A musty smell makes your home environment unpleasant and can drive houseguests away. More than that, though, it can signify problems that require your immediate attention. Identifying the cause of home’s musty smell is an important first step, but you also need to know how to get rid of the musty smell in your house.
What Causes a Musty Odor in a House?
Generally, a musty smell stems from mold or mildew growth somewhere in the home. This may be in the bathroom, a stack of ignored dirty laundry, water leaks, AC system issues and even spills and stains that weren’t cleaned properly.
Even when you take steps to clean your home and eliminate odors, the musty odor will return if you don’t address the underlying cause. Because of this, carefully inspect your home from top to bottom. If you cannot see an obvious cause for the smell, consider contacting an HVAC company for an inspection.
Mildew Vs Mold
Both mold and mildew can create an earthy, unpleasant smell. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are two different substances. Mildew has a flat look and grows on moist surfaces. Eventually, it will blanket an area with a powder-looking texture. It is initially white or gray, and it turns brown. Mildew is a fungus that does not grow inward and damage the surfaces that it is on.
Mold grows in fuzzy splotches and may be red, green or black. As it grows in rounded patterns, it also grows into the surfaces and causes irreversible damage. Both mold and mildew can cause shortness of breath, itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing, a stuffy nose and itchy skin.
How Do I Know If I’m Smelling Mold?
Mold and mildew have a distinctive, musty smell. They have an earthy undertone, but the smell is also somewhat pungent and unpleasant. Mildew is often differentiated from mold with its wet smell while mold may be described as smelling like rotten wood.
How Do I Stop My House Smelling Musty?
The first step to take when dealing with a musty smell is identifying the cause. In some cases, there may be multiple causes.
- Check all areas of your home for signs of a leak, including under the sinks, in the laundry room, in the basement, under plants, in trash cans, around the AC system and under the appliances.
- Look for wet or sweaty clothes, including in your beach bag, gym bag and laundry hamper.
- Inspect your air vents and filters for signs of mildew or mold.
- Look at the flooring for signs of spills. When spills were not cleaned up quickly and properly, mold can develop underneath the material.
- If you cannot locate the source of the musty odor, schedule an HVAC system inspection.
Here are more tips on how to get rid of the musty old smell that sneaks up and says hello as soon as you walk into an older house.
How to Get Rid of Musty Smell in House
✔️ Take steps to address the cause of the smell, such as draining full drain pans for the fridge and AC system, repairing plumbing leaks, laundering musty laundry or other steps.
✔️ Improve the air quality by opening windows and doors for enhanced circulation. Use ceiling fans, and clean the air filters regularly. You also should use both an air purifier and a dehumidifier for better air quality and odor elimination.
✔️ Your attention should then turn to tackling the mold or mildew growth. Always wear protective gloves, googles and a face mask when cleaning mold or mildew. If the area of growth is larger than 10 square feet, professional remediation may be necessary. Otherwise, you can clean the area with bleach. If you use bleach, do not add any other cleaning agents that contain ammonia. This mixture can result in dangerous fumes. Hot water and dish soap also work well for smaller areas of growth. Distilled vinegar is also an effective cleaning agent to kill mold and mildew. Let the vinegar sit on the mold or mildew for an hour. Then scrub it with a baking soda-covered sponge.
✔️ Use a wet-dry vac to clean the surrounding areas after the mildew or mold is gone.
✔️ For washable items, like pillows, blankets and clothes, use your washing machine’s hottest water setting. For white items, add chlorine bleach to the load.
✔️ If you toss items, ensure that they are placed in a trash bag. Do not carry moldy or mildewy items through your home as this can spread the spores and cause a bigger problem.
✔️ Generally, moldy carpet and padding needs to be replaced. Sheetrock also should be replaced. Once new sheetrock or wood is installed, cover it with pigmented shellac, an oil-based primer or an anti-mildew latex paint.
How to Prevent Musty Smells From Coming Back
To prevent musty smells from returning, you need to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Ensure that all existing growths are properly eliminated. Then, increase air circulation with fans and ventilation. Monitor the humidity level in your home, and use a dehumidifier as necessary. Repair leaks and damaged appliances promptly. In addition, schedule an annual HVAC system inspection.
FAQs
Why Does My House Smell Musty But No Mold?
High humidity in the home can result in a musty smell. The smell may also come from wet laundry or dirty bags. In some cases, the AC system has mold or mildew that you cannot see.
What Soaks Up Musty Smell?
Bad smells in your home can be removed with kitty litter, coffee grounds or baking soda. Place your choice of items in small containers throughout the home. Remember to change them frequently. While you can extract odors with these ingredients, it is important to identify the cause of the smell and address that issue.
Can the Smell of Mold Harm You?
If you smell mold or mildew, the spores are circulating in your home’s air. When you come in contact with mold or mildew, you can develop symptoms like headaches, fevers, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, red eyes and itchy skin.
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