Mold odor removal?

[shilmover]

One of my cabinet has a bit of a musky, moldy odor.  Anyone know how to remove it?

[polaris]

put an open pot of bicarbonate of soda( baking powder) in the cab.
im sure ive seen that as a housewives tip for deodorising fridges.

[shilmover]

im sure ive seen that as a housewives tip for deodorising fridges.

Right after I posted, I asked the wife...  guess what she said?   

[Jeff AMN]

Yeah, baking soda works well, but you gotta clean the source with some bleach (10 parts water to 1 part bleach). It's about the only thing that will kill it safely and permanently. After the baking soda kills the leftover odor, the problem should be solved.

[ChadTower]

Definitely use baking soda... baking powder is nearly the same thing but costs a lot more.  At least here it is...

[shilmover]

Yeah, baking soda works well, but you gotta clean the source with some bleach (10 parts water to 1 part bleach). It's about the only thing that will kill it safely and permanently. After the baking soda kills the leftover odor, the problem should be solved.

Perfect, thanks...

I will strip all the parts out and scrub with bleach.

[polaris]

Definitely use baking soda... baking powder is nearly the same thing but costs a lot more.  At least here it is...

good catch 

[SavannahLion]

Yeah, baking soda works well, but you gotta clean the source with some bleach (10 parts water to 1 part bleach). It's about the only thing that will kill it safely and permanently. After the baking soda kills the leftover odor, the problem should be solved.

The OP didn't seem to imply there was any visible mold growth. But just in case, I'd like to clarify the process a bit.

When cleaning, do the cleaning outside. This will reduce the amount of errant spore in the home. If you can't, then you need to isolate the cabinet in plastic while you clean it to reduce the amount of spore spread in your home.

Do not "sponge" the tainted area with bleach/water if the area is dry. Lightly mist the area with a spray bottle, then proceed to clean. Discard the sponge after you're finish. You might want to wear a mold rated mask if the problem is severe enough. You can read more about it on sites like black mold info.com. I'm not saying you do have black mold, but mold is mold and the process is usually the same for any mold.

It's rarely done with exception to antique preservation work, but there is a product called CPES (used to treat wood rot) that seals wood and supresses new mold growth (the anti-mold growth is not advertised). CPES is a two part epoxy that is very thin, exactly like water. I've used this on some areas of the house to stabilize dry rot and suppress mold growth. In the manner I've applied it, it's meant to be a temporary fix but I'm aware of some people using it as part of a permanent process. The drawback is CPES gives a real shine to wood, effectively strips any paint (it can be painted over), and it's a little on the expensive side. Other effective methods is treating the wood with a copper solution such a Copper-Green wood preservative (gives the wood a gross green color) and Jasco Clear Copper wood preservative (tints the wood just a tiny bit in its natural color). Both products are fantastic at supressing mold and are fantastically toxic  You'll need to treat the wood with the bleach/water solution before applying the preservatives though.

It probably goes without saying, but don't ever let the wood get wet again.

[shilmover]

SavannahLion,

Let me clarify...  there is no mold visible, just a musky, moldy smell.  The cab was stored in a garage (not in the elements mind you) before I bought it.

[csa3d]

You know, my cab had a stank as well.  I sanded and primed the inside with a good primer (Killz) and the stench is no longer existent.  Oh yeah -- keeping the project in the garage for a few months while you're getting it ready helps too.  But seriously, I feel the primer sealed that crap in.

-csa

[SavannahLion]

SavannahLion,

Let me clarify...  there is no mold visible, just a musky, moldy smell.  The cab was stored in a garage (not in the elements mind you) before I bought it.

Unfortunately, mold doesn't need to be readily visible. Mold and Mildew come in a variety of colors such as white, green, black, blue, etc. I've even encountered red and pink mold (on a shipment of pinto beans) and yellow mold. More often than not, I find dry rot with no stains whatsoever. Makes it kind of hard to ID the problem This cab simply sitting next to another moldy cabinet will cause the cab to smell musty. When dealing with mold, if something smells musty, then you have to assume the object in question lived in a less than ideal environment and treat it as such. The light bleaching process is intended to kill any existing growth and destroy any spore that might have settled. The preservative treatment is intended to prevent any growth of spore and help the wood survive water.

IIRC. The musty smell is caused by a (sometimes toxic ie black mold) chemical released from mold and mildew. Doesn't always mean the cabinet is moldy though. I had no intention of discrediting the use of baking soda to absorb the smell. It's a valid process and depending on how much of the chemical seeped into the wood, can take years to remove. At my job, we have books that are semi-permanently sealed in plastic because their treatment process takes years. I didn't bother mentioning it because there is nothing new I have to add about it.

I wasn't trying to imply that you were storing your cab in a bad place. I don't know the history of your particular cab or the conditions of your garage. I had assumed that since you must have a minimum of two cabinets and only one of the cabinets has a musty odor, that your storage conditions were acceptable and this particular cab is a recent addition. There are a variety of scenarios I didn't bother to consider since none of it was implied.

[shilmover]

I understand and appreciate the feedback...  Its definitely the one cab (that I just got).  I will probably go overboard on this (as I have kids) and will do the bleach treatment then prime and paint the inside just to be safe.

Thanks for all your help...  I keep getting reminded how wonderful these forums are.   

[SavannahLion]

I understand and appreciate the feedback...  Its definitely the one cab (that I just got).  I will probably go overboard on this (as I have kids) and will do the bleach treatment then prime and paint the inside just to be safe.

Yeah, I would go overboard too. Ever since I moved to a new city, I've been fighting mold problems ever since. There is something truly disconcerting about pulling a box you had in storage for years only to find all of the contents inside destroyed due to mold. Even more so when you realize that there's simply very little history surrounding the problem. How is it that there is virtually no mention of it 60 years ago, but today it's all the rage? Defending myself against mold is crucial to me, I have a nice collection of difficult or irreplaceable things that I have no interest in losing to mold and I live in, what is considered by doctors, one of the top five asthma suffering cities in the U.S. The same city is also known for its flooding problems.

You don't necessarily need to prime and paint (it's your cabinet so knock yourself out), but if you elect to do so, I notice a new additive at Home Depot that you add to paint designed to inhibit mold. I don't recall the brand, but there appears to be several brands available online.
M-1
Add-2 (I think this is what they carry at HD, but don't quote me)
MD-1000 and WPA-1000

I don't dare vouch for the effectiveness of the above products as I haven't had the opportunity to work with them. They are worth looking into though.

[shilmover]

Thanks for the info... I will check it out when I get back from my business trip.

While I would hate to lose the cab to mold, I am more concerned with my kids...  Once this cab is restored, they will spend lots of time with it.  Being in Seattle, we get a wee bit of rain, so...