Nothing can make a space go from cozy to uncomfortable quite like an unpleasant smell, and if you notice a musty smell in your home, it may be a sign of a more pressing issue. Typically, a musty smell indicates mold and mildew growth, which, if left unattended, can wreak havoc on your home and health. 

Mold growth tends to weaken wood and cause it to rot, which is damaging to the structural integrity of your home and could be a costly fix down the line. Beyond this, mold is also harmful to breathe in, often causing people (especially those pre-disposed to respiratory issues) to experience allergic reactions, asthma, and skin irritation. 

Due to excess moisture, some common causes of musty smells include living in humid environments without proper ventilation, leaky appliances, condensation buildup, or even damp clothing and linens. 

To help you fight off the smell of must as a result of mildew and mold, this article will guide you through the process of identifying, removing, and preventing musty odors in your home. By locating the source, offering steps to improve ventilation, and providing professional resources, we’ll give you actionable mold and musty smell removal tips—keeping your home and your family safe. 

Identify the Source of the Musty Smell

If you don’t get to the root of the problem, the problem will persist, so the first thing you’ll want to do once you notice a musty smell is identify the source. If the smell is relatively new, it may be coming from damp clothing or improperly dried laundry. Before investigating the various nooks and crannies of your home for potential leaks, consider inspecting your clothing and linens first. If the smell isn’t tied to any clothing or linens, you’ll want to inspect common areas of the house that are susceptible to mold and mildew growth such as bathrooms, attics, and basements. 

Bathrooms

Mold thrives in warm, moist conditions. Because bathrooms tend to be more humid than other areas of the home due to consistent shower use, it’s important to monitor moisture levels. When it comes to bathrooms, mold can be found in a variety of places including within grout and tile lines, shower curtains, windows, sink and shower drains, shower mats, and in the toilet.  

Attics

Heat rises, which means attics are oftentimes the warmest area in the home. Not to mention, if your home is experiencing a roof leak, your attic will likely be the first area affected. Beyond excess moisture, attics are often made primarily of exposed wood, which is a feeding ground for mold. 

Basements

While basements do experience some moisture and are often prone to flooding, they are also a popular source of mold growth because they are typically dark and, much like attics, are made of exposed wood. Most significantly, however, basement mold is likely the result of poor ventilation. When air cannot flow freely, it becomes stale and more susceptible to mold growth, which can lead to a musty smell. 

Mold and Mildew Cleaning

Mold spores tend to multiply quickly. When they do, they emit a detectable gas commonly referred to as “must.” If you detect the smell of must or notice mold and mildew growing around your home, it’s crucial to remove it as quickly as possible to avoid damaging your home and prevent health issues related to breathing in mold. 

Steps to Clean Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew can be serious issues, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recommends calling in professional help when mold growth exceeds 10 square feet. If the growth is smaller than this, you may be able to take care of the problem yourself using commercial products that target mold and mildew or a combination of common cleaning agents you likely already own. Before cleaning, consider the affected surface. Not all surfaces require the same treatment, so you’ll want to ensure you tailor your solution to the specific area. 

One of the most common locations of mold is on walls. To successfully remove mold from walls on your own, follow these steps:

1. Before getting started, be sure to wear protective gear (i.e. rubber gloves, goggles, and even a respirator) and make sure the area is well-ventilated.
2. Using a mixture of dishwashing detergent and water, perform an initial cleaning of the affected area using a sponge, cloth, or brush.
3. Let the wall dry completely.
4. Mix a solution of ¾ cup of chlorine bleach with one gallon of water. Sponge the mixture onto the affected area and let it sit for about five minutes.
5. Rinse the solution off with warm water and let the area dry completely.

COIT Pro Tip

Moisture control is crucial to mold removal. Consider utilizing fans or renting air movers to promote circulation and dry the area at a faster rate.

Contact COIT for a professional cleaning!

Commercial Mold Removers Vs. DIY Solutions

There are a few options available to remove mold and mildew in the home. Deciding whether to go with a commercial grade/store-bought option or a DIY solution can depend on where and how severe the mold growth is. 

Oftentimes more convenient commercial-grade mold removers are stronger and can target more specific areas of the home or mold types. That said, because they are stronger, they do tend to include more chemicals, which can be harmful to breathe in. On the other hand, homemade solutions tend to be more cost-efficient and can be made from ingredients you likely already own such as bleach, vinegar, ammonia, etc. However, going the DIY route does leave room for error, and may take a few tries to get right. 

To best determine which to go with, consider the location of the mold. From there, do a bit of research to see which store-bought products or DIY solutions work best in that specific area of the home or on that particular surface. 

