your problem is a product called TSP you can find it at most hardware or paint stores..this is a great product for cleaning and removing odor causing things like mold and mildew..good luck
  6. Fabreeze and all of that, but if you want it to go away permanently, moisture needs to eliminated. Spray down the inside with clorox solution (3 TBS in a half gallon of water) this will kill what is growing now. It will come back if the moisture is not kept out.
  7. the best way? sand them all down and recoat them it'll be as new, then just regular cleaning should never bother you again.