how to get old smell out of house
Kristina Davis

Worried about how to get old smell out of house or are you having odor problems in your home and looking for a guide?

Isn’t it annoying when you walk down your basement or dryer and notice a strong smell that seems so stale, moldy, and damp?

What you experience is also defined as a “musty” odor.

Although this is not precisely fun, a person must be able to smell things that would alert us to a possible threat.

For a house to have a good ambiance and aura, fragrance and smell are one of the critical components to achieving this.

No one really wants to live in a house that reeks like old wood, and it wouldn’t also be right for you and your family.

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You may have checked your whole home for dead or decomposed rodents or mice but found none and must be wondering what to do next.

Luckily, we have created this guide on how to get rid of musty smell in house because we understand how important it is to have a healthy home, so keep on reading!

Musty Smell in House

how to get rid of musty smell in house

The first thing to know before we begin getting rid of that musty smell is the cause of it.

It is vital to be aware of what causes this for you to know how to discard it and avoid getting the smell back again in the future.

There are three elements that grimy old houses and buildings have in common:

  • Little airflow
  • High humidity levels
  • Usual darkness

This makes the area a perfect place for mold to thrive, which appears to be the key supplier of the “old house smell.”

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The culprit to that annoying smell you are experiencing is called mold volatile organic compounds.

The good news is that different kinds of methods can ultimately eliminate this smell.

How Molds Affect Your Health and Home

The second thing that you should know is how molds can affect your health and your home.

You should eliminate them other than just because of the smell.

Molds can destroy your house if left unchecked for extended periods of time.

Molds may cause throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, wheezing and coughing.

Skin and eye irritation can be triggered by exposure to mold-infested environments.

Those people with mold sensitivity can even have more severe effects, and it can trigger asthma attacks for individuals with asthma.

Now that you know the cause of the musty smell and the effects of it, we can now head to the guide on how to get rid of musty smell in house!

How to Get Old Smell Out of House

To achieve that fresh-smelling house and remove that musty smell, you need to invest your time and effort.

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There are several ways to do this, and we will be talking about it one by one.

1. Using Light and Natural Materials

As we have mentioned, molds tend to grow in places that are damp and dark. There are many natural materials you can use to get rid of that horrid stench.

If you also often have your windows shut with large thick curtains, then we suggest that you get rid of those!

To get rid of the stench, you will need:

  • Lemon essential oil                            
  • Baking Soda
  • Knife                                                   
  • Lemon Juice

Now the Steps:

Step 1. Pour out some baking soda into a bowl and add some hot water. Stir well to dissolve.

Step 2. Carefully add in both the lemon juice and essential oil and stir the mixture again.

Step 3. Let the mixture cool to room temperature.

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Step 4. Once it is cool, pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

Step 5. Shake well before using it and spritz it in areas where the musty smell is strong.

Tips to Permanently Stop Molds from Growing

First, replace heavy and dark curtains with white or transparent ones to allow natural light to flow through.

During the day, open the windows to let in the fresh air.

Light, particularly sunlight, is an excellent disinfectant with all its ultraviolet elements, UV, after all, is used in individual pool facilities to disinfect the water.

Bringing a little light into your house can do amazing things for the grimy odor and can also help protect your house from mildew and mold.

2. Get Old Smell Out of House with Natural Cleaners

Molds can potentially grow on your furniture, so you must examine them from time to time.

A great way to eliminate the musty odor and lessen the chances of molds to grow is by using natural cleansers.

Things You’ll Need

  • Scented oil such as lavender
  • Warm water
  • Spray Bottle
  • Baking soda

Steps:

Step 1. In a bowl, pour in 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda.

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Step 2. Add in a cup of warm water and mix it, make sure the mixture is liquid in texture and not like paste.

Step 3. Once the second step is done, add in a few drops of your chosen scented oil.

Step 4. Place the mixture in a spray bottle and use this to clean your furniture such as tables, countertops, drawers, cabinets, shelves, etc.

The trick here is to mix the right amount so that the essential oil isn’t too overpowering, and the baking soda doesn’t leave noticeable marks.

This technique works well, especially if you want to battle and prevent molds in the future.

3. Create Your Diffuser

make your diffuser

Natural oil diffusers are a great way to eliminate the foul odor that seems to haunt your house.

You can easily buy oil diffusers, or you can make one. If you’d like a natural home-made oil diffuser, then follow these steps below!

Things You’ll Need:

  • Rubbing alcohol                                
  • Your favorite essential oil
  • Small Vase                                         
  • 1/4 cup of baby oil
  • Diffuser reeds                                           
  • Small funnel
  • Bowl                                                    
  • Scissors

Now the Steps:

Step 1. In a mixing bowl, add 1/4 cup of baby oil and 3 tablespoons of Isopropyl rubbing alcohol that is at least 90% (The alcohol will help the fragrance stick to the diffuser reeds)

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Step 2. After this, carefully add about 20 to 25 drops of your chosen essential oil into the mixing bowl.

Step 3. Find a glass bottle or a little vase for your diffuser.

You must pick a bottle that is a bit wider at the bottom and a little smaller at the opening top to avoid less evaporation of the mixture.

Step 4. Once you have secured a bottle, pour in the mixture and place in the diffuser reeds in a scattered manner.

Step 5. Natural oil can quickly get rid of the nasty musty odor that is caused by the molds. Change your diffuser every 2-3 days to guarantee freshness.

4. Clean the Carpets Well

There are two locations where mold and mildew develop frequently.

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Both areas’ fibers and fabrics seem to keep odor more than you might imagine, and that’s something no one really needs.

Fortunately, it’s pretty quick and fast to vacuum the floor and remove the smell from the carpet.

Things You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

Now the Steps:

Step 1. Grab a bowl and mix the baking soda and cinnamon together.

Step 2. Make sure that you mix the ingredients well.

Step 3. After mixing, you may add it to a shaker container (an empty and clean Parmesan cheese container works well)

Step 4. Sprinkle a fair amount of the mixture on your carpets and floor and let it stay for about 30 – 60 minutes.

Step 5. The baking soda will absorb the musty smell, and the cinnamon would give the floor and carpet a good fragrance

Step 6. Once the time has passed, vacuum as usual. All your carpets and floor will smell clean and look fresh.

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Step 7. There will surely be a tremendous difference in your house’s smell when you do this.

It should be a part of your easy go-to solutions for the nasty smell that arises from the floor.

Tip: If you have floors that are carpeted, having baking soda and using it for cleaning is a great option.

Other than being cheap, baking soda can be bought anywhere!

Conclusion

Now that you know how to get old smell out of house, you can now enjoy a healthy and good smelling environment!

You now have the power to eliminate that rusty, musty house scent, and many other odors that might plague your house, one way or another. If you need another level of cleaning, you can disinfect your leather couches.

Your home will smell just the way you would like it to before you realize it and you’ll be able to relax in comfort.