To summarize, here are the pros and cons of commercial and homemade mold removers:

Commercial Mold Removers:

• Pro: pre-mixed commercial mold removers are more convenient 
• Con: common chemicals found in store-bought solutions can be harmful to inhale
• Pro: commercial mold removers are often stronger than homemade ones
• Con: store-bought removers are often more costly than DIY solutions
• Pro: commercial-grade mold removers can target more specific surface areas or mold types

DIY Mold Removers:

• Pro: you likely already own the ingredients used in homemade mold remover solutions (bleach, vinegar, ammonia)
• Con: with DIY solutions, you run the risk of getting the ratio wrong, which can mean a bit of trial and error
• Pro: homemade mold removers are often more cost-efficient
• Con: DIY solutions aren’t as strong as commercial-grade solutions
• Pro: homemade solutions can include more natural ingredients than store-bought ones

Improve Home Ventilation

Stale air contributes to mold growth. When it comes to mold odor elimination, ventilation is key in all areas of the home. By ensuring your home’s air is circulating freely, you are reducing the likelihood of dust accumulation and resulting mold/mildew growth. 

Benefits of Proper Ventilation

A well-ventilated home means healthier indoor air quality. We spend about 90% of our time indoors, which is why ensuring your home’s ventilation system works properly should be a top priority. Allergens, pollutants, dust, mold, and other harmful particulates are constantly carried into our homes and into the air we breathe. A properly functioning ventilation system moves the air around so it doesn’t become trapped in the home and instead makes its way outside. 

Beyond healthier living, proper ventilation (i.e. ventilation that allows air to flow and circulate freely without blockages), can contribute to lower energy costs. A blocked system has to work extra hard to circulate air, and if dust and debris are left to collect over time, this can contribute to more costly energy bills and could become expensive to fix down the line. 

Home Ventilation Tips

Here are some of COIT’s top home ventilation tips to help reduce the likelihood of mold growth and musty smells in your home:

• Be sure to turn on your bathroom’s exhaust fan during and after shower use. If you don’t already have one in the bathroom, install an exhaust fan to promote air circulation.
• If you live in a more humid environment, consider using a dehumidifier to remove some of the moisture from the air. 
• Make use of air purifiers to pull unwanted pollutants, allergens, and dust (which can contain mold spurs) from the air.
• Open windows every now and then to invite in some fresh air.
• Get your air ducts cleaned every 2-3 years. 

To schedule a professional air duct cleaning, contact COIT today.  

Natural Deodorizers for Home Use

To remove lingering musty odors, there are a few natural remedies to deodorize a space. You can achieve this using common natural ingredients you likely already own including baking soda, vinegar, activated charcoal, and vanilla extract. 

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. 

Although you might not have activated charcoal in your cabinets already, it is a great natural alternative to some store-bought deodorizers. Similar to baking soda and vinegar, activated charcoal works by absorbing musty odors from the air. Simply set out a bowl of activated charcoal or put the powder into cloth sachets and set them around your home to absorb odors. 

To successfully remove odors permanently, you can’t mask the smell with candles and scented sprays. For those looking to not only absorb the bad odors, but also leave a space smelling sweet, vanilla extract might be your best bet. For this method, you can leave a few drops of the extract on some cotton balls and place them in the affected areas (or anywhere else in your home). 

Prevent Future Musty Smells

While we can’t always prevent a leak from happening in the first place, there are a few things we can do to prevent mold growth and musty smells in the home. Regular maintenance such as cleaning out gutters to avoid water damage, repairing leaks as soon as possible, and performing routine cleaning of HVAC systems are just a few ways you can ensure you’re doing your part to reduce the likelihood of mold and musty odors. 

For more preventative tips, see our maintenance checklist for homeowners below:

When to Call Professional Cleaning Services

If you suspect the cause of the musty smell is related to mold, you will want to act as soon as possible. Deciding whether or not to call in the professionals can be a tough decision. While some things are easy to remedy on your own, others may require more expertise. If you’re certain it’s mold and the square footage exceeds 10 feet, this is the best indication that you should consult the experts.

Mold spurs can multiply, and if you attempt to solve the problem yourself you run the risk of spreading more mold spurs around and making the problem worse. If the mold has seeped into porous materials such as wood or drywall, these affected portions will likely need to be removed completely. To safely and efficiently rid your home of mold, mildew, and musty smells, COIT Cleaning and Restoration not only removes the mold, but also restores your property to its pre-damaged condition. 

Schedule a Free Consultation: Discover how our cleaning services can freshen up your home.

Contact COIT for a professional cleaning!