4 Reasons Your Home Smells Musty—and How to Fix It

Identify and tackle that unwanted "basement" smell in your home.

We’ve all been there—you walk into a room and a familiar but unpleasant scent hits your nostrils. It’s that old musty smell you probably recognize from plenty of basements and thrift stores, but don't want in your own home. And, if you ignore this smell, it’s unlikely to go away. According to Robin Murphy of ChirpChirp Cleaning, it’s crucial to get to the bottom of the scent as soon as you can. “Addressing musty smells in your home is essential not only for maintaining a pleasant and healthy living space but also for the overall maintenance and longevity of your home,” she says.

Addressing the scent starts with identifying the source. So here are four potential reasons why your home smells musty—and what you can do about it.

Related: 9 Bad Habits That Are Making Your House Smelly

Your Carpeting Needs Cleaned

There are many reasons why wall-to-wall carpet throughout the home has fallen out of favor—a major one being that carpet retains odors. Whether it’s from pet accidents, drink spills, or cigarette smoke (especially in older homes where the carpet was installed before you moved in)—the stink just has a way of sticking around.

Murphy tells me that regular vacuuming and annual deep cleaning are critical to keeping a fresh scent. You may also want to consider having your carpet professionally cleaned.

Related: Your Carpet Is Probably Nasty—Here's Everything to Know About Professional Cleaning

However, if your carpeting is very old, it might be best to remove and replace it. Consider replacing the carpeting with flooring that's easier to clean, and, if you miss the feeling of softness under your feet, put down a washable area rug so you can clean it as often as needed.

The Ventilation Is Inadequate

According to Murphy, inadequate ventilation is another primary source of those musty aromas. “Limited fresh air can lead to stale, musty conditions,” she explains.

Myco Momplaisir, owner of SuperMaids, tells me increasing airflow can help fix this problem. “When air is stagnant in a room, and moisture is trapped somewhere, the combination of those two things will produce the smell," Momplaisir says. "So, the first step I often tell people is to improve circulation and air the space out for a few minutes.”

So, even if you only have a small window—try to keep it open. Alternatively, you may want to install a ceiling fan or use another kind of fan.

If the musty odor is coming from a smaller space, like a bathroom or laundry room, a product like DampRid which absorbs moisture in the air may be helpful.

And while you might be tempted to cover up bad odors with air fresheners or plug-in devices, Murphy warns against this. “These can mask odors temporarily and contribute to indoor air pollution,” she says.

There’s A Leak

Leaks can also cause musty odors, but the bigger problem is that they aren’t always visible. “Hidden leaks within walls or under floors can perpetuate ongoing mustiness,” Murphy explains.

So, if rooms that normally smell good suddenly have a musty odor you just can’t get rid of—you might need a professional to check behind the walls. In addition to creating an unpleasant odor, leaks can cause major problems with your home’s structure and negatively impact your health.

Mold Is Growing

While mold on surfaces can be obvious, such as when you see it growing on a wall or ceiling, that isn’t always the case, explains Momplaisir. “In some cases, someone may have mold or mildew in clothes or on towels, which can produce a musty smell," he says. "A mixture of half vinegar and half water can help to remove the smell. Soak them overnight.”

Bathrooms can be ripe with opportunities for mold and mildew to grow. So be sure to open a window or turn on the fan after showering to help air out the space.

If you notice mold growing on the walls or wallpaper, it’s best to try and clean it off as soon as you can. Grab some of the bleach from your laundry room. It will kill the mold.

If the mold is really bad or keeps returning, it can have adverse health effects—making that musty smell the least of your problems. So, at that point it may be time to call for professional help.

Related: How to Clean Mold (And How to Prevent It from Growing)

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