14 Feb 2024 4 Reasons Your Home Smells Musty—and How to Fix It
Identify and tackle that unwanted “basement” smell in your home.
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We’ve all been there—you walk into a room and a familiar but unpleasant scent hits your nostrils. It’s that old musty smell you probably recognize from plenty of basements and thrift stores, but don’t want in your own home. And, if you ignore this smell, it’s unlikely to go away. According to Robin Murphy of ChirpChirp Cleaning, it’s crucial to get to the bottom of the scent as soon as you can. “Addressing musty smells in your home is essential not only for maintaining a pleasant and healthy living space but also for the overall maintenance and longevity of your home,” she says.
Addressing the scent starts with identifying the source. So here are four potential reasons why your home smells musty—and what you can do about it.
Your Carpeting Needs Cleaned
There are many reasons why wall-to-wall carpet throughout the home has fallen out of favor—a major one being that carpet retains odors. Whether it’s from pet accidents, drink spills, or cigarette smoke (especially in older homes where the carpet was installed before you moved in)—the stink just has a way of sticking around
Murphy tells me that regular vacuuming and annual deep cleaning are critical to keeping a fresh scent. You may also want to consider having your carpet professionally cleaned.
However, if your carpeting is very old, it might be best to remove and replace it. Consider replacing the carpeting with flooring that’s easier to clean, and, if you miss the feeling of softness under your feet, put down a washable area rug so you can clean it as often as needed.
Your Carpeting Needs Cleaned
According to Murphy, inadequate ventilation is another primary source of those musty aromas. “Limited fresh air can lead to stale, musty conditions,” she explains.
Myco Momplaisir, owner of SuperMaids, tells me increasing airflow can help fix this problem. “When air is stagnant in a room, and moisture is trapped somewhere, the combination of those two things will produce the smell,” Momplaisir says. “So, the first step I often tell people is to improve circulation and air the space out for a few minutes.”
So, even if you only have a small window—try to keep it open. Alternatively, you may want to install a ceiling fan or use another kind of fan.
If the musty odor is coming from a smaller space, like a bathroom or laundry room, a product like DampRid which absorbs moisture in the air may be helpful.
And while you might be tempted to cover up bad odors with air fresheners or plug-in devices, Murphy warns against this. “These can mask odors temporarily and contribute to indoor air pollution,” she says.