Alicia64 Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 (edited) It's smelly as in musty. There's nothing really awful or rotting or anything. There's no standing water. But the owners left two years ago and a daughter -- in her twenties -- camped in one bedroom but mainly lived w/ a friend. So the house has been unoccupied really for two years. And it has a closed up musty smell. I'd love to spend the big bucks and get an expensive diffuser (the ones near $100 really smell incredible and would take care of a large house) -- those things that are oil w/ sticks coming out of them. But dh would freak. We've already spent enough. My next thought is Yankee Candle diffusers. I don't want an actual Yankee Candle because a friend once set her condo on fire so I'm nervous now around candles. But is Yankee Candle a good product? Should I try the diffuser? Any other ideas for a musty smell? TIA! Alley Edited September 20, 2012 by Alicia64 not enough caffeine yet. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Cook. Do some cooking and baking. That was finally what got the funny musty smell out after our recent trip. If you need more help than that, get some fabreeze for the curtains. Reed diffusers are a few bucks at Walmart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 The stick diffuser things aren't any more spendy than the Yankee Candle scent options. Bath & Body Works has some nice scent options that cost less than YC. You could get some DampRid hanging bags (Home Depot sells them), which will suck up and moisture and give off a scent. At least then the $ is helping with the issue, not just making a pretty smell. (IMO you have to be really super careless to burn the house down with a jar candle, but that's another thread) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alicia64 Posted September 20, 2012 Author Share Posted September 20, 2012 (IMO you have to be really super careless to burn the house down with a jar candle, but that's another thread) Yes, this person was super not careful. But as I get older and am pulled in a million directions with homeschooling, the dog etc. I'm always afraid I'll forget or do something stupid. But, yes, this person was careless. Alley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Open all windows and turn on fans. I agree to cooking. Use fabric softner - cheap brand - soak old rags in them and wring them out then hang them up. As they dry the clean scent helps to freshen the air. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets leave over night then vacuum. Time will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Yes, this person was super not careful. But as I get older and am pulled in a million directions with homeschooling, the dog etc. I'm always afraid I'll forget or do something stupid. But, yes, this person was careless. Alley I put mine on the stove top between burners. I do not use the stove while the candle is burning. But it is about the safest places I've ever found to burn a candle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsingscrapper Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 (edited) Open all windows and turn on fans. I agree to cooking. Use fabric softner - cheap brand - soak old rags in them and wring them out then hang them up. As they dry the clean scent helps to freshen the air. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets leave over night then vacuum. Time will help. :iagree: This. A thousand times this. If you want a little more of a good scent on your carpets, then I would look at Dollar General or Family Dollar or even a dollar store and get one of the scented carpet deodorizers. At most, maybe $3? You don't have to actually burn a candle. Buy the scented votives, tarts, or tea lights and leave them around the house. The good ones will give of their scent just sitting. Just make sure they're out of reach of tots and critters. Edited September 20, 2012 by hsingscrapper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkacademy Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Yes, this person was super not careful. But as I get older and am pulled in a million directions with homeschooling, the dog etc. I'm always afraid I'll forget or do something stupid. But, yes, this person was careless. Alley I hear ya! I love my candles but yeah I know that I forget stuff all the time when there is so much going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang!Zoom! Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 See, I'd leave the smell and clean it out-hot water with some spic and span to start..my guess is if was a camp out deal, you probably have some oily residues left around holding in the odor...dawn dish soap is really good for that as well, just keep the toweling fresh as you wipe down. I'd wanna know where it was coming from, but that's just me. Other than that, do you like the smell of coffee? That's a pretty heavy scent. Take some beans, throw them in some shallow bowl, put little votive in the center and burn the candle down. Coffee has really heavy oils in it- they tend to stick around and go airborne. What kind of flooring is in that room, is it something you can really wash up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brigitte Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 If there is carpet, I would rent a steam cleaner and use OdoBan in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candid Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Open the windows, run fans, live in the house and cut back any foundation plantings that are too high and up in front of the windows (boxwoods in particular reek!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I would open the windows and keep them open as much as possible. I would be mopping and vacuuming, and I would be baking lots of bread. I bake bread anyway, but it really does make the house smell wonderful. If you are not a baker, buy frozen bread dough at the store and bake that. I don't know where you live, but when it is time to turn on the heat, the mustiness might get worse before it gets better. But, that might also help. Sometimes warming it up and drying it out helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I'd do a thorough cleaning (wash every inch of the flooring) and spray Febreze fabric spray on the carpet, curtains, etc. Get the fabric spray, not the room freshener. Smell the spray before you buy -- get the one that is as close to unscented as possible - maybe the pet odor remover, or see if there is one that says "odor neutralizer." The formula in Febreze actually removes the offending odor but I usually hate the scent it tries to replace it with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dobela Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I put mine on the stove top between burners. I do not use the stove while the candle is burning. But it is about the safest places I've ever found to burn a candle. :iagree: I do this as well. You can put dryer sheets in air vents so the air passes over them before entering the room. This helps put fresh scent in the room. In our last house I would buy those special fragrance things to attach to the filters in the air return. Some were pretty powerful but also helped spread scented air. My grandmother used to just spray her filters on occassion with air freshener or perfume if she felt her home needed some 'clean air'. Essential oils on light bulbs (put on cool bulbs, not hot ones) is something a friend swears by but I have never tried. In one house I wiped down every wall with something (vinegar and water???) and that removed lots of dust and odors as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applethyme Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 Wipe down the walls and cabinets. Wash light fixtures and switches. Mop under the fridge, stove, washer and dryer. Get a few plants. Spider plants will recycle the air in a room in about 48hrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn. Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I put mine on the stove top between burners. I do not use the stove while the candle is burning. But it is about the safest places I've ever found to burn a candle. :iagree: That's where I put ours too, when the power goes out. I will also put one in the kids bathroom, because it has a large tile counter top, and won't be easliy knocked off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I agree the pp that suggested wiping down cabinets and walls. Also, if it smells really musty, check under the house (if you have a crawl space) and make sure all of the air ducts are well attached. If you are going to paint some rooms, do it soon. That will help with the odor, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.