Dead Scent or chlorine dioxide gas to get rid of musty smell?
Posted by GitchigumiMiguel74@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 34 comments
I cannot get rid of the musty odors in the cabin of my 27 compac and I’m at my wits end. Has anyone used this stuff? What would you recommend instead?
Pomme-M@reddit
Hey there, not arguing for or against anything mentioned here… but reading this reminded me about M9. It’s used in hospitals and medical settings to severely reduce the smells left behind by humans. You might read about it.
I’ve seen it make teen aged boys rooms seem just moved into.. cars that smelled like they’d been smoked in smell clean, bathrooms have their stench reduced.. it can be bought as a spray and it takes very little.
It comes in drops or sprays, I think the drops are because it’s also used in colostomy bags? I know no more than that other than have witnessed the miraculous results in a large space. I bought some and it had no scent, or I wouldn’t have had any interest in it. That said, it doesn’t mask, it somehow removes smells.
MountainWelds@reddit
I believe you can rent an ozone machine to kill scents. It displaces oxygen and kills all bacteria that give residual odors. I know rental apartments do this when they switch tenants and the place has an odor you cant get rid of. Also for when there is a long term indoor smoker there is actually a bacteria from the tar that lives in the paint and you cannot simply paint over it, so they use an ozone machine first (to the best of my knowledge). Call United Rentals or a construction rental place. They will be able to point you where to get one if they dont have them. Also id go ahead and toss anything that might hold odor before you do this to increase your chances.
DO NOT BE IN A CONFINED SPACE WHILE OR AFTER AN OZONE MACHINE HAS BEEN RUNNING! There is NO oxygen you can pass out and die.
Maybe there are companies that will do this for you if you are not comfortable or unsure how to do this safely.
windoneforme@reddit
Ozone will degrade rubber at a very fast rate. I think I read that it's also not great for stainless. A far better none oxidative choice is the chlorine dioxide.
Ozone is fine if you're refitting anyways and want to replace all your rubber hoses, if they aren't bad or over 15 years old use something other than ozone.
xiaobao12@reddit
Do you think chlorine dioxide can kill the oder of smelly shoes?
GitchigumiMiguel74@reddit (OP)
I’m on the hard now. Will this machine be difficult to lift up and be lowered into the cabin?
RedMeatTrinket@reddit
Not at all. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JAP7388/
GitchigumiMiguel74@reddit (OP)
I’ve been reading it destroys rubber. Is this true?
RedMeatTrinket@reddit
Yes. This is not something you'd use every week in the same place. For me, it was once in each room of my house following flooding from a hurricane. It finally go that last bit of musty smell out that was left behind after everything was replaced.
Toginator@reddit
Yes. Ozone is extremely reactive and will degrade any plastic and rubber.
ReelNerdyinFl@reddit
Man does it work…
I used it in my house before leaving one weekend. It smelled so foreign when I go home. Like where are my normal weird smells I live with, did I go in the wrong house?
VettedBot@reddit
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the ("'Enerzen Ozone Generator 40 000mg'", 'Enerzen') and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
Users liked: * Effective in eliminating stubborn odors (backed by 3 comments) * Great for removing cigarette smells (backed by 3 comments) * Powerful despite its small size (backed by 3 comments)
Users disliked: * May not completely eliminate strong odors (backed by 3 comments) * Requires proper ventilation and caution with usage (backed by 2 comments)
If you'd like to summon me to ask about a product, just make a post with its link and tag me, like in this example.
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
Powered by vetted.ai
uberflibs@reddit
I own one. They are pretty inexpensive, and about the size of a loaf of bread. They are magical, and I bought it for the exact same reason you need one. Listen to MountainWelds though, do not be in the same space.
LameBMX@reddit
to be pendatic.. there is lots of oxygen when an ozone machine is running. ozone is oxygen. it's just in the molecule o3 when our body uses the o2 version of oxygen.
YellowFlare555@reddit
There is the tiny difference that you need O2 to continue living and O3 can shorten your life, leave you with lasting damage to lungs and increase risk of infections in your respiratory system. Also, the number of oxygen atoms does not change when an ozone machine is running, but there is less oxygen molecules and more ozone molecules in the air
LameBMX@reddit
so... thanks for contrarily saying I'm right in a long-winded way.
YellowFlare555@reddit
So... I'm saying your argument that oxygen and ozone are the same is wrong. To be pedantic, I'm saying that it's misleading when you consider that even in scientific circles colloquially oxygen as gas means O2 unless otherwise specified.
