Hi All, I recently purchased a Gardall fireproof safe to protect my collection from fires and light fingers. Since they're so expensive I bought a used one off of Craigslist which works fine but has a bit of a mustly odor in it, presumably from years of use. I've tried putting silica gel in the safe, but a) the safe is not water sealed so moisture can still seep in, and b) I've noticed no change in the smell. If I air out the safe overnight, it smells reasonably ok the next day. Are my coins at risk of any damage from whatever is causing the musty odor? Do you have any recommendations on what to do about the odor? Is it as simple as emptying the safe and using a little lysol? Thanks!
Put a box of baking soda in it for a few days before you use it. I don't know if baking soda is safe for long term use, though.
That'd be my suggestion, just spray/wipe it down with a cleaner....or if the safe is not electronic, than power wash it down? Then allow it to dry well before using.
http://www.housecleaningcentral.com/en/cleaning-tips/odor-removal/removing-musty-smell.html Maybe get some watertite storage boxes that fit in the safe, they are bascially airtite. I like both of these http://irisusainc.com/p-615-ucb-l.aspx http://www.homzproducts.com/Scripts/Clear-Storage-Small-Prodview.html
Thanks for all the tips - I went with bleach & lysol applied sequentially, seems to have knocked out the mold for now. I may also consider caulk or rubber to create a watertight seal & keep some silica gel in there.
