The short question here is: how can I stop the smell of mustiness and damp lurking around our kitchen/dining room? Is there an air purifying spray/cleaner/plug in that I can use? Dettol disinfectant spray? I can’t deal with the root of the problem right now (part of which is behind kitchen units) but we are renovating in 6 months so I’m hoping desperately that we can sort the issue out then. However that still leaves me with 6 months of Winter, during which we need to put up with encroaching damp and a musty smell… I have a 5 year old and 2 year old and hate the idea of them hanging out in a damp, musty place, it makes me feel like they are just breathing in sickness and mould. So much so I am becoming genuinely anxious and neurotic about it. The general mustiness is not overpowering, but it is noticeable.
Long explanation: Our kitchen and living room (2 separate rooms) are downstairs next to each other, kitchen is on ground level but living room is semi-lower ground – the bay window looks out into a light well with the ground level starting about three quarters of the way up. We have a variety of different types of damp in various areas of this level, but the bit that bothers me the most is what must be along the outside wall in the kitchen (which is behind and beside units so I simply can’t get to it!!), so a lovely musty smell just leaps out at me every time I open the larder and drawers. The food in the larder cupboard doesn’t appear to be very adversely affected by this (to the naked eye at least), although I did find a mouldy peanut the other day…. I have put the little damp traps under the kickboards that I can remove, and in the back of one of the drawers, and even at the bottom of the larder.
In the adjoining living room there is also just, general, undefined mustiness, I ventilate as much as possible, but with winter coming, and young children, this isn’t going to work for long. I suspect the problem is mildew in various places, even under the carpet so I was wondering if anyone could suggest a spray, an air purifier anything, that could help make it feel more sanitary for our living conditions…
I do use a dehumidifier for a night every fortnight or so, but I’m worried this is expensive, and quite frankly not much of a help if the issue is rising damp/lack of ventilation and mildew…. It will put out about 1litre of water from the whole LG floor in a night. Is that a lot???
Sorry MNetters, so boring a topic but one that is preying on my fragile psyche….