QUESTION: My summer house was left closed up, and developed a heavy moldy smell. It got into the clothes. How can I remove those smells?

ANSWER: It was the closing up of the house that caused the problem in the first place, with water vapor building up and condensing into water, where mold grew. For the house itself, wash any obvious mold with a bleach and water mix, then ventilate as thoroughly and as long as possible. And keep ventilating even when the house is not occupied; that is the way to release any buildup of water vapor.

For the clothes, wash color-fast clothes with a standard bleach and detergent solution. Non-color-fast clothes can be treated carefully with Oxy-Clean. For non-washables, have them dry-cleaned.

Handyman on Call Peter Hotton is available 1-6 p.m. Tuesdays to answer questions on house repair. Call in your questions to 617-929-2930. Hotton's e-mail is photton@globe.com

By N.Y. Times Service