Tips and ideas for eliminating musty smells. Post your ideas.
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A quick solution to a musty basement is to cut an onion in half and leave it on a plate down there. No, your basement won't smell like a sandwich shop. The onion actually absorbs musty odors.
By Roberta
Mama taught me this one, my Daddy smoked but our house never smelled like it - here's why. Pour white vinegar into a dish and set it out. She always "hid" the little bowls in various places. Small dish for small room, big dish for big room. Takes away pet odors too. The funny thing is, the room won't smell like vinegar!
Put glass bowls of white vinegar around the house to eliminate odors. Put something underneath them as not to discolor anything.
You can also boil white vinegar in a pan on the stove. Add oil scents if you'd like; drops of perfume oils or perfume mixed with oil (before putting in.) Use your favorite herbs mixed with oil also. Just make sure to keep an eye on it. Add cinnamon, vanilla etc. Be careful what you use some may ignite. Turn the pan down to very low once it has come to a boil.
By Sandi G
just wondering if the cats or dogs will try to drink the vinegar? gail2656 I like the idea i am going to try it i brought some pictures and picture frames up from the basement and they smell musty,,,i'll let you know
just wondering if the cats or dogs will try to drink the vinegar? gail2656 I like the idea i am going to try it i brought some pictures and picture frames up from the basement and they smell musty,,,i'll let you know
I read and tried the tips about vinegar it worked so I took it a step further. I filled my steam cleaner with vinegar tested it to make sure it wouldn't ruin carpet and cleaned entire room with it. It smelled strongly of vinegar for a few min but went a way quick, I went back to check and all bad odors were gone!
Hello,
I would try an air purification unit that uses NASA developed RCI technology. I have several of these and they work great for neutralizing smoke smells or any other offensive odor in the home. I guarantee after a couple hours with one of these units on - doesn't matter which brand - there are several out there - there will be no traces of smoke smell and the apartment will smell fresh like after a thunderstorm outside. Contact me for information on the most effective units.
Best Regards,
Josiah
JosiahKuenzi @ gmail.com (remove spaces)
We had a dog that had kidney disease and kept peeing on the same spot on the carpet. I called a carpet cleaner in, he cleaned them and said vinegar and water are the best for pet stains and odors! It worked, I spray it around the house like febreeze!
We placed antique maple wood flooring in our renovated home. Some of the tongue and grooves were not cleaned that well, the floor is now 10 years old and needs refinishing. Until we can do this, how do we get this very strong musty smell out, even our clothes smell this way. Gross help!
Could be a plumbing issue. I had a musty smell in a bedroom, and found that there was a leak in the cold water supply pipe under the bathroom sink. Had to rip out the sheet rock and have a plumber fix the leak. I bought Damp Rid at the hardware store, and the smell is now gone!
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I live in a townhouse with an open floor plan downstairs. The whole downstairs smells horribly musty. I have cleaned everything and everywhere that can be cleaned and our crawl space is plastic sealed so the smell isn't coming from down there. I just can't figure out what to do next, I can't live like with my windows wide open much longer, it's gonna get a little chilly soon.
By Jodi
It sounds like you need a ceiling fan. Moist air accumulates at the ceiling of large open rooms and does not circulate.
The smell might be coming from your duct work, or from the drains.
Do you have central heat and air? Check the filter; might be time to change it. If that doesn't help, try having a look with a flashlight in the ducts. If you can see dust, there is probably mold in there too. Call in a pro to have the duct work cleaned and the unit serviced.
or
Do the drains in kitchen or bathrooms run slow? If yes, try pouring boiling water in them several times. If that helps a little (or a lot, it could happen:), consider more strenuous treatments with vinegar to freshen the drains.
You could also have a problem with the insulation. Look for damp spots or stains especially in closets and corners along ceilings.
I live in a mobile home. This back room is starting to smell so musty. There are no leaks so it isn't the water heater. I can't afford a dehumidifier but need to get rid of this smell.
Any help would be appreciated.
By Lorraine from Bristol, CT
We have a similar problem with a room that is little used. If the weather is nice, I open the window a bit, and leave it that way for a few days. I also put out a cardboard shoe box with charcoal bits in it, and leave it as well, until we have reason to use the room. If it is carpeted, sprinkle a good bit of baking soda all over, leave for 24 hours, then vac it up. As long as you know it is not a moisture problem, these should help a lot.
Place a small glass or small container filled with apple cidar vinegar on a table or shelf out of the way so that you don't have to worry about it spilling. After a day or two the smell will be gone. You can leave it in the room to keep it from smelling again. Once it empty, you can fill it back up again.
