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- Mold and mildew. The most common cause of a sudden musty smell in a house, especially in winter, is the development of mold and mildew, often caused by humid conditions and condensation.
- Dust and grime build up. If you cannot find any sources of mold in your home then the source may be a little less sinister. ‘ Musty smells are often caused in the home by a build-up of dirt and grime, which can cause a lingering, unpleasant smell,’ explains Amanda Lewis of Elbow Grease. ‘
- Improperly dried clothing and linens. Although drying clothes quickly is convenient, not leaving clothes and linens to dry for long enough can leave them smelling musty and cause a permanent odor in your home.
- Home humidity above 60% Trying to work out what humidity your house should be in winter can be difficult. Nevertheless, a humidity over 60% can trap odors and create a musty, damp lingering smell around your home.
- 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.
- The Ventilation Is Inadequate. According to Murphy, inadequate ventilation is another primary source of those musty aromas. “Limited fresh air can lead to stale, musty conditions,” she explains.
- There’s A Leak. Leaks can also cause musty odors, but the bigger problem is that they aren’t always visible. “Hidden leaks within walls or under floors can perpetuate ongoing mustiness,” Murphy explains.
- Mold Is Growing. While mold on surfaces can be obvious, such as when you see it growing on a wall or ceiling, that isn’t always the case, explains Momplaisir.
- Excess Moisture Around The House
- Poor Air Circulation Inside The House
- Household Members Smoking Indoors
- Dirt & Spills That Haven’T Been Properly Cleaned
- Dirt Trapped in The HVAC System
- Dirty Curtains, Carpets, and Rugs
- Unpleasant Smell Coming from The Vents
- How to Prevent Your House from Smelling Musty
One of the most common causes of musty smells in the house is excess moisture, which means there’s water in some areas where it shouldn’t be. Excess moisture or water can come from leaky pipes. It can also come from humid parts of the house without enough ventilation to dry out the moisture. It can even come from piles of wet clothes, towels, and o...
Inadequate airflow is another common reason a house smells musty, even without mold. When there is stagnant air inside your home, bacteria and other contaminants can get trapped indoors, which results in that old musty smell. This is why having good air circulation indoors is very important. And you can improve the air circulation inside your house...
If you or another household member smokes indoors, even if it’s only occasionally, then you may have found the culprit behind that old, musty smell inside the house. Walls and other surfaces in your house can absorb the smell of cigarettes and nicotine over time, which can cause your house to smell musty. If no household member smokes and you just ...
Dirt, spills, and messes are quite common, and even unavoidable, when you have little kids or pets in the household. Any dirt and spills not cleaned up properly can cause your house to have that unpleasant musty smell. If your kid accidentally spills their drink on the carpet or if your dog urinates on it or walks all over it with its muddy paws, t...
If you have an HVAC system, any dirt trapped in it could give your house that old musty smell. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and HVAC systems control the humidity, temperature, and purity of the air in your house. This is why cleaning them regularly, including the ducts and heating and cooling appliances, is so importa...
A musty smell can also come from dirty curtains, carpets, and rugs, which is why it’s so important to wash them regularly. Curtains should be washed every 3 to 6 months. On the other hand, carpeted floors and rugs have to be vacuumed at least twice a week. In addition, rugs also have to be thoroughly cleaned every 12 to 18 months, depending on the ...
This applies if you live in an apartment or shared residence, as these places often have shared air ventilation. One challenge with living in apartments, condominiums, or shared residences is that they’re often hard to ventilate properly. These places have an air ventilation system with air inlets that allow fresh air into the building. Then the ai...
Now that you know the common reasons why a house smells musty, even if there’s no mold, you know how to prevent this from happening. Here are some tips to prevent your house from smelling musty: 1. Regulate the moisture inside your house by getting a dehumidifier and placing it in areas with poor ventilation. 2. Avoid piling on wet clothes or towel...
Nov 8, 2022 · This is one reason why freezer burn’s odor, a chemical reaction that reeks like decaying bacteria and that can happen when the freezer temp rises above 0 degrees, is so fundamentally off-putting ...
5 days ago · Carolina Kazimierski, cleaning expert and co-owner of Sophia's Cleaning Services, says you can definitely get sick from a musty smell, especially if it's coming from mold. "Consistent mold exposure can result in respiratory symptoms, dry eyes, or allergic reactions," she notes.
Feb 13, 2024 · If the smell is bad, replace old paperbacks with new hardbacks, which are less likely to cause the problem. 11. Rotting Food. 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.
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Oct 20, 2019 · Here, we list the most common causes of a musty smell – and their fixes. 1. Your carpet needs a refresh. Carpets are like sponges, absorbing all kinds of smells, particles, and lots and lots of moisture. Even if you vacuum regularly, when the weather turns humid and cool (think right around this time of year), your carpet will be absorbing ...
