7 Easy Tips For Getting Rid Of Musty Smells

Get rid of musty odors by circulating the air with a fan, cleaning the house, or using an absorbent like baking soda.

Noticing a musty or damp smell somewhere around the house? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! There are a lot of potential causes that can lead to musty smells and odors, from mildew to moisture to old food.

But on the bright side, musty smells aren’t usually serious or permanent, and there are plenty of easy ways to eliminate musty odors! In this post, you’ll find 7 quick and easy tips for getting rid of musty smells, no matter where they might be lurking.

With the help of these tips, your house will be smelling fresh and clean in no time!

7 Effective Ways To Eliminate Musty Odors

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1. Locate The Source

To eliminate musty smells, you need to find out where they’re coming from. Start by sniffing around a bit — is the smell coming from one room, or is it in several areas of the house?

Look for any obvious sources of odors, like food that fell behind the sofa. If you can’t find the source, you may need to hire a professional to come and inspect your space.

Airing out the house is a good way to get rid of musty odors. You might even want to open up all the cupboards and air them out.

2. Let In Fresh Air

The easiest way to eliminate musty smells in your home is to open your windows! Letting in fresh air can do a world of good, especially if you open the windows and blinds to get some sunlight into the space too.

Go a step further by opening interior doors, cupboards, cabinets, and closets so those spaces can get aired out too. Because when it comes to musty smells, sometimes the best fix is a good dose of fresh air!

Using a fan to keep air circulating combats musty smells.

3. Get The Air Moving

Musty smells are generally more likely to develop in dark, damp, and warm areas, especially if those areas aren’t well-ventilated. You can discourage musty odors from developing in these conditions by running a fan to keep the air moving!

Make use of the exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom to discourage musty smells from developing there. In rooms with limited airflow like the attic or laundry room, consider bringing in a small electric fan to get the air moving.

Musty smells can come from dust, so use a dusting spray and get dusting, especially on areas you don't dust often.

4. Grab Your Duster

Dust is a common source of musty smells, so grab your dusting tool of choice and get to dusting! Try to think of places that you may not have dusted recently, like behind furniture and on top of ceiling fans and door frames. Use a dusting spray to help discourage dust from settling there in the future.

Sometimes all it takes is a good house cleaning to get rid of musty smells.

5. Clean Your House

If dusting doesn’t take care of the musty smell, a more thorough cleaning may help. Make sure to sweep and mop hard floors and vacuum carpets! And while you’re tidying up, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for potential smell sources.

If there is a musty odor in a small space like a cupboard or closet, put some baking soda out to absorb the smells.

6. Use Deodorizing Baking Soda

If the musty smell is emanating from a small area like a closet or cupboard, place a small dish of baking soda in the area for up to 24 hours. The baking soda will absorb excess moisture and odors, and leave things smelling much fresher.

Another way to take advantage of baking soda’s deodorizing abilities is by making homemade deodorizing disks with essential oils. Both options are simple and effective!

Natural air fresheners like essential oils can get rid of musty odors.

7. Use A Natural Air Freshener

There are tons of ways to make your home smell fresher and cleaner without resorting to expensive store-bought air fresheners. You can use essential oils, citrus peels, baking soda, or even houseplants!