How to Get Rid of the Musty Smell in Your House

If your home smells musty, it could be one of four things: mold or mildew, pet smells, smoke, or an old home. In the post, we explain how to deal with them all. 

If you’d like any help removing musty odors from your home, book an affordable, professional cleaner with Homeaglow. If you feel confident going it alone or want to know what’s involved, read on. 

Causes of musty smells

Musty smells are caused by mold and mildew during the beginning stages of spore growth. The spores multiply in places with high humidity that could arise from decaying wood, damp, musty towels left in a pile after a long weekend, a leaking pipe or roof, inadequate ventilation, or a cracked foundation that lets water seep in. 

How to get rid of the musty smell in a house naturally

1. Detect the source

Check the air quality in different rooms to see if the odor is restricted to one area or has spread. To find the source of the musty water smell in the house, check in obvious places that do not get sunlight or are near water sources. A perfect example would be behind the couch, but don’t rule out your teen’s room or basement. 

2. Let natural air in

Simply opening the windows can help reduce musty odors in the home. Remember to open windows and blinds to let in fresh air and natural light. You can go further by opening every door, cabinet, and closet.

3. Maintain air circulation

Places that are dark, damp, and warm are more likely to develop musty odors. Running a fan to maintain circulation in areas like the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or attic is a great way to prevent the development of musty odors.

How to get rid of the musty smell in an old house

1. Open the windows

Give your home a breath of fresh air by opening the windows. As mentioned above, mold thrives in humid environments, and fresh air releases some of that humidity. Aside from letting air in, opening the windows will allow sunlight to disinfect the mold. If you want faster results, use your air conditioner or dehumidifier to reduce the old house’s humidity.

2. Repair leaks

Repair any home leaks that could keep causing moisture issues. Skipping this step would be like fetching water into a basket. After a while, the house leaks will again become a breeding ground for mold.

3. Clean carpets and upholstery

After making the house more airy and bright, focus on the furniture, carpets, and drapes. Preferably, hire a professional cleaner to thoroughly clean the most difficult areas. For light cleaning, you can use baking soda. 

• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and upholstery
• Leave it to absorb odors overnight
• Vacuum it up in the morning

4. Deep-clean other areas of the house

Give your house a thorough deep cleaning, from the air ducts to the air conditioners to the furnaces. Remember to look underneath the sinks where leaks, used sponges, and a lot of clutter frequently gather. Additionally, wash your walls with a solution containing:

• 16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide
• two cups of distilled white vinegar
• half a cup of borax
• 32 ounces of hot water. 

You'll discover that your efforts eliminated dust, mildew, grease, and musty smell in the old house.

How to get rid of the musty dog smell in the House

1. Sweep and mop hard floor surfaces

Getting rid of the pet's waste and hair particles is the first step in alleviating the house of that musty dog smell. Avoid sending these particles flying with your broom and spreading them to other rooms. Preferably, sweep and use a dustpan to remove the mess as often as possible. Then, mop hard floors with a white vinegar solution. It serves as a deodorizer, eliminating new and lingering odors.

2. Vacuum and steam carpet

As a dog owner, it’s essential to vacuum your carpet once a week to remove the enormous amounts of hair, dust, and dander that accumulate there. After that, steam the carpet with warm water and a cleaning solution. If using a handheld carpet steamer, fill it with warm water and a suitable carpet cleaning product before using it on the affected region.

3. Bathe your dog and clean its bed

Regular bathing keeps your dog clean and helps remove extra and dead hair before it falls. If the manufacturer's instruction for the bed says it's okay to wash it, clean the core thoroughly.

Dealing with musty mold, water, or mildew smell in the house

1. Locate the source

Turn on your detective's nose to locate the source of the mold and musty odor. It is best to remove items from the area and examine the walls, tub caulking, grout, ceilings, tile, and any porous objects like carpets, upholstered furniture, and clothing. 

2. Clean with vinegar or bleach

For hard, sealed surfaces, mix one cup of bleach with a gallon of warm water and use it in cleaning. It’s advisable to wear a mask to avoid breathing in the bleach and mold mixture. Protect your hands and skin with rubber gloves, and open windows and doors to increase ventilation. 

For porous surfaces like wood and plaster, use vinegar instead. Bleach only kills the mold on the surface and drives mold spores deeper. If dealing with mold:

• Spray the porous surface with vinegar
• Leave for 10 minutes
• Wipe and respray until the mold is no longer visible
• Finish up by leaving a spray of vinegar where the mold was

3. Leave to dry

After removing the mildew stain, allow the area to dry naturally. The best source method is sunlight and fresh air. Make sure all windows are properly opened.

How to get rid of the musty smoke smell in a house

1. Improve airflow

If you smell smoke, get as much fresh air into the room as possible by opening windows and doors (unless the smoke comes from outside). You can also use both ceiling fans and recirculation fans if you have them.

 2. Get rid of ashes

Remove the cold ashes from the fireplace and empty the ashtrays. Put them in your compost bin, trash can, or other outdoor container. If you spill some, this is how to remove ash from carpet.

3. Use white vinegar or baking soda

White vinegar and baking soda naturally eliminate smells. Wipe down every surface in the house—floors, furniture, and wall—with either of them. Also, place a few bowls of white vinegar or baking soda in areas they won’t be disturbed and leave for some days. If you’re using white vinegar, try adding some lavender oil to the bowls to help mask the vinegar's smell if you’re not a fan.

Don’t let those musty smells beat you

Removing musty smells from your home can be a time-consuming process. If you’d like some help, book an affordable, professional cleaner with Homeaglow.