So to be clear: ozone machines create ozone out of oxygen gas, commonly refered to as 'oxygen', and thus displaces oxygen
LameBMX@reddit
so... thanks for contrarily saying I'm right in a long-winded way.
RedMeatTrinket@reddit
You can buy an industrial one pretty cheap. It does break down everything, especially hydrocarbons. So it will be something you use once.
As an aside, think about those home air filters/fresheners that produce ozone.
windoneforme@reddit
I use chlorine dioxide for both water tank sanitation and boat fumigation. I used to do it as a service for my customers back in Michigan. Chlorine dioxide gas is a great choice for inside boats. It'll get into the wood pores and the upholstery if left in a high enough concentration.
I would usually use a stainless mixing bowl and pour my mixed solution into it. Close all hatches and block off all vents. I used some painters tape around hatches and companion ways as well. Last step is to pour in the acid to make the gas come out of the solution. I used citric acid as it was safe for the water tanks and boat interiors but any acid will do. The bowl will immediately start bubbling out green gas and that's your que to exit and seal up the companion way. I posted cards all over the boat and entryway explaining the boat was filled with chlorine gas and do not enter without opening the main hatch for an hour first.
For water tanks it works great as get dissolves the biofilm that builds up and sanitizes the head space (top of the tank that can never get totally filled)of the tank which many products don't do. Make sure and pull all aerator screens so they don't get clogged with all the gunk coming out of the lines.
It's been 5-6 years since I ordered more components but I found a company in Turkey of all places that'd ship me the crystals in a couple of pound containers.
FYI there are lots of medical scam miracle cures places that love to promote chlorine dioxide. Don't buy from them terrible people selling snake oil, and their prices are crazy.
Content_Ganache_8147@reddit
There’s a product called vital oxide. Do you know if this is safe to use for fogging at home?
nylondragon64@reddit
Try teatree oil. The fumes kill mold spores and it smells good. Down side is its not cheap. When i winterize boat i use a small Tupperware from take out. Poke holes in lid. Soak a sponge in teatree oil , put in container . One in head one in saloon area. Make one in v berth. In spring i clean eith 408 than use Murphy oil on teak.
bontempsfille@reddit
I second teatree oil and also use eucalyptus. I use a mold inhibiting eucalyptus based shower spray for a lot of my interior and it helps a bunch! Also, if you're in a humid area, get some damp rid.
nylondragon64@reddit
They make a marine type of dam rid jar that is a teatree jelly . The refill is like a quart but not cheap. You but that and like 3 small one and refill as needed. The small ones 1 fill will last the winter to spring easy.
PineappIeOranges@reddit
Kanberra Gel. I have had a small one in my boat for several months and it still smells good, granted it hasn't had a ton of airflow over winter.
bontempsfille@reddit
Ooohh thank you! I'm going to look for that!
nylondragon64@reddit
Yeah i am sorry i foeget the name. I discovered it at the Annapolis boat shop years ago.
TomInSilverlake@reddit
I googled "marine type of dam rid jar that is a teatree jelly" and found "STAR BRITE Tea Tree Oil Gel Air Purifier" at West Marine. Def going to give it a try!
nylondragon64@reddit
Yeah thats the stuff.
GitchigumiMiguel74@reddit (OP)
Ok thanks!
FoxIslander@reddit
I wouldn't try to cover up funky smells on a boat...there is/are always a reason(s) for the smell. Bilge full of foul water...diesel leaks (from engine, fuel lines and/or tanks)...permeated sanitation hoses...marine toilet flushed with salt water. Find the issues and fix them.
GitchigumiMiguel74@reddit (OP)
It’s my next project. Thanks!
Breakserbrains@reddit
Aside from cleaning the bilge and all of the drains, cleansing the fresh water system. Are you certain you don’t have a rotting deck core or any other rotting wood/mold from current or past leaks? I added an Airlock ionizing air purifier to my air conditioning unit and it has done wonders for my boat particularly while cooking.
LameBMX@reddit
get you nose on things and in areas, deal with localized sources as you find them.
find ways to keep air circulating when you are not around. my tender let's me keep my vberth hatch open. some of those solar fan things work wonders. crack doors n drawers that you can. get sunlight in there.
best is to just sail it often and use it. that keeps the air fresh and the other stuff away.
millijuna@reddit
A lot of washing, replacing the upholstery, adding a little heat, and improving ventilation is what finally made our Ericson 27 stop smelling of boat. Also, there is a 3m product (which I don't recall the name) that blocks mold growth.