How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell in Your House

Co-authored by Daniel Olin and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: October 27, 2021 References

A musty smell in your house is never fun, but it's surprisingly common and pretty easy to fix. If your sick of the smell and are looking for a quick solution, there's a lot you can do. We've got a lot of tips to help, like making sure your home is getting proper ventilation and checking to see if the smell is coming from a particular source (and what to do if that's the case).

1

Run the ceiling fan.

Circulating air can help get rid of musty smells. Sometimes musty smells come from the air being too humid and still. Turn on your ceiling fan to dry out the air and get rid of the smell.^{[1]
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- If you don't have a ceiling fan, keep a box fan running where the smell is particularly strong, or keep a few throughout your home. These can ventilate your space just as well.^{[2]
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2

Open your doors and windows.

Get some fresh air circulating in your space. Take 5-10 minutes to completely air out your space. The air outside is a lot cleaner than the air inside your home. If your home is really smelling musty, give it some fresh air.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}
- Do this regularly to prevent the musty smell from coming back.

3

Absorb odor with baking soda.

Pour baking soda into bowls and place them throughout your home. Baking soda can deodorize your home due to its ability to absorb the smell. If you don't have any baking soda on hand, kitty litter can double as an odor eliminator.^{[5]
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- Pour kitty litter into bowls and keep them throughout your home like you would baking soda.
- Charcoal briquettes are another option to absorb odors. Place them in trays throughout your home or set them on a shelf or table to get rid of any musty smell.^{[6]
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4

Use a dehumidifier.

High humidity levels can make a house smell musty. Install a dehumidifier and keep the humidity level at 50%. This can keep the air nice and dry, and hopefully prevent any mold from growing in your space. Make sure the humidity level is never over 60% (that's when mildew and mold can start to thrive).^{[7]
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5

Buy an air purifier.

This removes smelly air pollutants like mold, pollen, dander, and dust. For best results, use a true HEPA filter. Replace the filter regularly to keep the machine working as efficiently as possible. Keep the air purifier in your living room or anywhere in your home where the smell is particularly musty.^{[8]
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- Air purifiers cost about $50-100 a year to run and maintain.
- You can also use a HEPA filter when changing the filtration system of your AC and other HVAC equipment in your home. This can keep the air in your house cleaner than a standard filter and can improve the smell as well.

6

Steam upholstery and carpeting.

Your furniture and carpet may be to blame for the musty smell. Rent a steam cleaner to clean your upholstered furniture like couches and chairs. Hire a professional if you're not comfortable cleaning the furniture yourself.^{[9]
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- Carpet can also keep your house smelling musty. Steam clean your carpets or hire a professional carpet cleaner if your carpet is in need of some cleaning.

7

Wash your pet's bedding.

Pet bedding can get pretty smelly and musty after a while. For example, if your dog frequently goes in and outside, they track in mud and water into their beds. That moisture seeps into their bedding and contributes to mold growth. To avoid this, wash your pet beds and blankets regularly in the washer. Check the washing and drying requirements listed on the label for specific instructions.^{[10]
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- Most of the time, you can simply wash and dry them like standard bedding.

8

Fix any cracked or broken pipes.

These can cause water leakage (and eventually, mildew and mold growth). Check all the faucets and pipes in your home for potential leaks. If you notice any leaks, cracks, or broken pipes, fix them yourself or call a plumber for some help.^{[11]
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- Regularly check the pipes in your home for leaks to prevent moisture buildup. It's a little extra work, but it will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.

9

Clean mildewed areas with bleach.

The smell may be coming from mildew or mold in your house. Check spaces where mold thrives, like the caulking in your shower or grout lines between bathroom tiles. If you find anything, use a mixture of bleach and water to get rid of it before it spreads.^{[12]
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Research source} Mix 1 cup (240 mL) of bleach with 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water. Apply the solution to the moldy or mildewy surface and scrub it with a brush. Next, rinse off the solution with water and let it air dry.^{[13]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- When looking for the source of the smell, move things that may be hiding the mold or mildew growth, like soap and shampoo bottles in the bathroom or storage containers in your basement.^{[14]
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- When in doubt, search for mold or mildew in places that the smell is particularly strong.

10

Call a pro if there's a lot of mold and mildew.

You may need some help if you're dealing with a serious problem. Find a contractor in your area with a background in cleaning up mold. If your ventilation system is the problem (it's possible that mold is growing in your heating or air conditioning system), search online or ask friends for recommendations for a professional who can clean these for you.^{[15]
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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Independent U.S. government agency responsible for promoting safe environmental practices
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Expert Source

Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}
- Hiring a professional may seem like work, but it's definitely worth it to get rid of any mold or mildew infestations before they get any worse.
- Mold is a serious health hazard, and should be addressed as soon as possible.^{[17]
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  Expert Source
  
  Daniel Olin
  Home Cleaning Specialist
  Expert Interview. 12 October 2021.}

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you know if there is mold in the house?

Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Daniel Olin is a Home Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Easyway Maid Service, a home-cleaning company based in Austin, Texas. With over four years of experience, Daniel and Easyway Maid Service specialize in executive-quality maid service, as well as vacation rental cleaning and overall home deep cleaning. Daniel holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Daniel Olin

Home Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Call a mold expert to come out and do an inspection. It's best to have a professional take a look, as some kinds of mold can be hazardous to your health in the long term.
Question

How do you deodorize a house?

Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Daniel Olin is a Home Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Easyway Maid Service, a home-cleaning company based in Austin, Texas. With over four years of experience, Daniel and Easyway Maid Service specialize in executive-quality maid service, as well as vacation rental cleaning and overall home deep cleaning. Daniel holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Daniel Olin

Home Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

Change your home's air filters and increase ventilation for several weeks. Open a couple of windows and a door across the home from each other, which helps get a draft going through the house.
Question

Why does my house always smell musty?

Daniel Olin
Home Cleaning Specialist
Daniel Olin is a Home Cleaning Specialist and the CEO of Easyway Maid Service, a home-cleaning company based in Austin, Texas. With over four years of experience, Daniel and Easyway Maid Service specialize in executive-quality maid service, as well as vacation rental cleaning and overall home deep cleaning. Daniel holds a BA in Psychology from The University of California, Los Angeles.

Daniel Olin

Home Cleaning Specialist

Expert Answer

It might just be in need of a good cleaning! It could help to hire a maid service to regularly clean your home if you don't have time to vacuum and clean on a regular basis.