How to Care for Logs That Have a Musty Smell in a Log Home
A musty smell in the house almost always indicates mold. Mold grows anywhere there is a moisture source, a lack of sunlight and some source of sustenance. If you have a log cabin, the mold can grow right on the logs themselves and lead to an unpleasant smell inside. If you have a musty scent in the house, treat any affected logs immediately to both get rid of the smell and to prevent deteriorating or rotting of the wood. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Liquid dish soap
- Scrub brush
- Dry rag
- Oxygen bleach
- Rubber gloves
- White vinegar
- Fans
Instructions
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Look for water leaks in the areas that smell the worst. The mustiness is likely caused by the affected logs being perpetually wet. The leak must be located and repaired before the odor itself can be dealt with effectively.
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Scrub the affected logs with a solution of hot water and several drops of liquid dish soap. The dish soap is a mild detergent and degreaser that helps remove mold spores from the log surface without damaging the wood. Use a scrub brush to remove the mold more effectively. Dry the logs with a rag once you're finished.
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3
Apply oxygen bleach to the logs if the mold stains remain. Oxygen bleach works well with wood and will kill and remove mold as well. Follow all the instructions on the container for safety purposes. Wear rubber gloves as well, since bleach is corrosive, though oxygen bleach is not toxic the way chlorine bleach is.
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4
Spray the area with white vinegar to further remove the musty odor. White vinegar naturally removes odors, and its own scent disappears by itself within a few minutes. Vinegar is also a mold-killing agent, and it won't harm the logs of the cabin.
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5
Open your windows and use fans to ventilate the cabin. This removes the musty smell more quickly.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
