Table Of Content
You may notice more of a musty smell in the basement as warm, humid air condenses on cool basement surfaces – feeding mildew growth. A whole house fan system can help circulate air from the basement throughout the house. If the temperature is 65f to 75f and low humidity – fresh air flowing through the house can help. If the outside air is humid or has bad smells or lots of dust, keep the windows closed. Actively growing mold release microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) at different stages of growth which account for the distinctive mold smell.
How the Smell of Your Home Could Be Making You Sick - DISCOVER Magazine
How the Smell of Your Home Could Be Making You Sick.
Posted: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Clean mildewed areas with bleach.
Or, hire a professional if you think it's hiding under wallpaper and fear that removing it will lead to a massive release of spores. Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. If it's in or on the wall or sheetrock and you have experience changing sheetrock, you can cut out the affected part of the wall. You will need to change out that area of wall insulation too.
Unaired Clothes
The smell of mildew can literally develop overnight, especially during periods of damp and humid weather. Getting rid of that smell—and making sure it doesn’t return—is an ongoing effort. Donna Boyle Schwartz is an avid writer with years of experience covering the home and garden beat in addition to out-of-home topics such as sports and local events. In some cases, though, you might have a more serious problem in your sewer, drainage, or venting pipes.
New Furniture
Scrubbing the walls and floors isn’t necessarily going to cut it, though. It’s not uncommon for the smell of mildew to emanate from fabrics, such as towels, and from other personal belongings (e.g., sneakers). After rinsing it off, run it through the washer as you would a normal load of laundry. Among household odors, mildew undoubtedly ranks among the worst.
Basements already have a bad rap for a place where yucky smells accumulate, so don’t let a dank-scented one stay that way for long. These places have an air ventilation system with air inlets that allow fresh air into the building. Then the air goes through air ducts into a supply fan, which then enhances the pressure of the air and supplies it to the rest of the building. When using bleach to clean mold, do not mix it (even when diluted) with any other cleaning solutions that contain ammonia because it will cause toxic fumes. And while you might be tempted to cover up bad odors with air fresheners or plug-in devices, Murphy warns against this.
There are several best practices for getting rid of musty smells in your home. A musty smell can also come from dirty curtains, carpets, and rugs, which is why it’s so important to wash them regularly. For a more moderate mold area, use bleach to clean up the mold. In a 1 gallon bucket of water, dilute 1 cup of chlorine bleach. This solution effectively kills mildew on surfaces like ceramic tile and grout, cement walls, and washable fabrics.
My House Smells Musty: 5 Things You Can Do to Make It Odor-Free
And unfortunately, it’s all too common, lurking in the dark, damp corners of your home. Rotting food has a distinctive sickly-sweet smell that tells our animal brains to stay far, far away. If you notice a rotten smell in your home, it could be that an old potato has fallen into the back of a cabinet. Otherwise, it could be that a mouse, rat, or other animal may have perished inside your home’s walls, ductwork, attic, crawl space, or chimney. Have a professional come and check your ductwork and plumbing as soon as possible to remove the deceased intruder. Nothing smells like a dirty, wet dog, but squirrels, raccoons, and rats do give off a similar odor.
For stains, we’ve also suggested a bleach and water mixture. Clean away any leftover food, remove perishables before they perish, and look for split cans or molding food items in the cupboards and remove them. Clean the area where they were to help eliminate the smell and prevent bacteria formation. The smell of rotting food is not usually described as musty, but it depends on the food, its age, and the bacteria that form. Perishable food left in cupboards, or even in the fridge, can go off and will become moldy.
Control the Humidity
"When their hair falls out, bacteria grow—and it could get nasty really quick," says Navas. Bathe your pet often and clean the spots where they sleep and eat once a week with soap and water (no harsh chemicals). Vacuum under beds and sofas to avoid hair (and odor) buildup. A great air freshener can also go a long way to help keep your spaces smelling less like your pets.
It's easy to clean up, but something I know I need to watch. Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. She also has a first-class degree in Literature from Lancaster University. ‘You should vacuum and use cleaning sprays once a week to keep them clean. Every three months, you should then think about hiring a carpet cleaning machine to avoid soaking and damaging the carpet,’ says Ivan Ivanov of End of Tenancy Cleaning. Luckily, there are plenty of cleaning tips that can help you stay on top of household cleaning without too much effort.
Small areas of mold and mildew can be cleaned with a mixture of bleach and water; more serious mold and mildew problems may require the services of a professional. An HVAC system can actually help reduce musty smells by circulating air and reducing moisture, but not if the pipes and vents are dirty or harbor bacteria. Just like the system itself needs regular maintenance, the pipes and ducts need regular cleaning.
However, know that it will return if you don't improve ventilation or work at getting rid of condensation. Investing in a dehumidifier is one option (as is opening windows). Get to the source of the stink and you'll be on your way to enjoying a home that smells as fresh as a summer breeze. The first step in getting rid of a mildew smell is to locate the source of the problem.
No comments:
Post a Comment