Product for freshening stinky cabinets?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We're trying to keep the old cabinets in the kitchen, they just need some touch-up/polish and new handles on the outside, but the inside of some them has that old stinky smell - a little cheesy - like some old books get.... one guy said they needed to be left outside for a while and that surely isn't happening. Can anyone recommend a product that will work long-term? We just re-installed them after replacing the floor so I'd like to do it before we put all our stuff back in them...

TIA

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Maybe an open shallow container or dish of baking soda.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Maybe an open shallow container or dish of baking soda.

Do the odor absorbers work permanently? Or do you have to keep them in there and change them periodically? I read that activated charcoal may do better than baking soda for odor absorption, btw, I think I'll see if my pet store has it.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

How to Get a Musty Smell Out of Cabinets
By Lisa Parris, eHow Contributor
How to Get a Musty Smell Out of Cabinets thumbnail
Eliminate musty smells from your storage spaces.

The dark, damp confines of a cabinet create an ideal environment for fungi. The growth of these microbes generally lies at the root of musty odors. Remove the mold and mildew and the smell will disappear. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

Vacuum with brush-end attachment
2 tbsp. liquid dish-washing detergent
¾ cup chlorine bleach

Instructions

1

Remove everything from the cabinets. Place all washable items in a sink filled with hot, soapy water and let them soak. Pull up any shelf liners and throw them away.
2

Push a brush-end attachment on to the wand or hose of a standard vacuum cleaner. Sweep the nozzle over the surfaces of the cabinets, paying particular attention to corners as this is where dust, dirt and crumbs tend to accumulate.

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3

Pour 2 tbsp. of liquid dish-washing detergent into a large bowl or bucket. Add 1 gallon of hot water. Stir the mixture vigorously until the solution forms a thick lather. Dip a cloth into the soapy water. Wring the fabric firmly, removing any excess fluid. Scrub the cabinet with the moist material, cleaning one small section at a time. Wipe each area with a damp cloth to rinse. Dry immediately with a clean towel.
4

Mix 3/4 cup of chlorine bleach into 1 gallon of cool water. Apply this solution to any interior surfaces with a damp sponge to disinfect the cabinet and discourage the growth of mold and mildew. Wait 15 minutes then wipe the solution away with a damp sponge. Buff with a clean towel to dry.
5

Sprinkle baking soda across the newly washed shelves and drawers to absorb any remaining moisture and eliminate stubborn smells. Close the cabinet for 24 hours, then sweep the baking soda away with a stiff-bristled brush.
6

Fill a clean sock with ground coffee. Secure the open end of the sock in a firm knot and place this natural deodorizer near the back of the cabinet. The ground coffee will absorb any residual musty odors.


PS I am looking for the product for basements. It worked like a charm when mine got musty because of dampness

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Thanks, Lawren! We'll try that I think. I went to the pet store and they recommended the stuff to get rid of pet accident odors. Our cabinets don't really smell moldy, though, but I do think a bleach solution should help. I tried Fantastic with Scrubbing Bubbles on one to test and I don't think it's doing the trick. I'm just a little nervous about the bleach solution accidentally drip onto the outside and bleach the finish. The coffee "potpourri" is a great idea, I am definitely going to do that!!

eta: I did google this, but didn't look at that link bc I wouldn't the smell in our cabinets "musty." Still, I think it could work.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

The thing I got for the basement was plastic 16 oz container with a gel inside. I guess effectiveness in the cabinets would depend on how many you had without dividing interior panels. Home Depot or Lowes. Damned if I can remember the product name though. I'll go look when I get back. Need some lightbulbs and rock salt anyway.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I usually paint the inside of the cabinets if they get nasty and they are wood.
If they are formica then I bleach them and buy fabreeze cleaner.

[MichelCleark Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MichelCleark]

Not usually we paint the wood cabinets. Sometimes it is better to apply a coat of wood primer and polish the cabinets with wood polish so that it reduces the time for painting cabinets.

[MichelCleark Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MichelCleark]

Started painting my white kitchen cabinets yesterday. As I am not a DIY person so I have hired a new contractor for kitchen painting. Hoping that the work will be go smoothly and will get a perfect finish.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I was going to suggest Lysol spray and a Bleech spray