A musty smell emanating from your home may make your home feel dirty and unwelcome regardless of how clean and beautifully decorated it may be. In addition, certain types of musty smells may cause harm to your health.
Although you’ve probably noticed that regular cleaning techniques and air fresheners provide only one or two effects, it does not mean that you’re trapped with the smell. Actually, the earlier you start and begin, the more straightforward you’ll be able to remove the odor.
Where do Musty smells originate?
Before you decide on the best strategy to tackle the smell, you must to determine the source. If you fail to get rid of the source of the odor, the mustiness could return.
The primary reason for the smell of musty is mildew and mold. When these fungi digest substances they live on and release noxious gasses. They circulate through air before being absorbed by soft materials like curtains, carpets and furniture. As time passes, they be absorbed into harder surfaces like flooring made of wood.
Different kinds of mold emit distinct odors. The distinctive musty smell you detect in your house is likely not the same as the mold that you see inside bread. But it’s an indication that there is mold.
Removal of Mold and Mildew
There are times when you can spot mold in the home by using only your eyes and your nose. The areas that have the smell of musty is strongest, you should look for the presence of mold in areas susceptible to the accumulation of moisture. This is the case for:
- Ceiling corners particularly in bathrooms and kitchens.
- On the walls behind furniture
- On the shelves’ undersides
- Under the rugs
If you spot three or less patches of mold smaller that 10 sq. feet in each You can take care of them, provided you’re not sensitive to mold.
Before starting take off your gloves, safety glasses, and wear a mask for dust. If you spot dry mold, get rid of it as much as you can using an air-tight vacuum with an HEPA filter.
The remaining wet or dry mold can be cleaned off. To get rid of the mold off a wall painted make cleaning solutions using 1/4 cup of white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of borax with 2 cups of boiling water. Spray the solution on the affected surface, then scrub and clean. Spray the second time and allow the solution to soak over 15 mins. Scrub and clean after which dry completely.
For non-porous materials, such as glass or tile for example, you can make an amount that ranges from half a cup of bleach to the form of a gallon. Because chlorine bleach can’t penetrate through porous surfaces so, you should choose oxygen-chlorine bleach when intend to apply bleach to the surface. Do not use bleach on carpets or furniture since discoloration could be a possibility.
You can also pick up one of the mold removers sold at your local home improvement store or at home improvement stores. Apply the solution according to the directions.
To get rid of tiny amounts of mold from flooring made of wood or other wood surfaces, clean the area gently using an oil-based wood cleaner specifically specially designed to kill mold, or using mild detergent. If the mold does not disappear, you’ll likely need to remove it by sanding it away and refinish the wood surfaces. Use an sander with no dust that will clean up any debris that is left behind as you go about your work, avoiding dispersing moldy spores.
Know when to call for a Professional
The presence of extensive mold growth poses the risk of putting your health, and suggests that there may be significant damage from mold that you don’t detect.
This is why If you notice more than a couple of areas of mold, you should contact an expert in mold remediation that is licensed by the state in which you live or has the certification to remediate mold.
Be aware that mold could grow in your walls, beneath your floorboards, or in the air vents. It’s not visible but you’ll be able to be able to smell it. If your house has experienced a leak in the water and you’re unable to rid yourself of the smell of musty it’s likely that there’s still mold growing in your home. If this is the case, dial an expert.
Cleaning up your clothes and Furniture
Eliminating the mildew and mold is just the beginning step to eliminate the smell of musty. To get rid of lingering odors you’ll have to wash the things that are still carrying the odors and to freshen up your air.
If your curtains, clothes or other fabric that you can wash have developed an unpleasant smell, you might be able to wash it cleaned out of the washing machine. In your washing machine, load it like normal, then include 1 cup white vinegar, and let it sit at least 30 minutes. Then, you can run the washer like normal, but add an odorless liquid fabric softener to the wash. You can also make use of baking soda instead of white vinegar.
If you can hang the things in the sun for a few hours to dry. The sun’s UV rays kills remaining mold, and fresh air helps to remove lingering odors.
To remove musty smells of furniture made of soft materials, utilize activated carbon that is available at the aquarium supply stores, inside mesh bags. Put a few bags in the furniture that is smelling and let them sit for several days to absorb the smells. If you are unable to find activated charcoal, reusing coffee grounds are a great alternative.
If this isn’t enough to eliminate the smell then commercial cleaning products for furniture are available to eliminate any mildew that remains without harming the furniture. The furniture being exposed to the sun for a couple of hours could aid in removing the smell.
The refrigerator could develop an unpleasant smell if food items that were not used up or not used for a prolonged time. To eliminate this smell begin by emptying the refrigerator. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to one quart of water, and then spread the solution over all the interior. In the refrigerator, place newspaper that has been crumpled to absorb moisture and odor. close the door for up to 24 hours.
Freshening Up Your Air
When you’re finished cleaning take care to eliminate any smelly musty odor that’s still throughout the room. Lemon is a great neutralizer of odors and can be used to do this. Place a few lemon slices some rosemary sprigs and a teaspoon of vanilla and 2 cups of water into a pot and allow the mixture to cook in the oven.
Baking soda is also able to help in the removal of lingering odors. Sprinkle baking soda on some small plates, set the plates in areas that you’ve noticed a musty smell and then leave them for a few days or even two. This is especially effective in smaller spaces like closets.
Eliminating the Smell Continuously
To eliminate permanently the smell of musty, take steps to rectify the conditions that allowed mildew and mold to flourish. This means improving the ventilation, and bringing the humidity of your home in check.
After showering or cooking After showering, allow the bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan run about 10 minutes. Fix leaky pipes and faucets which can provide moisture to the air. Be sure that the appliances, like your dryer vents to the outside and not through the attic or any other indoor space. Make sure your downspouts and gutters are well-maintained and clean to ensure that they do not lead water to your walls or roof.
If you find evidence of excessive humidity or lack of airflow, then you may be able to benefit from a dehumidifier or an additional source of ventilation. Discuss with a specialist in ventilation regarding the installation of this type of equipment.
Musty smells can be difficult to get rid of and getting rid of them requires careful cleaning, but using the correct approach, it is possible to have your home to smell fresh once again.
