Last Updated: August 12, 2024
Identify where damp, musty smells are coming from in your home and eliminate them for good with these natural cleaning and laundry tips.
Ever walked into your home after being away for a few hours or days, only to be bombarded by the smell of musty, stale air? It could be an indication of mold or mildew, friends. Here’s how to find the source of the odor and eradicate it — naturally.
The damp, earthy smell of mold and mildew is due to excessive humidity, especially in stagnant places like the bathroom, basement, or laundry room. When mold and mildew build up, they release foul-smelling gases, which permeate textiles like your carpet, curtains, and upholstery.
Sources of excessive humidity that cause mold and mildew include:
Different molds and mildews may smell a little different for everyone, but in general, they smell wet, tangy, and earthy. Think of the last time you kept a loaf of bread uneaten for too long or a load of wet laundry that didn't dry properly.
The gases released by mold and mildew are microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs.) Inhaling these MVOCs can cause a range of physical side effects, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, itchy skin or eyes, and nasal congestion.
a fungus that contains scores of identical nuclei. It grows on and penetrates a variety of surfaces, such as that loaf of bread you didn’t finish, inside the wet drywall where the shower leaks, or in the creepy crawl space in your basement. Mold grows in raised patches, usually black or green in color.
a specific type of mold that’s primarily considered a plant disease that causes enormous damage to agricultural products. It’s often found on plants, wood, and paper. Unlike mold, mildew growth is typically flat and appears white, gray, or yellow in color, and it only grows on the surface of an object.
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Since mold and mildew can spark terrible allergy attacks if you’re sensitive that way, always wear a glove and mask when you’re cleaning them up.
Before you can eliminate that dank smell in your house, you have to locate where it’s coming from. Is it in your teenager’s bedroom? The living room recliner? The washing machine, basement carpet, shower curtain?
Sometimes, you can trace the smell to a specific place or item. Other times, the odor seems to be part of the environment itself — especially if you live in a humid climate. As you search your house for the offending fungus, pay special attention to areas near water sources and particularly humid places.
Mold and mildew thrive in dark, wet conditions. The key to eliminating a musty aroma and keeping it that way is maintaining proper airflow and humidity levels.
There are several ways to do this:
1. Open windows to get rid of stale air and bring fresh air into the space.
2. Run a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture from the air.
3. Keep air circulating with box and ceiling fans.
4. Decorate your home with houseplants that naturally clean the air.
5. Dust regularly and thoroughly.
6. Vacuum and mop floors to rid them of any lingering odors.
7. Deep-clean the bathtub and shower drain with a scrub brush and a natural tub and tile cleaner, then keep them clean with a daily shower spray.
8. Clean the washing machine and disinfect the dishwasher to get rid of mold and mildew.
9. Use your favorite natural air freshener.
10. Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar, and spray down hard surfaces.
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Yes! Try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to a bowl of baking soda, stir it up, and set it out in the open to naturally deodorize your home.
Have you ever picked up a towel or piece of clothing only to notice that it doesn’t smell so fresh? Those musty odors are likely due to excess moisture and storage in a stagnant area. Wash your clothing properly to keep it as fresh as your look with these tips:
1. Make sure clothing is dried completely before storing it.
2. Promptly transfer your clothes from the washer to the dryer — don’t let them sit wet overnight.
3. Rewash any smelly clothing with your favorite natural laundry detergent.
4. Remove unworn clothing from your closet to make more room for air to circulate around the pieces you love.
Upholstered furniture with plush cushions and fine fibers tend to trap moisture, dust, and odors. Same with curtains, blankets, and pillows. Clean your couch and other favorite curling-up spots throughout the home with these quick solutions:
1. Sprinkle your furniture with baking soda, let it sit for 20 minutes, and thoroughly vacuum.
2. Maintain proper humidity levels by using a dehumidifier.
3. Keep upholstered furniture away from damp areas.
4. Use a linen spray to help refresh your furniture.
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Malodorous mattress? Pungent pillows? No worries. Read up on how to clean your mattress and wash your pillows with our helpful Clean Team guides.
If you’ve cleaned your home, circulated in fresh air, and spot-treated the affected areas as best you can without success, you may have a bigger problem on your hands that requires professional attention.
Don’t let the problem linger for too long before calling in a mold remediation specialist or a plumber.
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