House Smelling Musty? Here’s How You Can Get Rid Of It For Good

From moisture to food, closed apartments and confined spaces are prone to musty smell and odor. However, getting rid of this odor requires time and the help of professional services. Identifying the source of the smell is the first job. But even if you can’t, there are plenty of ways to help you get to the root of it and prevent musty smell and odor from returning. Although we may sometimes come across odors that seem natural and pleasing, in reality these are not necessarily healthy and could be tell-tale signs of mold or mildew lurking, which could potentially put your health at risk.

Why Homes Smell Musty

Although odor and musty smell is highly noticeable in closed spaces that lack ventilation, they are usually not the primary cause of the smell. Musty smells pretty much point towards the presence of mold or mildew lurking. And this is not just confined to old, cramped spaces. Mold and mildew can grow anywhere. All they need is moisture, darkness, oxygen, and a surface to grow on. However, moisture is an essential component here and one of the biggest problems. Whether its condensation or humidity, moisture accelerates the growth of mold. The various growth stages of mold emit gasses known as Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). These compounds are responsible for the musty odor you smell.

Mold and mildew need to be taken seriously and treated immediately to avoid damage to your home and health. Regular dusting and mopping will not do the trick here. Investing in deep sanitization and having a home maintenance company do a thorough checking is crucial. If mold or mildew is left to grow for long, prolonged exposure to it can cause coughing, throat irritation, and even skin infections. If you suffer from asthma, you’re more prone to asthma attacks in the presence of mold.

Getting Rid of Musty Smell

Since we’ve seen that the number one reason for musty odor is the presence of mold or mildew, ensure you check for its growth around the house. The most common places you will find them in are moist and warm bathrooms, under and around kitchen sinks, attics, basements, and garages. Ensure you do a thorough inspection of the bathrooms tiles, refrigerator, and the trash can. Believe it or not, trash cans are religiously ignored but make for very cozy homes to grow mold and mildew. Additional places you should check for mold are your AC and heating ducts, in and around your washer and dryer, your mattresses, carpets, sofas, and the walls around your home. The best way to go about this is to take the help of professional home services that can help you navigate this situation. Most home maintenance services offer a free home inspection, help with AC duct cleaning, locate problems areas, and offer preventative measures. 

Avoid Moisture Problems

Water leaks cause most moisture problems. So it’s crucial to fix them as soon as possible. Leaky windows, roofs, and pipes can lead to water accumulation between spaces and in the corners of your home providing a comfortable environment for mold to grow. Figure out if this is something you can fix yourself or will require the help of professional services. Prolonged water leaks can cause structural damage to your home and lead to stained walls, invasive black mold, and flooding among other problems. 

Moisture can also seep into your walls, curtains, and sofas. This isn’t immediately visible especially when mold is growing deep inside ducts. Getting your ducts checked is crucial as this may provide clues to a possible mold problem. Look for condensation, dark spots, or actual leaks since these are signs of moisture build up. Mold needs water to grow, so any leakage signs could indicate a mold growth hotspot.

Cleaning Mold and Mildew

If you do find mold or mildew growing in your home, the first step is to do a deep cleaning of the entire area. Most home maintenance companies provide deep cleaning and sanitization services. Identify the source and cause of the mildew and fix the issues. Some tried and tested natural methods to clean mold and mildew include using distilled white vinegar and baking soda to scrub the mildew off the surface. If you’re looking for a more intense treatment depending on how much mold there is and how large the space is, it is best to consult with professional maintenance companies to do a thorough job. It is also recommended to hire professionals incase the moldy area is more than 10 square feet, if your HVAC system has mold in it, if your walls, ceilings, and floors have mold, and/or if you’re facing dire health issues due to prolonged exposure to mold.
Treatment of Mold and Mildew

The first order of business once you get rid of mold or mildew is ventilating your home as much as possible. This doesn’t mean switching on your AC. On the contrary, open your windows and let fresh air circulate throughout your house. The more air you get moving inside your house, the lesser the chances of moisture developing leading to mold growth. This will also help get rid of the musty smell and odor in your home. In addition, you can use natural ingredients such as baking soda or activated charcoal that act as natural odor absorbers. However, these need to be replaced every couple of weeks to keep them effective. 

Preventive Measures for Musty Smell

Naturally, homes are magnets for musty smell and odor. However, there are plenty of ways you can avoid the formation of mold. Not only will this help improve your home’s indoor air quality but it will also help with your health. Some of the preventive measures for avoiding musty smell and odor include:

Keeping moisture at bay: Ensure all your bathroom and kitchen surfaces are kept dry as much as possible. Wipe down any water or moisture from cooking immediately, whether it’s on your kitchen surfaces or windows. Another ignored component is not keeping washing machines open between washes to air them out. This can cause your clothes to smell bad even after multiple washes.

Getting regular home check ups done: Professional home maintenance companies today are well versed in providing proficient home inspection and deep cleaning services to get rid of any mold and moisture problems. Along with regular maintenance, they can also provide roof and plumbing inspections as well as HVAC inspections.

Using a dehumidifier: At any given point, the humidity levels in your home shouldn’t be above 50%. This will prevent the growth of any mold or mildew that creates musty odor.

Changing air filters regularly: Often the most ignored, HVAC filters are usually filled with mold because they’re not replaced as often. To ensure your home has the highest quality indoor air, get your air filters changed regularly. It is also important to clean your AC drain pan. Since the primary purpose of the condensate drain pan is to collect water that results from the air conditioning process, not cleaning it can result in water collection and simultaneously mold growth. Similarly, pay attention to your AC coil. Due to the tight spacing between the coil fins, moisture from the cooling process, and the air that flows between them dirt, dust, and debris can build up on the coil surfaces leading to condensation and eventually mold and mildew.

While musty smell and odor can happen at any time, taking preventive measures will ensure you stop the spread of it before it gets worse. Regular home checkups, prevention of accumulated moisture, and ample ventilation takes far less time and helps keep musty smell and odor at bay.For effective home maintenance and deep sanitization services, schedule your FREE home inspection with us NOW at https://adamscare.ae/contact/.