Getting Rid Of The Smell Of Damp

[Davina61]

My mum had rising damp in her house which she had sorted a few months ago, she also has been using a dehumidifier, but the damp smell is still in the house, you can even smell it on her clothes does anyone know how we can get rid of the smell. Thanks.

[woofgang]

Thorough cleaning and airing, wash or dry clean all the clothes. I rented a damp flat once, it was a nightmare getting rid of the mould smell. This assumes that the house is now dry?

[The Builder]

Possibly because most "diagnosed" rising damp is actually no such thing. Usually condensation.

Try and identify ways that water vapour is produced in the house. It will always condense on a cold surface.
In the meantime, only "through ventilation" will finally get rid of the mouldy smells. If the weather ever gets warm enough, have an occasional day with windows slightly open to cause fresh air to pass right through the building.

[Zacs-Master]

BT will correct me if I'm wrong but if timbers (floor baords / skirtings etc) have become damp and have now dried out there will be an element of rotting which cannot be eradicated without replacing these timbers. This was certainly true of an under bath leak which we had a few years ago.

[Zacs-Master]

sorry TB (The Builder) not BT.

[johnk]

Ventilation and lots of it. Are you drying clothes on radiators?

[Davina61]

No JohnK my mum isn't drying her clothes on radiators, it was a problem with rising damp which she has had put right but the smell is still lingering three months on.

[Manymoves]

Hi
I hope you have cured the problem now, but just incase is it a bungalow she lives in? If it is in the electricty cupboard for example where we store the telephone books, light bulbs etc. If the smell is still trapped, it must be in the items that are porus, ie phone book. Just sling it out and wait for a new one to be delivered. You could empty the cupboard and put a peeled sliced onion (on a plate-not plastic) inside for a few days. You could even paint the inside of the cupboard. Other porus items include anything made of wool/fabric. If repacement of said items are not on the cards, all you can do is what other people have sugessted.
Personally I have spayed clothes/curtains with Freebze and hung on the line on a windy day. Chairs/carpets/curtains spay again with Freebze and prop open all windows and doors.
I have found leather shoes/clothes are the worse. I just sponged them down with washing up liquid and dryed with a white towel then they went outside.

Just had a thought, has the wardrobe been put on an outside wall? Not a good idea. If yes, buy the small humidifers for boats/caravans which hold crystals and leave the wardrobe doors open when you are not in that room.
Hope this helps.