Smelly kitchen cupboards

[flubber]

In the home I am renting the kitchen cupboards smell like a sort of dead skunk, stale, rancid aroma that hits you right between the eyes every time you open a cupboard.
I have washed them out three times and still the strong smell lingers badly. I leave all cupboard doors open at night to "air" but that makes no difference. What on earth can I buy/use to get rid of this terrible smell?

[burnhal]

Vinegar in water is a good one.

[flubber]

I guess a pickled onion smell would be infinitely more agreeable than a sort of dead rat / mould / mildew / corpse embalming smell. I'll give that a try as I am desperate!

[burnhal]

you would be suprised, the smell of the vinegar doesnt linger- dont use too much!! However- on thinking about this- depends on what has been spilt in the cupboards over the years- it may well have seeped between the joints and the only surefire way of cleaning all the gunk out is to dismantle the cupboards and clean all the edges of the parts.

[flubber]

Are we talking white vinegar? And what dilution?

[Ethel]

Speak to your landlord or his agent - from what you describe it is unacceptable.

See if they will correct the problem.

[elpea]

Quite often bicarbonate of soda is good for getting rid of bad smells - you can make a solution of bicarb and water and use to wash down (my mum cleans the inside of the refridgerator this way). It also works inside smelly shoes if you sprinkle it inside the shoe, leave overnight then next day get rid of the powder.

[flubber]

I know bicarb is good for fridges so I may give the cupboards a try. So far vinegar is not working and the smell is actually impregnating the cups and plates that are stored there. I think I'll try the bicarb this weekend.

[elpea]

also... I haven't tried this recently but I remember people used to use an onion to eliminate the smell of paint - you cut it in half and leave it sitting in the room. I assume people don't do it anymore as paint has improved so much since the 70's and isn't as smelly. I have absolutely no idea if this is an old-wives tale, or if it works, how it works.... but it's another thing to try if the bicarb doesn't help.

[flubber]

Well I have tried vinegar (twice) I have tried bicarb and if the kitchen cupboards are closed then everything inside is impregnated with a terrible smell - and I am talking plates, side plates, cups, mugs, glasses.

I thought of an onion and discounted it but on hindsight I rather have everything smelling of an onion than this decaying stench which truly makes me want to gag. Ok, off to try the onion remedy now.