Do not ignore the smell and hope that it will go away on its own. The key is to identify the problem and eliminate it right away – or it can potentially lead to a bigger problem down the road. It is common if a basement smells musty, and there are several potential causes.
The solution to high humidity, get a dehumidifier, and that can bring down the humidity level to about 45% and then the musty smell should go away.
If you get rid of all dampness and clean-up all existing mold and mildew, the smell will go away and not return. If there is no dampness in the rest of the house, the smell will go away after you solve the problem in the source room.
Create a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. Pour it into a spray bottle and lightly mist the musty-smelling areas of the clothes. Allow the vinegar solution to sit on the fabric for about 15 minutes to help neutralize the odor.
A musty smell is almost always an indicator of unmanaged moisture. This moisture could either be liquid water or vapor. Unmanaged moisture often presents as mold or mildew. If unmanaged moisture reaches the point of smelling musty, it has likely reached the stage of mold or mildew.
Regular ventilation
Ventilation can remove the musty air that causes a buildup of bad odours. Additionally, it can reduce moisture levels in an affected area, limiting the mould's ability to grow.
Baking soda and vinegar are often regarded as some of the best natural cleaning ingredients given their inherent deodorizing properties. When using these ingredients to remove the smell of must, simply place a bowl of either baking soda or vinegar in the affected room overnight to absorb the musty odors.
Febreze: Using Febreze is an easy way to get rid of that musty smell without needing any water! The only downside is that it's not a permanent solution. The best way to use it is to spray some onto your clothes before you put them away in a closet, and then spray it on again every time the smell comes back.
A: It's not advisable to sleep in a mouldy room. Mould spores can affect your respiratory system, allergies and sleep quality.
It thrives in moist or humid environments, so they are commonly found in bathrooms and basements. In homes, mold is usually caused by water infiltration, typically from leaking pipes, flooding, or other sources of water. While it is possible that mold can go away on its own, it is not likely.
If possible, hang your clothes outside in the sun. The sun's UV rays naturally disinfect and deodorize, helping to kill any remaining mold spores and eliminate lingering odors. Plus, fresh air is always a good way to ensure your clothes smell clean.
A moldy odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and should be investigated. The health effects of inhaling mVOCs are largely unknown, although exposure to mVOCs has been linked to symptoms such as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.
Good ol' baking soda. It's odorless, but absorbs odors really well, which makes it the perfect deodorizer for problem spots (here's looking at you, Fido and Fluffy). Simply sprinkle it on your carpet and let it sit an hour before vacuuming it up to help neutralize odors embedded in your carpet.
However, you might be surprised to learn that skunks only make up a fraction of the “stinkers” in the animal kingdom. In Nebraska, we have an entire group of musty smellers known as mustelids, or Mustelidae. Mustelids are a group of animals that have long, tube-shaped bodies, short legs, thick necks and small heads.
Some of the hardest and worst smells to get rid of are pet odours, mold, and cigarette smells.
Humidity in the air is often the cause of mold, but it can also cause a strong smell even if no mold has formed. Dehumidifiers fix this issue, as does proper ventilation. However, in colder months especially, it may not be feasible to vent the entire house.
Investing in a fan or two will help maximize circulation in rooms without windows or A/C. Forcing the air in a room to move will prevent that stale smell. We recommend turning on those fans often to keep your home smelling fresh and help with mold control.
You can do this by opening windows, turning on fans, or both. The more you can get the air moving in your home, the better. Ventilation will help remove the musty smell from your house and make your home less attractive to mold and mildew.
The only effective way to permanently get rid of mould problems is by reducing the build-up of moisture in your home. This can only be achieved through better ventilation.
Clean surfaces: Clean surfaces in the room, including walls, floors, and ceilings with a solution of water and white vinegar. This can help to remove mold and mildew. Use odor eliminators: Charcoal, baking soda, and white vinegar can help to absorb and neutralize musty smells.
Or, use a bowl of dry baking soda, coffee grounds, or kitty litter to help absorb odors, and be sure to change these products frequently.
As we sleep, we exhale bacteria and moisture into our bedrooms. If you sleep with the windows and doors closed, this then gets trapped in the room with you, resulting in a stale odor.
You can also use Lysol® Disinfectant Spray to control and prevent the spread of mold and mildew, as well as its nasty odor. Simply pre-clean the surface, hold can 6” to 8” inches from surface and spray for 3 to 4 seconds until covered with mist. Let it stand for 3 minutes before allowing to air dry.