How to Get Rid of Old House Smell

November 27, 2021

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You've noticed that your house or carpet smells musty, but you might not immediately know the best way to deal with it. From an old house that smells musty after rain, or a more identified smell in a specific area, there are all kinds of causes for musty odours — and luckily, just as many solutions! Read to find out how to get rid of a musty smell in the house and restore freshness in no time.

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How to get of rid of musty smells in the house

If you're noticing a musty smell in your house, here are some steps you can take to get rid of the smell.

Locate the source of the musty smell

If it's a more localised smell, you should be able to find the source of it with enough sniffing around. If there's a specific area in your home or carpet that smells musty, it could be as simple as a wet cloth which has fallen behind the bed and developed mould, or something under the floorboards. If the smell is more general, for example if your home is an old house that smells musty after rain, it could be something more complex like black damp or a leak. In this case, ask a specialist for help identifying and solving the problem.
Open up all windows and doors to let the fresh air in

Once you've determined that your house smells musty but no mould or structural damp is causing the issue, try opening several doors and windows increase air flow (as long as it's safe to do so). This is the first and easiest step you can take to air a house that smells musty and humid. Sometimes this odour can just be caused by dust and lack of ventilation, especially when your house smells musty after a vacation. So let the fresh air pour in, and open up all curtains and blinds, to let in the daylight! Don't forget to open up shut-in spaces like cupboards, cabinets, and closets.
Give musty-smelling clothes a fresh, fragranced wash

If your wardrobe smells musty, chances are this odour will have transferred to the clothes you have hanging up in it. So even after you've got rid of this musty smell, it could linger in your fabrics. But don't worry — this problem is easily cleared up in a quick washing machine cycle, with an extra-lovely fragrance boost from the Comfort Perfume Deluxe range.
Turn on all ventilation fans or bring in electric fans, if necessary

Modern bathrooms and kitchens often have ventilation fans which you can turn on to air out smells. If a room has no windows or gets little circulation (like an attic or basement), you can always bring in a portable electric fan and run it for a while to get the air moving.
Use lemons as a natural air freshener

For an easy and natural air freshener, boil lemon peels in a pan of water. Once the lemony fragrance is released, remove the pan from the kitchen (remember to turn the stove off) and set it down in the area of your home which you want to air out, being careful to place the pan on a suitable surface. A fan can circulate the fragrance around the room, and you can also fill a spray bottle with the warm lemony water (once it's cooled a bit) and spritz it around the room. Alternatively, use a commercial air freshener of your choice.
Use a plate of baking soda to help absorb smells

For smaller enclosed areas (closets, cupboards, etc.), setting out a small plate of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) for up to 24 hours can help absorb moisture and damp smells.
Sweep up all dust and clean the room thoroughly

If you want to give the room a thorough cleaning, use a feather-duster, damp cloth, dustpan and brush, and/or vacuum to go over all surfaces and rid them of dust. Hard floors should be mopped as well, with a floor cleaner like Cif.
Make sure all areas are damp-free and well-ventilated in the future

Examine the room thoroughly to make sure there are no places where damp items (hand towels, condensation from refrigerators, etc.) can touch other fabrics or surfaces. This is especially important for areas under the sink or behind the toilet, as a leaky pipe can cause musty smells in the future!

If you're looking for how to get rid of musty smells that are definitely caused by damp, you can also try out some of our useful tips targeted at this specific issue.