You can get rid of musty odors and freshen up your home, car, clothes or furniture, simply by changing the basic cleaning techniques of these items. It's important to identify what caused the musty odor so that you can treat it effectively and prevent the musty odor from developing in the future. A musty smell can signal mold growth that can trigger illnesses such as asthma or allergies, as well as other health problems such as respiratory infections, stuffy nose and throat, and headaches.
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Method 1 of 5: Removing the Musty Smell of Fabric or Clothes
Step 1. Wash cloth items, such as clothes, fabrics, linens, with white vinegar in the washing machine
Add a capful of white vinegar to the soaking water and soak the clothes for 30 minutes. After that, continue with a regular wash and add fabric softener (with fragrance) to the rinsing process. You can also use a softener sheet if you use a tumble dryer. Repeat this step if necessary.
- The vinegar smell will go away once the clothes or fabric are dried.
- A musty smell may arise because you have used too much detergent or fabric softener. Using too much detergent or softener can cause soap to build up on the fabric, preventing the fabric from absorbing water effectively and encouraging a musty smell.
Step 2. Wash your clothes or fabric with baking soda
Add a capful of baking soda to the soaking water and soak the clothes for 30 minutes. Finish with a regular wash.
Step 3. Wash or soak your clothes in a mixture of water and bleach
Bleach can remove stains and musty odors caused by mold. Put your clothes in the washing machine tub (make sure the tub is not full). Add liquid detergent and fill the jar with warm water. Once the tub is filled with water, add a bottle cap of bleach (for a smaller amount of laundry, reduce the amount of bleach). After that, wash the clothes as usual. If the stain or color on the clothes begins to fade, remove the water from the tub and rinse the washed clothes.
- Make sure you check clothing labels and see warnings about using bleach that contains chlorine. Keep in mind that bleach can change or permanently damage clothing, especially those made from silk, wool, or animal fibers.
- Do not wash clothes too often with bleach that contains chlorine. Over-washing can damage linen, cotton, or rayon clothes.
Step 4. Dry your clothes outdoors after washing
By drying clothes in the sun and airing them, the musty smell can naturally go away.
- Make sure your clothes are completely dry before you bring them into the house and store them in the closet. Keep in mind that humidity is the main factor that promotes mold development.
- Pay attention to the weather on the day you dry your clothes and take all your clothes indoors if it starts to get cloudy or it starts to rain. Don't hang your clothes outdoors overnight.
Method 2 of 5: Removing the Musty Odor of Household Appliances
Step 1. Clean household appliances with vinegar mixture
To clean the refrigerator, first remove all food from the refrigerator and melt the ice in the freezer before cleaning. Dissolve 1 liter of warm water with a tablespoon of baking soda, then clean the refrigerator using this mixture.
Spread the mixture on the inside walls of the refrigerator. Fill the refrigerator compartment with crumpled newspaper and allow the mixture to stick to the walls in the refrigerator for 24 hours or until dry. After that, remove the newspaper and rinse the walls in the refrigerator with water, then wipe with a paper towel
Step 2. Open a box of baking soda and place it in the refrigerator
If the refrigerator is left on, the musty odor in the refrigerator will be absorbed by the baking soda within a few days. Change the baking soda regularly, according to the directions on the package.
Step 3. Pour a few teaspoons of vanilla extract into a small container, and store the container in the refrigerator
Leave it for 3 weeks to get rid of any musty or unpleasant odors in the refrigerator.
Make sure you don't set the refrigerator temperature low. Low temperatures (especially freezing temperatures) cause the vanilla extract to freeze, so it cannot effectively remove the musty odor
Step 4. Remove smoke or unpleasant odors from your oven
Oven cleaners commonly sold in stores may be toxic and can leave a strong odor. To get rid of unpleasant odors in the oven, you can use ingredients available in the kitchen.
- Mix 20 ml of dish soap, 350 grams of baking soda, 10 ml of vinegar and one teaspoon of vanilla extract. Add enough water until the mixture thickens (not too runny). After that, coat the inside of the oven with the mixture and leave it overnight (6 to 8 hours). Make sure the mixture foams or expands, so that any dirt stuck to the walls of the oven can be removed. After leaving it overnight, use a brush and water to clean the walls of the oven. Repeat this step if necessary.
- Fill a spray bottle with a 1:1 mixture of vinegar and water. Spray the mixture onto the walls in the oven and wipe with a damp sponge. This mixture can remove unpleasant odors, but cannot remove any remaining dirt or oil.
- Sprinkle salt on the surface in the oven that has dirt or food residue. Wait for the oven to cool down, then wipe with a damp cloth.
Step 5. Remove the musty smell in the washing machine with bleach or vinegar
Mold can develop in washing machines, especially front load washing machines, so even clothes that are washed have the potential to smell musty. Remove the clothes from the washing machine tub. After that, add a bottle cap of bleach or vinegar. Fill the tub with hot water (or set the water fill to hot water) and run the washing machine as usual. Remove the water from the tube afterwards.
- Open the lid or washing machine door periodically when not in use to prevent mold and mildew from forming or growing.
- Clean the exterior and interior of your washing machine with a bleach mixture (2 teaspoons bleach for 3 liters of water) or vinegar solution (2 tablespoons vinegar for 3 liters of water). Leave it for 12 hours or until it dries completely before you can return to the washing machine.
