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stuartkaye · 01-02-2012, 06:47 AM

hi, i'm new to rv'ing. i have a 2008 31 classic. ever since i bought it it had a strong smell like mothballs. i've tried everything to air it out and have had the trailer for months now. when its closed up it still gets pretty strong. when you open the cabinets the strength is strong. Could it be the glue they used to build and if so does everybody have this smell?
thanx, stuart

overlander63 · 01-02-2012, 07:10 AM

If it smells like mothballs, it's probably mothballs. It probably either smelled musty, or like dogs, and the PO added mothballs somewhere you haven't found them yet, or they've disolved into the carpet where they were. Try vacuuming everything in the trailer, even the curtains (gently). Put n open box of baking soda on the floor in a central location, and leave the trailer for a couple of days. Come back and check for the naptha smell then.

**blmitch5** · 01-02-2012, 07:13 AM

Did you buy it used? Maybe the PO used moth balls during storage? Here's a couple of links that may help.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4453525_get-...all-smell.html

http://www.imtek.biz/page/N/CTGY/sp-moth

Good luck but it sounds like charcoal, heat and a good airing out for a month is the only way to get rid of the smell.

dznf0g · 01-02-2012, 07:47 AM

I used mothballs in my old SOB. I couldn't smell them after a spring airing out....but my wife PROHIBITED them when we got the AS. Apparently she smelled them all year long.

Are you sure you're not smelling ammonia from a leaking fridge cooling unit?

stuartkaye · 01-04-2012, 09:32 AM

thank you for your help. weve tried baking soda and airing it out for days. yes it had a po and was sold at auction. also the smell really bothers my wife more than me and she is the one insisting its mothballs.

Is there a possibility that it could be construction glues or something like that? it always seems stronger if i have been gone a few days and the unit is closed up.
again thanks for the great response.

stuart

dznf0g · 01-04-2012, 10:00 AM

It should go away if it is aired out significantly on a repeated basis. Are you SURE there are not still actual mothballs hidden somewhere? I used to find the areas under cabinets, in floors, in storage compartments where likely entry point would be for mice and place them tucked away somewhat hidden. Look EVERYWHERE.

redwoodguy · 01-04-2012, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartkaye

Is there a possibility that it could be construction glues or something like that?

stuart

My trailer is new. It came with a warning about the use of adhesives and bonding agents in the materials used for construction. I don't smell them, but many people are far, far more sensitive than me to such chemical odors.

Materials like MDF, which are common in RVs, have lots of chemical agents in them, like formaldehyde. There is an instrument that will actually measure the air for such chemicals. I would call your local Heath Department and see if you can bring the trailer to them and have them analyse the air. I'll bet they can. Good luck - I hope you get it sorted out!

wmarsha · 01-04-2012, 10:25 AM

GI eruptions will either eliminate the mothball odor, mask it, or make you wish you had it back. So chow down on what ever creates the biggest bang for your buck.

starcraft · 02-20-2012, 07:00 PM

OO mothballs, looked at old 66 Porshe 912 the smell o the smell I had to pass.

reinergirl · 02-20-2012, 07:16 PM

As a 2008 I would assume that the glues/plastics have finished off gassing. If it truly is mothballs that can be tough. I have an old trunk that despite having sanded and resealed it, it STILL smells like mothballs.

I sent my son to college with something called an Bad Air Sponge , seems to work LOL

Bad Air Sponge® - Bed Bath & Beyond

I'm guessing that the PO tossed some somewhere where you haven't found them yet, check any openings in the belly pan. Good luck! Like your wife I am extremely sensitive to smells. Mothballs are only slightly worse than skunks.

dirigible25 · 02-20-2012, 08:44 PM

We bought our trailer used and the previous owner had moth balls in small plastic bins stuck in every nook and cranny, as well as several in the outside storage lockers back in the corners. Once we found them all a good airing out took the smell away. We also vac'ed the carpet after a liberal dose of powdered carpet cleaner, followed by a pass with a rug doctor carpet cleaner.

Aage · 02-20-2012, 10:11 PM

My wife said to try this: buy a couple of big boxes of dryer sheets, and leave them all over the entire trailer, in cabinets and lockers, under things, EVERYwhere.

Shut it up for a week or two, then let it air out. Those dryer sheets are potent!

tpi · 02-20-2012, 10:34 PM

I can still smell the plastics and construction materials in my '05 at times, but it smells nothing like mothballs.

Like the other suggestions, I'd suggest looking around for a few tucked away in an out of the way place. Perhaps something like the water pump compartment, etc. there are a few pull off panels in mine.

**DKB_SATX** · 02-20-2012, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

My wife said to try this: buy a couple of big boxes of dryer sheets, and leave them all over the entire trailer, in cabinets and lockers, under things, EVERYwhere.

Shut it up for a week or two, then let it air out. Those dryer sheets are potent!

I'm not entirely sure they smell better than moth balls, though.

ROBERT CROSS · 02-21-2012, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aage

My wife said to try this: buy a couple of big boxes of dryer sheets, and leave them all over the entire trailer, in cabinets and lockers, under things, EVERYwhere.

Shut it up for a week or two, then let it air out. Those dryer sheets are potent!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

I'm not entirely sure they smell better than moth balls, though.

Much werst actually...

Korn beef and cabbage should do it...

Bob

perryg114 · 02-21-2012, 06:37 AM

What about an ozone generator? I would not use one for extended periods because of their detrimental affect on plastics but it should be able to eat the smell as opposed to covering it up.

Perry

Aage · 02-21-2012, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

I'm not entirely sure they smell better than moth balls, though.

Yes, I won't argue that, but their scent doesn't hang on, like mothballs.

Korn beef undt cabbage!? :yikes!:

perryg114 · 02-21-2012, 08:17 AM

Clean the carpet with resolve carpet cleaner and spray the walls down with 409. Wipe down all surfaces with 409 or similar cleaner. If the closet has carpet probably best to take it out and replace it.

Perry

ROBERT CROSS · 02-21-2012, 08:31 AM

"hi, i'm new to rv'ing. i have a 2008 31 classic. ever since i bought it it had a strong smell like mothballs"

Stuart,

Just noticed it's a Classic, rip out ALL the carpet in All the storage compartments. PO may have balled that area too.

Our's got a terrible mold/mildew smell after getting soaked from leaks.
I re-covered with modular plastic tiles.

Bob

rumrunner · 02-21-2012, 06:31 PM

You could also try some more agressive ventilation along with your cleaning. Maybe a couple of box fans and see how much air you can move (if the weather permits). Be sure and open all the cupboards and drawers too! Sure couldnt hurt. mothballs, AKA paradichlorobenzene, can be pretty tenacious stuff. Wow, that high school chemistry class came in handy after all

tim