I have a detached 28 x 24 garage, no heat, no ac. It is humid, musty, everything in it smells like moldy dirt and leaves.

A while ago there was a thread about air cleaners a guy could run to clean the air and eliminate the musty smell. Can't find it.

Please give me options that have worked for others. I am going to buy something in the next few days.

Thanks....

I think you’re referring to the thread about opening windows or doors then plugging up a box fan.

As mentioned by others here, eliminate the source.

But - if you want to get rid of the existing smells that have permeated the space, get an ozonizer.

I bought a cheapy for about 85 bucks on Amazon, and it has worked wonders eliminating odors in a cabin I'm renovating. Years and years of cat piss, mouse turds, and plain old messy people living there. Greasy kitchen with no exhaust fan, etc. etc.

It took several cycles, but the smells are completely gonzo.

Used car dealers utilize these to get rid of cigarette smoke odors in upholstery.

https://www.amazon.com/Purisystems-Filtration-PuriCare-Woodworking-Collector/dp/B09MK3GLRC/ref=mp_s_a_1_7_sspa?keywords=air+filter+systems+for+garage&qid=1687534596&sr=8-7-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

Might try something like this and a dehumidifier.

The smell is pretty bad and anything in it absorbs the smell very easily.

After 10 years working with Ozone I wouldn’t have that sh*t anywhere around the house. More downside than upside.[/quote

I did a quick search. Ozone generator vs. Air cleaner.

Seems ozone generator would be more effective but potentially dangerous. Would you seal it up, run the ozone generator to blast the mold and odors, let it air out. Then keep up with future odors using a dehumidifier and air filter?

Use ozone generator sparingly, as needed, careful not to breathe the O3? Once bulk of odor is gone keep up with it.


That's not going to do anything for the smell, that's to remove "dust, hard particles, etc"
An Ozone machine may work, but you would have to seal the garage, and it would run for days !
Fire restoration, and remediation companies know to kill the source. Look into SAFRAX for example.
After garage is completely dry, and clean,
Set a few buckets of water in garage, add CD and leave. wait a day, air out, repeat if necessary.

The short term solution is an ozone generator, usually under $100. Close the place up, let the generator run for an hour or two, let it sit for another hour, and then open it up and let it air for an hour before you go in.

In the long term, it probably needs ventilation.

I have a $60 I bought on Amazon and does wonders for musty and mildew odors in my workshop. Its lasts maybe 2 or 3 weeks, then I run it again.

I saw a video where a guy had one of those, put it on a wasp nest that was in the ground, put an aquarium over the machine and the hole and ran if for about an hour. Killed almost every wasp.

I have a $60 I bought on Amazon and does wonders for musty and mildew odors in my workshop. Its lasts maybe 2 or 3 weeks, then I run it again.

I saw a video where a guy had one of those, put it on a wasp nest that was in the ground, put an aquarium over the machine and the hole and ran if for about an hour. Killed almost every wasp.

The short term solution is an ozone generator, usually under $100. Close the place up, let the generator run for an hour or two, let it sit for another hour, and then open it up and let it air for an hour before you go in.

In the long term, it probably needs ventilation.

Not sure where you're at, but you could move the garage and its contents Out West?

RH got down to 17% yesterday afternoon, and that's after having clouds most of the day. You should see it on a clear, dry, day.

If you're in a place where the humidity is high most days, these folks recommending the dehumidifier and fans are working in the right direction.

If you live in places like where I've lived, coastal NorCal and Juneau AK..............good luck. You'll need it. I've seen moss start growing around the door frames of cars that are parked in the shade for a month or two.

Yep, and it will kill you too. Ozone is a heavy oxidizer. Works extremely well to purify water especially when municipalities get their water direct from the river. Had to wear PPE when working in the Ozone generator building for more than 15 minutes. After about 5 minutes in that building I would lose sense of smell and taste for about an hour.

That's wild. I will look up some youtube videos. I will run it, open the overhead door when done. Thanks

Yep, and it will kill you too. Ozone is a heavy oxidizer. Works extremely well to purify water especially when municipalities get their water direct from the river. Had to wear PPE when working in the Ozone generator building for more than 15 minutes. After about 5 minutes in that building I would lose sense of smell and taste for about an hour.