Found cedar closet storage in How can I get rid of the musty smell in my old house’s built in storage areas?
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Question by shoppits: How can I get rid of the musty smell in my old house’s built in storage areas?
I have two nice linen closet type built ins that have drawers underneath them. They are on the floor right above the crawl space. The house was built in 1925. When I put my linens in the upper shelf area they absorb a musty smell and I can’t sleep on them, I’d have to wash them before using them.
The shelves and walls inside were painted over after I got the house but that didn’t help. Below the bottom drawer on one of them is sub floor which looks like it may have openings to the crawl space (?), I could close that off I guess. And on the other one the bottom drawer was taken out and that space is used as an air return for the heater and goes directly into the heating duct.
I’m not convinced that closing off the bottom will help since they both have the smell and also some furniture I bought at a swap meet did the same thing to my clothes.
Is there something to use to treat the wood? Is that the problem? I’ve bought some cedar to put in and see if that helps…
Anyone?
Best answer:
Answer by Vi
take all the stuff out and let it sort of air itself out.
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The problem is probably coming from the crawl space and seeping upward. You might need to get the crawl space sealed to prevent water from seeping in an causing that musty smell. Water seepage can cause mold and mildew in the crawl space.
Research some basement/crawl space sealing companies and have them come out to take a look. I would be that is the problem and they could confirm it.
Might be more expensive than cedar chips, but will eliminate the problem completely instead of covering it up.
Houses built in that era were frequently built of a smelly pine that old time carpenters refer to as :”piss-pine”.
Put fabric softener sheets in between the folds of items you are putting in drawers and cupboards. Fresh cedar blocks placed on the subflooring under the bottom drawer in built in cabinets will help.
With old furniture, that’s easy. Clean the wood with Murphy’s oil soap, take out the drawers and spray the entire inside with Fabreeze, including the inside of the drawers. Let dry completely, before placing garments in the drawers. While the drawers are out, rub dry soap on the “runners” (Those areas of the drawer that glides along the inside of the dresser). This makes for easier opening, and cuts down on that smell.