A musty smell is caused by many different things, but the result is always the same: a horrid stench that can make your home feel less welcoming and pleasing to be in.
There are many ways in which you can get rid of a musty smell in the home and they are all very easy to implement.
If you are noticing a musty smell in the house, here are a few things that you can do. It is advisable for you to take care of the problem as soon as possible.
No.1 — Determine how many rooms are affected
The first thing that you need to do is find the source of the problem.
Is it only one bedroom, is it in the hallway, or is it coming from the bathroom, or all three?
If it is in several rooms, the cause might be something structural like a leak or an on-set of black damp in the walls. If this is the case, you should seek professional advice and help immediately.
If it is only present in one room, then the source of the smell will be easier to locate.
No.2 — Locate the source of the musty smell
If it is a more localized smell, you should smell it immediately and know exactly where it is coming from.
Sometimes it can be something simple as a damp cloth that fell behind the bed or it can be something serious like mold in the walls or under the floorboards.
If you can, remove the source of the smell, but if it is a serious problem then you should consult with experts. Do this sooner rather than later as the source of the smell might cause health issues.
No.3 — Open up all windows & doors to let the fresh air in
If it is not too cold out and if it is safe to do so, opening up the windows and doors will let fresh air in which should vaporize the smell.
Sometimes, a musty smell can be due to a lack of ventilation. Let the fresh air pour in and open up all the curtains or blinds in your home.
You can also open spaces that are mostly closed like cupboards, cabinets, closets, or rooms that are no longer in use.
No.4 — Sweep up all the dust & clean the room thoroughly
During the cold winter months, we often don’t give our homes a thorough cleaning and this can cause a musty smell around the house.
Give the room a proper cleaning by using feather dusters, damp cloths, and a vacuum cleaner. Hard floors should be mopped as well with a decent floor cleaner.
You should be cautious when it comes to cleaning hard floors – remember to choose the cleaner that is best suited for your specific type of floors.
No.5 — Use lemons as a natural air freshener
Lemons make a great natural air freshener and they are so easy (and affordable) to get.
Simply boil lemon peels in a pan of water. Once the lemony fragrance has been released, you can remove the pan from the stove and set it down in the area of your home where the smell is the strongest.
You can switch on the fans in order to circulate the scent around the room and you can also fill a spray bottle with your lemony water to spritz it around the room. If you don’t like the scent of lemon, you can always purchase an air freshener of your choice.
Hopefully, musty smells will be a thing of the past with these easy cleaning hacks!
