I've noticed a strange smell in my kitchen cabinets and linen closet, and I can't quite put my finger on it. It kind of smells like urine, litter, or maybe metallic? These cabinets are pretty old, and they haven't been refinished. I'm wondering if painting them would help get rid of the smell, or if there's a better solution. Any thoughts?
2 Answers
First off, you might want to check for any signs of mold. If everything looks dry, try airing them out with a fan for a few days. If the smell lingers, using a good primer like Kilz can seal the odor before you paint over it. That could help!
If your cabinets are new and made of melamine, the smell could be from off-gassing. Leave them open to speed up the process. If they're older and haven't been refinished lately, check for mold or mildew — these grow in wet, dark spots. If there's a leak, fixing it is crucial, and you may need to replace any damaged cabinets. But if they seem fine and the smell is everywhere, it could be a broader issue.
Thanks! They are very old cabinets, and we just moved in. Would it be mold if all the cabinets smell like this? The kitchen is downstairs and the linen closet is upstairs—no visible water around the closet, so I'm puzzled.
Thank you for the advice!