How to get rid of musty smells in the home

Sniff around your house to determine how many rooms are affected

Is the smell only in one room, or is it in a series of rooms and hallways near each other? If it’s in several rooms, the cause may be something structural like a leak or an on-set of black damp in the walls, in which case seek professional advice. If it’s only in one room, the source of the smell will be much more localised and easier to treat.

Locate the source of the musty smell

If it’s a more localised smell, you should be able to find the source of it quickly. Sometimes the smell can be as simple as a damp cloth which has fallen behind the bed and developed mould or it could be something more sinister like in the carpets under the floorboards. Remove the source of the smell if you can, and if it’s something more complex like black damp or a leak, you should ask a specialist for help as cleaning the visual damage might not stop the problem from persisting.

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!

Better to be Safe

If flooding has occurred then it might be impossible to salvage the carpet and replacing it might be the only solution possible. Other causes of carpet odour are dirt and food that become trapped in the carpet. Some simple cleaning techniques and precautions can help you clean a carpet and keep it odour free.

Removing Musty Smell from Carpets

Just cleaning your carpet is not enough since it is important to ensure that the underside is clean and dry as well. The carpet might seem clean when you look at it but you will be able to smell the odor. Read our 10 facts about dirty carpets by clicking this link. The first thing you should do is to let in some fresh air by improving the ventilation in that particular room. You can open the windows and doors, allowing the odour to go out. You should then check the underlay (if you have any) below the carpet for the presence of any mildew. Replace any damaged areas if possible.

If the carpet is dry, you can vacuum it first so that all the loose soil is removed before it is cleaned. To actually remove the smell is tricky and a professional job. The use of shop-purchased items can mask the smell and even add to the issue of leaving the carpet damp. Removing these smells requires a deep clean, one that penetrates deep into the fibres of your carpet where the smells are trapped. Xtraclean are experts in carpet, hard floor and upholstery cleaning and have many years of experience in managing nasty smells in carpets. Contact Xtraclean today for advice or to book an appointment.