How do I get a old house smell out of cabinets?

What will take that old house smell out of kitchen cabinets.Have been cleaned repeatedly.New doors and trim kilz and painted but when u open them ugh.

  10 answers
  • Sammy Sammy on Dec 27, 2018

    try charcoal briquettes - remove the contents, place several on the shelves and close the doors for at least 24hrs. charcoal absorbs odors.

  • You could put a little glade air freshener in there as well so when you open it at least it smells fresh

  • Wipe out the cabinets with a vinegar/ water solution. Charcoal or crumpled newspaper, boxes of baking soda, just like you do in refrigerator or freezer.

  • Betty Albright-Bistrow Betty Albright-Bistrow on Dec 27, 2018

    Hi Darlene! I have used some things like vanilla beans, also cinnamon sticks, dried basil, apple mint dried (lay flat outside in the sun and put in a canning jar. Open boxes of baking soda set in the cabinet. Also dried lavender. Open a jar of cloves. Dried lemon and lime peels. All of those can be dried outside on a cookie sheet in the sun or use a food dehydrator. An old house smell can be tough, but the ideas above and below will give you some help!!! Good luck to you.



  • Dwp7470b Dwp7470b on Dec 28, 2018

    Firstly Darlene, what you wanna do is get a Detergent Scent that you like in either: Mr. Clean or Ajax Liquid. As Mr. Clean rhymes well with your name Darlene, it wiuld not suprise me atall if Mr. Clean is what your mind needs for relief. Anyways, once you do that you also need to realize that: in the 1800s Buying Candles in Bulk was very Common, and among reasons why

    1. All these old homes have an XL Cabinet

    2. any very old home gets that Very Old Home Scent

    is because?

    A. Before the 1930s many people used either Candles or Hurricane Lamps to Light the Evenings

    B. These Scented Candles were purchased In Bulk

    C. Stowing those Candles in places that presently have a 'bad scent' would have arisen a better scent in those eras and nobody really noticed this 'Bad Scent'

    D. In the 1930s the Candle Scents that used to be in the XL Cupboard were replaced by Energy and AC Outlets that quite earnestly: Stink in Contrast to Scented Candles.


    So, I must recommend that your problem A.1. Is:

    You need to reorganize your activities and tradition to accomodate these less modern efficiencies as Part of your Home, which were Modern in the days your home was built and realize:

    A. Buying Detergents in Bulk to Scrub your arms off each 3 to 5 months rather than Burn and Stow about 12 Scented Candles a Year does not bring joy to your life as much as the 12 scented candles do.

    B. All old homes are like this. It ain't you. It ain't the home either. Mine was Similar. It is in these scenarios the Climate and Dampness of the Season, to extents that: in late September you need to open these cabinet doors slightly, just a crack to let heat inside and also let some Fresh Air In and Start Stowing your 30 Fall and Winter Candles on one of the shelves.

    C. This is part of homemaking: when you live in an old home you also have to integrate certain aspects of that era into your routine and activities of daily living.

  • Oma Rabitsch Oma Rabitsch on Dec 28, 2018

    Have you tried placing a container of DampRid in the offending cabinets? I’ve used thaton a couple of mine especially around the sink and also pleasantly scented dryer sheets on the shelves. Dryer sheets work in closets too. Meyers makes a great lemon verbena scent😊

  • MEG MEG on Dec 28, 2018

    Try a jar of Odor Eaters. Leave cover off and place inside cabinet. It should absorb the unpleasant musty smell. Leave cabinet doors open to air out the cabinets.

  • Lee Ann Gray Lee Ann Gray on Dec 29, 2018

    Try moth cakes like you hand in your closet. You might also try moth balls. Or get several large boxes of baking soda at the dollar store in your area. They don't cost must much. Sprinkle baking soda around the floors of the cabinets. Close the doors and check every 24 hours to see if the smell is better. It may take several re-applications to get the smell to go. Then I would get the small boxes of baking soda take the top off and leave a box in each cabinet. Change boxes out about every3 months. Hope this helps.

  • Cristine Schwartzberg Cristine Schwartzberg on Dec 29, 2018

    I used these in a musty, yard sale cabinet recently and they worked like a charm. I put two bags in and left them in for a week before stripping and painting.


    https://www.amazon.com/California-Home-Goods-Pack-Chemical-Free/dp/B06Y5C863S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546086771&sr=8-4&keywords=charcoal+absorbing+bags

  • Galena Galena on Jan 01, 2019

    I boil citrus peels and use the syrup in my favorite cleaner. We moved into a house built in the 70’s and covered with paneling and wood so I also use this syrup with Murphy’s to wipe the walls down once a year. It works in the shower also and keeps the mold from growing on the grout! All the best to you!