How To
How to Get Rid of Musty Smells
Here’s how to get rid of musty smells using common household items, like cat litter, newspapers, and charcoal briquettes.
By Earl Proulx|Apr 03 2018|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine KeenanHOW TO GET RID OF MUSTY SMELLS
Get Rid of Musty Smells with Cat Litter
- Get rid of musty smells in drawers, closets, and rooms by placing a small container of scented cat litter in the affected area. Replace the litter every few days until the odor is gone.
- Relatively small items with musty odors should be placed in plastic bags with cat litter. Seal the bags tightly and with tape or clothespins and let them sit for a few days. Then dump out the litter and repeat if necessary.
- To get rid of a musty smell in upholstered furniture, spray a deodorant or sprinkle cat litter over the piece. Let it sit for a while, then vacuum. Repeat if necessary.
Get Rid of Musty Smells with Newspaper
- Get rid of musty smells in books by filling a large brown bag with crumpled newspaper, putting the books in the bag, and sealing it tight. Leave the books in the bag for a day or so, then repeat the treatment daily until the odor is gone.
- One way to rid a suitcase of a musty smell is to fill it with crumpled newspaper, then close it up. Change the paper every 2 or 3 days until the odor is gone.
Get Rid of Musty Smells with Charcoal Briquettes
- To prevent a musty smell from developing in a closed cottage, place pans of charcoal briquettes in several rooms. The charcoal will absorb moisture. You can burn the briquettes in your barbecue later.
- To reduce mustiness and moisture in closets, place a few charcoal briquettes in a shallow pan on the floor. Replace the charcoal every few months to keep the closet fresh.
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Thank you immensely!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have 2 books, one of which is a Tasha Tudor book, that is quite valuable, and very rare, that smells “not too great”; the other is an out-of-print reference book regarding antique dolls, which I used to sell at major antiques shows. I also have a Walter Baker Co., Dorchester, MA, whose company sold their Columbian Exhibition display equipment to Milton Hershey of PA, who began the Hershey chocolate company with Walter Baker Co. equipment. Walter Baker Co. was a very old company at that time, already, having established his business at Dorchester Lower Mills adjacent to the Neponset River during the 1700’s. They shipped their chocolate in wooden boxes and one was given to me as a gift that was purchased for me on ebay that smells very musty. I collect Walter Baker souvenirs, which are fairly difficult to find, there really aren’t many around. I have some post cards that I had to spend a lot of money on at auction and at least 2 of the light blue Walter Baker Co. cookbooks (they published one every year for a long period of time…I intend to use the recipes at some point, they’re all very good ones!!!!!!!!), one of which I bought in an antiques shop in Wilmington, DL when I was in that area on antiques business and a tip tray, which is also quite rare. Mr. Hershey began his candy company manufacturing and selling caramels only. I don’t remember the exact details regarding how me became “the King of Chocolate”!!!!!!!!!!!! He did for chocolate what Walt Disney did for entertainment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow! Mimi, my mom worked for the Walter Baker Co in the thirties when she was in her teens, it was her first job having come off the farm (Belfast Maine) down to the big city. It all sounds like ancient history in this day…I’m 77yrs. young,,,,your story is intriguing. marshall
Hi Marshall: I have been to Belfast, ME on antiques business. I bought some antique dolls from a local auctioneer near there! My fathers’ family was from ME, Augusta area, and one of his aunts, aunt Rose, owned the Hotel Vespa at Old Orchard Beach, scene of hours and hours of fun at the beach and the amusement park and the pier, which I watched burn down on our 6:00pm news, which broke my heart. “Grampy” and aunt Rose both spoiled me rotten, I can assure you!!!!!!! I love your mothers’ “escape from Belfast, ME” story because I also “escaped” from Berlin, NH and have lived in the greater Boston area since 1976. We did a lot of business with an antiques dealer who had a shop across the street from the Walter Baker factory and he got a lot of local house calls in Dorchester, one of which “netted him” an oil painting of their famous logo, aka: La Belle Choclatier, which was designed after a living Belgian lady who served hot chocolate in a cafe. He decided to keep it after asking me about its value (very rare, very valuable!). I always enjoyed being in his shop at that location. Walter Baker Square is a very lovely place and is now condos…