How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell in Your House

A house smelling damp or stuffy is never good because it indicates poor household hygiene and compromised indoor air quality. People living in homes that smell musty fall sick repeatedly and often suffer from sick building syndrome, as the root causes are mould, improper ventilation or other serious issues.

Therefore, do your best to keep your house neat and tidy by regular cleaning. Tenants should hire experienced end of lease cleaners in Wollongong to deep clean the rental property to avoid a musty smell during the final inspection. Otherwise, you can lose your bond and cannot vacate the rental property successfully.

Want to know how to remove musty smells from your house like a pro? Here are expert tips, have a look.

Inspect House For Mould

Mould is often the prime reason for musty smell in homes and commonly grows in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. It affects the ceilings, walls, floors and areas that remain dirty, damp and dark. Therefore, check your home for black, brown and green spots that look fuzzy and clean them immediately with soap and water.

You can also use white vinegar as it can kill mould and prevent its regrowth as well. Spray the solution on the affected area and let it dwell for 2-3 hours before washing with soap and water.

In case the infestation is significant, hire a professional mould remediation service or inform your landlord for maintenance.

Check Your House For Water Damage

Leaky floors, walls, pipes or drains can dampen household areas and cause your home to smell stale. Therefore, check whether there is water damage besides inspecting the property for hidden mould. Take the assistance of professionals to understand the scale of water damage and find the solution.

Tenants should inform their landlords immediately about leaky fixtures and surfaces to ensure the property remains suitable for habitation and avoid loss of bond money at the end of a tenancy. The landlord should manage urgent repairs once a water damage issue is in their notice.

Wash A Load Of Laundry Daily

Used clothes, towels and beddings develop odour-emitting bacteria and make your laundry room, bedroom or other areas smell musty. Instead of waiting to wash dirty clothes all week, develop the habit of washing a load daily.

In addition, use laundry baskets with lids to keep unclean clothes and never mix worn clothes, even those you only used for a few hours & can wear again with clean laundry.

Clean Carpets & Upholstery with Baking Soda

Rugs, upholstered furniture and carpets, particularly those in high-traffic areas, are hot spots for grime, contaminants and odour-causing microbes. Without regular sanitation, these items make your house smell stale and unhealthy. You can hire professional cleaners who offer end of lease cleaning Wollongong for carpet and upholstery cleaning at the end of your tenancy.

However, for general cleaning, sprinkle the fixtures with baking soda and let it dwell for 30-45 minutes. Afterwards, vacuum thoroughly to have clean and fresh carpets & upholstery. Baking soda works because it is a non-toxic and natural cleaner and deodoriser suitable for almost all household fixtures.

Clean Air Vents

Air vents are often neglected during routine house cleaning causing them to gather dust, dirt, moisture and mould. If your home smells musty and dust accumulates on household surfaces even after regular cleaning, these are signs the air vents need attention. You should avail a professional service for deep cleaning of the fixtures.

Alternatively, clean the vents and their grates yourself with microfiber cloths, a vacuum cleaner and a multi-purpose cleaning agent. Turn off the exhaust fan and wear proper personal protective equipment while cleaning the vents to manage the task without hassle.

More Tips for Removing Musty Smells

Make sure to keep your home well-ventilated by opening windows and doors to allow passage of fresh air. Furthermore, use the following tips to eliminate the musty smell in your house.

Invest in an air purifier with HEPA Filters or get house plants that improve indoor air quality.

Turn on ceiling and exhaust fans for air circulation in rooms.

Hire bond cleaners in Wollongong to ensure the rental property is clean and fresh on inspection day.

Use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to keep moisture and humidity in check.

Add anti-microbial essential oils like lemon, tea tree, eucalyptus & more to cleaning solutions.

Conclusion

Performing regular house cleaning is crucial to prevent musty smells in your home. If the smell persists, take the above-mentioned measures to get rid of bad odours and keep your house sanitary all year round. Additionally, don’t hesitate to hire professional end of lease cleaners in Wollongong to deep clean your rental property and help get your bond back in full.