Off-Topic Help! Linen closet smells like grandma's perfume

[unfetteredpast]

We recently bought a house and the linen closet in the guest bathroom has an awful perfume-y odor.

I have repainted the closet and have tried putting in two of those burlap-filled charcoal bags, but nothing has helped.

Unfortunately, this is the closet with the most storage space for extra towels and bed linens, so I want to be able to use it. It turns my stomach every time I open the door.

To keep this sort of on-topic, I want to be able to keep my workout towels in the closet but don't want to be wiping my face with a scented towel.

Anyone successfully combat a situation like this?

[Eibhinn]

Is it possible the closet had scented liner paper installed on the shelves at some point? That might possibly bleed through even if it's been painted over.

I've never had to deal with this problem, but my parents successfully de-mustified a closet using volcanic deodorizing rocks, which apparently work on perfume:
http://www.leevalley.com/en/gifts/pa...,53209&p=10175

[unfetteredpast]

Thanks for the reply! I am willing to try anything at this point

[SpiritYogi]

Is the closet carpeted? Since painting it didn't solve the issue, perhaps the smell is in the carpet, which may be eliminated with a carpet cleaner.

If not, you may want to try painting it again with an odor-eliminating paint, such as these:

http://www.dutchboy.com/products/int...fresh-interior

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zinsser-...5928/206967270

[txhsmom]

Febreeze?
Dryer Sheets?
Baking Soda?

Have you tried any of those?

Carol

[Sara1000]

There was a kind of finished plywood used for cabinets in very old houses I've lived in that had a strong sweetish fragrance. I found it sickening, especially as I had morning sickness when I first moved in to one of the houses.

After trying every kind of cleaner and oil I concluded it was just the natural smell of the wood (it was NOT cedar in case you're wondering).

Right after I had my baby the landlady sold the house and we had to move

The odor killing paint sounds like a good idea.

[YetAnotherDeb]

I second Dena. I successfully covered cigarette smoke smell/stains with some of the Zinsser products. It eliminates bleed-through from some things that paint just won't cover. That's my advice: treat it like covering cigarette smoke stains and you should be good.
_____
YADeb

[Jennifer R]

I agree. Those Zinsser products are great. I've used various ones to prime porous surfaces, cover stains, and kill mildew. They all worked as promised so I'd bet the odor one would do the job.

[unfetteredpast]

Thanks, everyone!

There is no carpet -- the floor is tiled. I really don't think the odor is from wood -- it smells like Jean Nate' or something similarly awful.

I have already painted so much in this house that the thought of painting more is disheartening, but I did say I would try anything.

It might be worth some Febreeze before I make my 845th trip to Home Depot.

[SpiritYogi]

Originally Posted by unfetteredpast

Thanks, everyone!

There is no carpet -- the floor is tiled. I really don't think the odor is from wood -- it smells like Jean Nate' or something similarly awful.

Ugh....that stuff smells horrible! You may want to try cleaning the grout between the tile. If it's not properly sealed, it could have soaked up the stink. A mixture of baking soda and water, applied / scrubbed with a toothbrush would soak up any odors in the grout.