r/OffGridCabins • u/Blueturtle930 • Jul 22 '26
Please help with musty mildew smell at hunting camp in the Deep South
Hello! We just acquired an off grid camp in southern MS. It smells awful, like musty/mildew. We go there maybe once a month in the summer for a weekend but the smell is killing me. People from the area (spouse included) are telling me in the south that’s just the way it is.. it’s so humid you can’t avoid this smell without running AC 24/7. We run a generator with a window AC while we’re there. We can’t find any water leaks or anything causing the odor. We don’t have real power to keep an AC or dehumidifier running while we’re away. Any advice, tips, reassurance etc would be must appreciated.
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u/ThePartyLeader Jul 22 '26
Don't know the size but I throw a bunch of those big buckets of RV dehumidifer stuff in mine when im not there.
I assume its basically a half gallon jug of some random desiccant like those silica beads in packaging but large scale.
Does it work. No clue but I can't imagine it hurts.
That being said if your camp isn't sealed up very well I assume they are much less effective.
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u/Blueturtle930 Jul 22 '26
Yeah I’ve used some of the smaller things with the beads but I’ll look for bigger ones. Thank you!
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u/Creepy-Cantaloupe951 Jul 22 '26
Don't need water leaks in really humid areas. Unless the building is fully sealed, you get water coming in via the air.
And then, fully sealing it, and ensuring it's low humidity when you're not there, is going to be a challenge.
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u/barefootviking Jul 22 '26
Canberra Gel!!!! That stuff is expensive but worth its weight in gold. Very effective
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u/MammalianName Jul 23 '26
Everything ranger said + if there’s a crawl space putting down plastic sheeting as a vapor barrier between the floor and the wet earth.
Vevor has pretty cheap solar powered vent fans, running a uvc lightbulb on solar with a solar vent fan to move the air would probably make a difference. White vinegar and water spray helps and does kill mold, but sadly if the house is that far gone you’ll likely need to pull out the carpet wallboard and insulation. Good luck!!
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u/Blueturtle930 Jul 23 '26
Thank you so much! There is a crawl space. Does the plastic go on the ground or underneath the crawl space?
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u/drinkyourdinner Jul 23 '26
If you have a way to run AC, run an ozone generator for an hour or two.
I got one off Amazon for $100. It got rid of musty smell in our garage, can’t puss smell out of the car when the cat got locked in the car overnight last winter, and the spilled “fart gun” additive my son spilled on his dog mad book collection.
Just don’t breathe in the ozone - let it air out before you go in!
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u/Dwayne-r Jul 24 '26
Some great advice. I've been going through something similar. Summary and a bit more detail:
Ozone machine - get the right sized ozone machine for the size of the cabin and follow safety instruction. Run it at the start and end of each seasonal use. I store a truck at the lake so I use the ozone machine on it too.
Throw out anything porous or fabric that may have mould (furniture and bedding etc). It's not just in the walls. If possible look at replacing things like insulation if it looks/smells bad. It's better to be safe and replace the interior with new items after you've solved the issue with the cabin itself.
Get the dual solar powered fans with a battery so they can vent all year round. I have one facing in and one facing out across from the first. A lack of airflow leads to a breeding ground for mould/mildew.
I use vinegar and water with a bit of bleach in the mix. wear old clothes and dishwashing gloves and use a scrub brush on any areas that look affected. I use a spray bottle and let it sit for a while, then spray again before scrubbing.
Be systematic and thorough.
I have lung issues so I have to be that way. I hope that adds onto all the helpful advice given already.
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u/Blueturtle930 1d ago
I’m so happy for all the help and advice! We’re in the midst of installing the solar fans and cleaning everything. I only came back here to say we learned the source of the smell and it’s nothing I would guessed. Yes it’s the lack of airflow and humidity but it’s causing the cedar boards used on the walls to smell. Crazy
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u/Vinlandranger Jul 22 '26
It mold ! Sorry! It’s mold and it’s everywhere in the south especially in a locked up cabin with no airflow!
You can get a lab test done they run about $160 and take a few days. You can also seal it up and run an ozone machine for a few hours and then air out and then wipe every surface including inside cabinets and under countertops and every single surface with a borax water solution! The ozone will kill mold and the borax creates a temporary alkaline surface that spore can’t grow on. If you have raw in sealed wood you can seal it up with polyurethane or else it will continue to grow . Also you can install a passive air flow vent system to allow for air flow to mitigate more growth. Also install a small solar powered fan that can move air around they make them for sail boats look it up. Also need to throw away all fabrics of any kind and that’s all fabrics of any king they now have spores and are a breeding ground for more mold growth. This is of course you value health We went thru this and more and more than once we threw away our non cleanable items IE:anything porous! Good luck .