Removing musty smell from new apartment

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I'm moving into a different place this weekend and it has a bit of a musty/moldy smell in it. Anybody encounter this before? How do I remove it? The carpet is only one or two years old, but the building (duplex) itself is probably 30+. The carpet was supposedly steam cleaned when the old tenant moved out, but I have a carpet shampooer and can probably clean them again this weekend. Would that help?

I can probably just open all of the windows and doors and just let it air out, but I imagine the smell will come back once I close everything - especially if the problem is mold behind the drywall.

Maybe a dehumidifier if the problem is dampness?

Advice please?

 

[Ryan]

Get it ozoned

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
Get it ozoned

What do you mean? Like an ozone air purifier?

Study of Ozone as an air cleaner from the EPA.

I would be willing to give this a try if I can get some comments from those with postitive experiences.

Thanks for the suggestion. Anything else?

 

[dragonballgtz]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
I'm moving into a different place this weekend and it has a bit of a musty/moldy smell in it. Anybody encounter this before? How do I remove it? The carpet is only one or two years old, but the building (duplex) itself is probably 30+. The carpet was supposedly steam cleaned when the old tenant moved out, but I have a carpet shampooer and can probably clean them again this weekend. Would that help?

I can probably just open all of the windows and doors and just let it air out, but I imagine the smell will come back once I close everything - especially if the problem is mold behind the drywall.

Maybe a dehumidifier if the problem is dampness?

Advice please?

Clean the place from front to back. Or you can try to cover up the smell with those plug-in things.

You should of checked for mold before taking the place.

 

[ragazzo]

get rid of old carpets/rugs. check for moisture problems in walls, ceilings, floors, etc. open all windows when it's hot.

 

[radioouman]

get an air filter/purifier as an interim solution. Probably is carpet or the people before you smoked in the place.

 

[cain]

cross ventilation

 

[biostud]

remove dead corpse below carpet

 

[Kaido]

quick fix = spray bottle of Febreze

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: biostud
remove dead corpse below carpet

This also helps stop the beating of that infernal heart.

 

[destined]

they have these rocks at bed bath and beyond that absorb odor. i used it in the basement and it worked fine.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Call health services and get an inspection of the place.

Mold?

You can get sick, not right away, but while you are living there.

 

[FoBoT]

flame thrower?

 

[Jzero]

Odo-Ban

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Call health services and get an inspection of the place.

Mold?

You can get sick, not right away, but while you are living there.

Well honestly I am not sure it's mold. It is an older building and it has a noticeably musty smell.

I'd like to get rid of the odor without having the house smell like perfume and deoderizers. I guess I can try massive quantities of Febreeze, but I don't think the carpet is the problem and I can't exactly Febreeze behind the drywall (if that is in fact the problem). The smell doesn't last terribly long so Febreeze might help in the short term.

I'll do some cleaning this weekend, but if that doesn't help it seems I'm SOL.

 

[destined]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Glavinsolo
Call health services and get an inspection of the place.

Mold?

You can get sick, not right away, but while you are living there.

Well honestly I am not sure it's mold. It is an older building and it has a noticeably musty smell.

I'd like to get rid of the odor without having the house smell like perfume and deoderizers. I guess I can try massive quantities of Febreeze, but I don't think the carpet is the problem and I can't exactly Febreeze behind the drywall (if that is in fact the problem). The smell doesn't last terribly long so Febreeze might help in the short term.

I'll do some cleaning this weekend, but if that doesn't help it seems I'm SOL.

i think you should try those rock things i was talking about. it worked fine for my basement.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: destined
i think you should try those rock things i was talking about. it worked fine for my basement.

I'm at BB&B's website now and I cannot find these rocks. Do you remember what they were called?

edit: I may have found them. These?

 

[destined]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: destined
i think you should try those rock things i was talking about. it worked fine for my basement.

I'm at BB&B's website now and I cannot find these rocks. Do you remember what they were called?

no, i can't. maybe call them up and ask a sales rep? i just know that they worked.

 

[EngenZerO]

Originally posted by: Jzero
Odo-Ban

:thumbsup:

 

[CRXican]

you'll get used to the smell after a while

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: CRXican
you'll get used to the smell after a while

I know I will, but it's kind of embarrasing entertaining guests when the house smells bad.

 

[eelw]

As much as people here on ATOT hate the Ionic Breeze, it does wonders for odours. It can clear heavy deepfry oil smells from the kitchen in a couple of hours. And it removed the same musty smells from my brothers 5 year old home that he bought a few months ago.

 

[Glavinsolo]

Pick up one of those Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadras!