Are Musty Smells Dangerous
Musty smells are often the result of mold or mildew. We hear you, that doesnât sound particularly great. But oftentimes, the source of the problem is relatively contained and all you need is to open up some windows, do a deep clean, and/or give the laundry another 15 minutes in the dryer.
That being said, you definitely shouldnât ignore it. If your mustiness is, in fact, the result of household allergens like mold and mildew, then depending on the specific type of allergen and the person being exposed, these allergens can cause irritation . And while less common than other types of mold, black mold can be downright dangerous. Another thing to keep in mind: mold and mildew, if left unchecked for long periods of time, can also wreak havoc on your homeâs structure.
Basically, if you have a persistent, musty smell, itâs time to figure it out.
Proper Preparation To Remove Mold Smells
Removing mold can be a bit trickier. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends seeking professional remediation if your mold problem extends more than 10 square feet .
You will need:1 a good face mask, such as the N-952 rubber gloves3 goggles or safety glasses4 Make sure you have proper ventilation. If the mold is dry, avoid using the vacuum cleaner as it may inadvertently blow mold spores around the room, increasing the problem. Remove with a stiff brush and use a dustpan to collect the debris.
What Causes That Mold Odor
Mold produces gasses called microbial volatile organic compounds and these gasses typically have noticeable, distinctive odors. Microbial volatile organic compounds themselves are not harmful but the mold that produces them can be. Mold can cause all sorts of health problems and it can also cause serious damage to your home.
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Clean Out Your Hvac System
The vents and ducts that run through your home and facilitate the HVAC system can soon become dirty, and its only a matter of time before mold festers. Air conditioner filters are another common culprit, and you could be inadvertently pumping old-house smell throughout your whole home. While you can swap out filters yourself, its worth calling in the pros to check and clean the vents.
How To Get Musty Smell Out Of Clothes
Any clothing can begin to smell musty due to damp storage, re-wearing, or even unclean laundry machines. The specialists at COIT Cleaning and Restoration discovered some tips for people around the world, hoping to help them remove the musty smell from clothing.
Follow along with the experts to learn how to get rid of the musty smell. Below is a summary of steps you should take to prevent your clothes from acquiring a musty smell.
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What Causes A Musty
Theres nothing worse than musty odors, and as icky as they smell, its not good for you to breathe in either. There are several things that can cause a musty-smelling home, ranging to include something as mild as stale air in an older home thats been closed for a while, to more serious issues, like mold in the walls. Mold or mildew in the walls is the most serious cause of musty smells in houses. If no cleaning methods work to remove the smell, this might be why.
#1. Locate the Source of the Smell
Does the entire house smell musty or only certain rooms? If the smell is only in several rooms or interconnected hallways, it might have something to do with the structure of the house, for instance there might be a leak or black damp in the walls. If the smell is isolated to one room, it might be easier to treat the smell and cause. If the house is older and has been closed for a long time, musty smells should go away after you let fresh in and deep clean the place.
A wet towel trapped behind a piece of furniture can leach out musty smells, polluting a whole room. Check for areas of moisture behind toilets and beneath sinks, even a small leak can create a nasty musty smell.
#2. Open as Many Windows & Doors as Possible
#3. Turn on Ventilation Fans & Bring in Electric Fans
#4. Boil Lemon Peels
#5. Deep Clean & Remove Dust
#6. Deep Clean Carpets
#7. Bring in Air Purifiers
#8. Clean with Plain White Vinegar
#9. Call Signature Maids
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Where To Check For Mold And Mildew
If youre looking for any mold and mildew in your home and cant seem to track down the exact source of those musty odors, here are a few spots you can check.
- Look for any water leaks. You make have water leaks or small puddles under the sinks in your bathrooms or kitchen that have allowed mold to grow.
- Likewise, check your shower! A shower or tub with cracks in the tub caulking could be causing the problem.
- Check and clean your garbage disposal and dishwasher filter.
- Laundry rooms can also be a culprit of that dreaded mildew smell. Make sure no mold is growing in your washing machine! This is especially likely if your washing machine has trouble drying out after a cycle.
- Look in your closets or basement. Check for any areas that are dark, warm, and humid.
- Check your air filters they may need to be replaced to get fresh air flowing again!
Once you find the affected area, there are a few ways to get rid of that mildew problem. Ill get to those in a second, but first, I want to go over some safety precautions.
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What Is The Smell Of Mildew
In a nutshell, it smells musty. Mildew has a fragrance that is evocative of decaying wood and is well-suite to its habitat . This scent is comparable to many other bathroom molds, except that mildew odors arent as intense as Mold smells. If the stench is overwhelming, you may have a mold issue rather than a mildew problem.
Simple Ways To Get Rid Of The Mold Smell In Your Home
Your home is supposed to be your oasis. It should be the place you love coming home to at the end of a long day. Its the place where you can relax and unwind at least, it would be in a perfect world.
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link!*
But what about when youre trying to relax in your home and you suddenly smell something a bit stale.
Musty.
Damp.
No one wants to deal with mold in their home, but it happens!
When you recognize that mold smell, dont panic! There are some easy solutions you can use to rid your home of mold and the musty odor it brings!
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Ways To Get Rid Of Moldy Odors In Your Basement Or Crawlspace
If youve been fighting mold in your basement or crawlspace, then you know how difficult it is to get the smell to go away. A few things you can try are:
- Placing bowls of apple cider vinegar around the area
- Sitting out open containers of cat litter
- Spread baking soda throughout your basement or crawlspace
If your basement or crawlspace is completely dry and mold-free, these techniques should absorb the smell. However, in spaces like this that are prone to moisture, it can be hard to tell if the problem is solved, or if youre simply covering it up.
Home Diy: Guide To Removing Mold And Mildew Smells In Your Home
Have you successfully treated the mold or mildew in your home, only to discover that the smell still lingers? Musty mold and mildew odors are hard to get rid ofeven after the mold and mildew is gone!
Areas of our home that are more vulnerable to moisture such as our bathroom, laundry and basement or crawl space are usually the ones that retain musty mold and mildew smells the longest.
Trust us, we know removing these odors is easier said than done. Which is why we want to help you eliminate these smells around your home for good!
Below, we have steps and helpful tips to help you remove musty mold and mildew smells in your bathroom, laundry and basement on your own. With any luck, this guide will help you get your home smelling fresh and clean once again!
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For Help With Mold Odor Removal
If you need assistance locating hidden mold or if you need help with mold removal, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends consulting a professional that adheres to the guidelines established by industry organizations like the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists . That way you know the work will be done correctly. You can follow this link to schedule a free in-home consultation with a qualified mold removal professional in your area. Theres no cost and no obligation.
Mix Up A Borax Solution
Borax is a powder, much like baking soda. It is a useful cleaner in the basement and a helpful tip when learning how to get rid of musty smells. Borax works exceptionally well when used on cement walls, cleaning mold from cracks. It also helps to inhibit future mold growth.
- Gloves
Gloves are essential when using anything to clean mold. If you are stirring things up, the situation requires that you also wear a mask. Mold presents a danger to the lungs, often causing violent allergic reactions or sickness.
Boil a gallon of water on the stove. Once the water has started boiling, turn off the burner and stir in the Borax until it dissolves. When the mixture is cool enough, pour it into a spray bottle and any remainder into a bucket.
Spray the affected areas and those around them lightly with the Borax mixture. Let it sit for about five minutes to stop any mold spores from spreading as you begin to wash.
Dip the sponge into the bucket and wash the walls thoroughly. Make sure to wring the sponge out before application to avoid soaking the walls, adding more moisture for future mold growth. Turn on a fan or a heating fixture to help the area dry quickly.
The next day, there will be dried Borax on the walls and floor. Sweep it off the ground, but leave it on the walls if it doesnt bother you. It inhibits future mold growth if it stays there.
This Borax solution can be used in other areas of the home to eliminate mold, too. Use it to kill black mold in the shower or the bathtub.
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Remove Musty Smells With Baking Soda
A dry cleaning service is also an option to remove any musty odors from your clothing. Dry cleaners utilize powerful, deodorizing chemicals during their cleaning process.
Its Time To Read Your Favorite Book Again
One day while walking around the library, you spot a book that you used to love 20 years ago. Memories come back to you you smile, your eyes shine… A strong desire to read it all over again builds up. You take it out of the shelf and flip through the pages. Then, all of a sudden you feel repelled as if someone had put it under a magic spell to prevent you from reading it. Your strong desire goes away you take a step back with your head down. Its that musty smell. Yes, smells can affect our mood and experiences.
So, why was that musty smell there in the first place? First, let me tell you about my grandpa and his books.
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We Couldnt Save Grandpas Library
Though grandpa left this world before I was born, I was able to witness his love for books some years ago. We found his enormous book collection hidden inside wooden shelves that faced the interior walls of the recreation house he used to own. No one had noticed them until we decided to sell the house.
The mysterious books had some strange colors on their pages and we couldn’t stand their smell: that musty smell. Somehow, it was a warning of potential danger. Not wanting to, we were forced to throw all of them away. Theyd probably be worth thousands of dollars nowadays, or they couldve meant unforgettable moments glancing through their pages. But odor won the battle.
Precautions To Take When Removing Mold
Is mildew dangerous?
People who are dealing with serious mold contamination may get sick, but generally speaking, you dont have to worry about mildew.
However, it is still a bit of a health risk. So, to stay as safe and healthy as possible when getting rid of mold, its a good idea to wear protective gear.
Wear a face mask and protective glasses, if possible, to avoid breathing in the mold spores or getting eye irritation.
Wear rubber gloves to prevent skin irritation and try to ventilate the area as much as possible. If the room youre in has doors or windows make sure they are open!
If you have an HVAC system , turn it off or seal it. Mold spores could easily try to escape your elbow grease and hide in the system, only to return to the affected area after you leave.
Once youre done cleaning, throw out your face mask and gloves, and make sure you thoroughly clean your protective glasses and other gear.
When youre trying to remove mold, you want to make sure youre not getting yourself sick in the process!
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How Do I Get Rid Of A Damp Smell After A Leak
once youve got to the bottom of the problem and fixed the cause, there are a few tricks you can try to help rid your home of that horrible smell.1. Leave an old jam jar filled with pieces of charcoal next to the damp source overnight and it will absorb the unpleasant smell.2. Boil lemons and leave the pot in the damp room to cool off.3. Use cat litter to absorb bad smells for a few weeks.
How To Get Rid Of Musty Smell 10 Best Ways For Musty Odor Removal
Every now and then, most of us face some minor problem or other with respect to our homes and our living spaces in general and believe it or not, one of the most common problems people tend to be faced with is that of a musty smell emanating from somewhere in the house, usually with no apparent or visible cause. This can spread from one part of the house to another, and affect everything from your clothes to your books to your furniture. If youre facing a similar problem, dont worry were here to tell you exactly why your room or basement, your books or even your clothes have that odd musty smell on them and well tell you exactly how to get rid of it. Every now and then, most of us face some minor problem or other with respect to our homes and our living spaces in general and believe it or not, one of the most common problems people tend to be faced with is that of a musty smell emanating from somewhere in the house, usually with no apparent or visible cause. This can spread from one part of the house to another, and affect everything from your clothes to your books to your furniture. If youre facing a similar problem, dont worry were here to tell you exactly why your room or basement, your books or even your clothes have that odd musty smell on them and well tell you exactly how to get rid of it.
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Get Rid Of Musty Smells In Your Home
In basements and shower stalls, musty smells, which indicate mold development, may be detected. To avoid additional unpleasant and harmful mold development, take extra measures to prevent musty smells as soon as feasible. If the space is adequately heated and dried, musty smells usually vanish. If the odors persist, the following procedures may be required:
To get rid of musty smells in basements
Scrub cement floors and tiled walls and bathrooms using a weak solution of sodium hypochlorite or other chlorine bleach available in grocery shops to remove mustiness. To a gallon of water, add 1/2 to 1 cup liquid household bleach. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and pat dry as soon as possible. Keep the windows open until all of the walls and floors are completely dry.
Floors and walls may also be treated with quaternary ammonium compounds . Choose a product that is registered and labeled for the application youre planning. Not all compounds work in the same way.
There are also aerosol sprays for cleaning and sanitizing bathroom walls.
Is Musty Smell Dangerous
A musty smellcan be dangerous in as much as that it can be an indicator of mold growth in your home. Mold spores only need a surface to land on, excess moisture, air, and often warmth to thrive and cause mold growth. Mold can be toxic and hazardous to humans and pets. It is particularly dangerous to those with weakened immune systems, respiratory problems or asthma.
Some reported symptoms of mold exposure are itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, headaches, asthma-like symptoms, or throat irritation. You should also avoid touching mold or mildew and should wear proper protection including glasses, a mask, and gloves when working around mold or mildew. More research on this area is needed but it is always best to be safe and remove mold and mildew from your home as fully and as quickly as possible.
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