How can I get rid of humid smell in the cabin

[novelman17130]

Humid/damp smell

Hi guys:

A couple of years ago I bought a 1982 25' O'Day. I've made many improvements to the boat and I like it a lot. This year the plan is to remodel the interior. We are in the process of ordering all new cushions including new foam. Something I've never liked too much is the humidity smell in the cabin. That definitely turns off my wife and kids. I bet the new cushions will help with this problem. My question is, what can I do to get rid of this smell? Most of it at least. It would be grat if we could enjoy the cabin without having to deal with the musty smell.

Thanks,
David

David,
Here I go again, since few believe, but experience counts. I hve used Ozone generators for many years and they have always removed the smell, most of the humidity, most of the mold and mildue AND killed any bugs in the boat. Just be careful that you don't enter to work or sail before you air it out. Although I no longer sell them (I am 78 and still sailing) I can put you in touch or arrange shiping of one. The one I use in my boat costs less than $100 and has lasted years. Good luck.
novelman

 

[sailingdog]

I'd point out that any ozone generator that is strong enough to work properly is also going to cause damage to plastic and rubber parts inside the boat. Ozone is fairly destructive. Proper ventilation and sealing the leaks in a boat are really all that should be ever required.

From the EPA website that Peggie links to in her following post:

Of the three, the first approach -- source control -- is the most effective. This involves minimizing the use of products and materials that cause indoor pollution, employing good hygiene practices to minimize biological contaminants (including the control of humidity and moisture, and occasional cleaning and disinfection of wet or moist surfaces), and using good housekeeping practices to control particles.

The second approach -- outdoor air ventilation -- is also effective and commonly employed. Ventilation methods include installing an exhaust fan close to the source of contaminants, increasing outdoor air flows in mechanical ventilation systems, and opening windows, especially when pollutant sources are in use.

This basically says what most of the posters in this thread have stated all along... stop the leaks, get rid of the source of water, clean up the existing mold/mildew, ventilate the boat well.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

My $.02 worth re ozone generators.

I suggest you spend some time here: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

As for how well the portable ozone generators work when it comes to getting rid of odors… yes, people who've bought them rave do about how well they work. And, yes, the manufacturers do assure you that the ozone concentration is well below that which can present any health hazard. But if that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run one occasionally. But among all the people you know who've bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn it off without having odors return? That should be enough to tell you that ozone generators are only very expensive air fresheners, because they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. Save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your odors. Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works.

 

[ggrizzard]

I see a web site for Boaters World, so I wonder if they are still selling online?

 

[Steve Dion]

David:

The first thing you need to do is get rid of the mold/mildew. Wipe all of your glassed surfaces/hard surfaces with bleach water. Wipe down all of your wood with citrus oil (orange/lemon). Kleen out your bilge with hot soapy bleach water and rinse well.

This will give you a good start to the next season.

The Damp Rid hanging bags work well. You can also get some of the same chemical to place in your sinks (they can drain overboard). The Air Dryer Dehumidifers from West Marine also work well. We also try to keep some fans going winter and summer to keep the air stirred up.

It takes some work, but you can have her smelling good again.

Frebreeze is also a good thing to spray around to keep it fresh.

 

[Ross]

I work in homes that range from always showroom fresh to always funky. The difference is always good house keeping and good ventilation. One family I know has four dogs and five cats and if you didn't see the animals when you entered the house you wouldn't know they were there. There are other homes that are damp and stinky and good house keeping was not a part of the vocabulary in that family. You can't hang a bottle of airwick in a pig pen and cure the problem.

 

[DougM]

Peggy:
Sorry to hear of your loss. I certainly understand what you have been dealing with. I have a 90 year old mother-in-law in a nursing facility in Hawaii no less. Fortunately, my wife is an only child, but it still doesn't make things easy.

I will say there are often problems with siblings. However, having lost both parents, We did not have issues. My brother and I were able to work together on care issues, and are probably closer now than when we were growing up.

 

[Bad Obsession]

One funny thing that I do to my boat in the summer is I get a few of the Yankee Candle Car Air Fresheners and place them in the boat. I put one in the head and one in the salon. The sent that has coconut in it works really well. It makes the boat smell really nice when you get into it.

 

[Ross]

There seems to be two schools of thought for this problem. The first is to eliminate the smell by good ventilation and general cleanliness. The other seem to choose to mask the odors with another odor. It is to the latter that I offer some suggestions. For ordinary stale air smells sprinkling cinnamon and cloves in a dry hot cast iron pan this perfumes the air with the smell of apple pies. For wet gym shoe odors frying fish works well. For cat litter boxes burying a few crabs in the box will eliminate the ordinary litter box stink.

 

[woodster]

There seems to be two schools of thought for this problem. The first is to eliminate the smell by good ventilation and general cleanliness. The other seem to choose to mask the odors with another odor. It is to the latter that I offer some suggestions. For ordinary stale air smells sprinkling cinnamon and cloves in a dry hot cast iron pan this perfumes the air with the smell of apple pies. For wet gym shoe odors frying fish works well. For cat litter boxes burying a few crabs in the box will eliminate the ordinary litter box stink.

Ross dont forget the baking soda you know Arm&Hammer or Calumet...they both work well to .....

regards

woody

 

[Maine Sail]

You've had good info so far.

I'll add one more secret that most never consider. You need to seal all the interior wood you can get at. Remove cabinetry and either epoxy coat or use polyurethane to seal the un-finished marine ply and teak on the backs of cabinets and locker hatch boards. Also remove the cabin sole and do the same. The wood takes on a decidedly musty smell if not sealed and like the foam in cushions can be the last hold out for musty odor.

1) Ventilation (dorades or solar vents)
2) Clean, clean, clean
3) Keep your bilge dry
4) Store cushions off the boat in the winter
5) Seal any un-sealed wood

Odor type sprays, Febreeze etc., generally just mask odor. You need to get rid of it at the source to eliminate it. Pure Ayre is a good odor neutralizer, not a masker, but you still need to clean before bothering to use it..

 

[zeehag]

calumet is baking powder--is a different compound---does nothing for odors but can surely rise up some goooood biscuits and pancakes!! LOL....arm 'n' hammer is only kinda soda i know for baking or washing...there are 2 kinds--baking soda and washing soda--both get rid of odors.....

 

[Ross]

Generally speaking any substrate will support a colony of mold and bacteria. It just takes several layers or steps. You can start with chemically clean glass and contaminate it with smokey kitchen air. Still not too bad but now it can hold a starter. Next if you brush your hair the dandruff can also stick to the glass. Now you have some skin cells and need a little moisture and a few mold spores. Get above 20 % moisture and the mold will grow and you are on your way. Drop the moisture levels below 15% and the mold stops growing. But the colony will now start producing spores when ever the moisture goes above 20%. The spores are like smoke and they go everywhere.

 

[Ron McCoy]

The short answer is to remove the existing mildrew (kill it, remove everything that has mildew on it, etc.), then keep the water (liquid and vapor) out of your boat (bilge, stagnate air, etc.). In other words, change the environment so mildrew doesn't have a place to grow. All the above comments come down to that solution.