Method 3 of 5: Get Rid of Musty Smells in Moist Places
Step 1. Ventilate wardrobes or open windows in closed rooms or cabins regularly
Mold and mildew grow in cool, damp and dark places. Therefore, brush non-porous hard surfaces such as walls, drawer interiors, laminated surfaces, concrete, or tiles with warm water and detergent.
- Reduce the humidity in the room by turning on a fan, a humidifier, or by opening the room's windows. Ideally, the humidity in the house should not exceed 40%.
- Hire an expert to remove mold from ceilings, carpets, linoleum floors, or gypsum walls. These materials are not washable and are potentially hazardous to your health if you wash them.
Step 2. Get rid of the musty smell in the room with homemade potpourri
Put a stick of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves in a pot of water and boil the ingredients. When the water starts to boil, turn off the heat and drain. After that, place the materials in any room in your house.
Put the potpourri in a pantyhose (nylon stockings) and hang or place the pantyhose near a heating vent or room temperature controller
Step 3. Fill the basin or small box with cat litter
Place the basin or box where you usually store unused clothes, such as a wardrobe or roof, to reduce humidity and eliminate musty odors.
You can also spray on a deodorizer and odor neutralizer to get rid of the musty smell
Step 4. Hang a mesh bag containing crushed volcanic rocks in a damp place
Volcanic stone products like these are available at almost any hardware store or DIY store and can be used to naturally neutralize odors in the air in basements, wardrobes, warehouses, and even shoes.
Read the instructions on the packaging. The instructions also contain information on the size and quantity of product required per square meter
Step 5. Wipe window and door frames with a mixture of water and vinegar (1:1 ratio)
After that, apply (only thin) coconut oil on the frames or corners of windows and doors to prevent the growth of mold and mildew for several months.
- To clean the surface of a window or door and kill mold, mix 180 ml of bleach with warm water. Put on rubber gloves and use a sponge to wipe the surfaces of windows and doors. Let the mixture sit on the surface for 5 minutes before rinsing it off with water. After that, dry the surface by aerating it.
- Check your windows, doors, and walls regularly for stains or signs of mold growth, as well as a musty odor. Do only the necessary cleaning.
Method 4 of 5: Remove the Musty Smell of Furniture and Carpets
Step 1. Kill mold spores using chlorine dioxide
Chlorine dioxide is used on ships or boats to control musty odors, and in libraries to control mold development, especially in damp corners or places. Chlorine dioxide products to control musty odors in shipboards and wardrobes are usually sold in small quantities.
Step 2. Clean the area of the carpet affected by mildew with hydrogen peroxide
Make a hydrogen peroxide solution by mixing 3 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide with 5 teaspoons of water. Use a thick brush to apply the solution to the stained area.
First, do an experiment on a less visible part of the carpet because hydrogen peroxide can bleach or fade the color of the carpet
Step 3. Clean the carpet using baking soda or a carpet cleaning product
Coat the surface of the carpet with baking soda or a carpet cleaning product (make sure the carpet is dry), then clean the carpet fibers with a damp sponge. Allow the baking soda or cleaning product to dry completely, then use a vacuum to suck up the dried baking soda or cleaner. Follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging to find out the color resistance test and the recommended duration of use of the product.
- You may need to vacuum twice, and clean it in a different direction on the second vacuum.
- Hire an expert carpet cleaner to clean your carpet, or hire a do-it-yourself carpet cleaning kit from a grocery or hardware store.
- Wash the mat in the washing machine. Check the label on the mat for instructions on how to clean the mat or find out if it is machine washable.
Step 4. Clean the cupboard or crate using baking soda and newsprint
You can fill a cupboard with crumpled newsprint or place an open box or container of baking soda in a wooden crate. Leave it for (at least) 2 to 3 days to get rid of the musty smell.
- Clean the surface of cabinets, wooden chests, or drawers with a mixture of baking soda and water (1:1 ratio).
- Coffee grounds are also useful for removing musty odors in small spaces or places. Put the ground coffee in a small can or open container, and place the can or container where it wants it for 2 to 3 days before you take it out or change the coffee.
- Alternatively, remove everything from your cupboard and sprinkle (lightly) coffee grounds or baking soda on the bottom of the cupboard. Leave it for 2 to 3 days, then remove the baking soda or coffee grounds using a vacuum cleaner or a damp cloth. Open the cupboard and ventilate the inside.
Method 5 of 5: Removing the Musty Smell on Other Items
Step 1. Remove the musty smell from your shoes using baking soda
Pour a few teaspoons of baking soda into the shoe and place the shoe in a sealed plastic bag. After that, store the bag in the freezer overnight. Take your shoes out the next morning and get rid of the baking soda in them.
Wrap wet shoes (especially sneakers or sports shoes) in newspaper. Replace the newsprint once it has absorbed a lot of water. This way, the shoes can dry faster and don't smell musty
Step 2. Ventilate your suitcase or backpack
Dry your suitcase or backpack outdoors for a few days (make sure it's sunny). Heat and sunlight can help kill mold and bacteria on your suitcase or backpack.
- Put a few dryer sheets in your suitcase or backpack, or fill a small cloth bag with cat litter containing baking soda and put the bag in your suitcase or bag.
- When not in use, ensure the freshness of your suitcase or backpack by including a wrapped bar of soap. Put a few bars of soap into the main compartment and the large pockets in your suitcase or backpack.
Step 3. Get rid of the musty smell in the tent
On sunny days, pitch your tent outdoors. While it may not be possible to remove mold stains from your tent, you can still get rid of the musty odor by brushing and drying your tent (see your tent's user manual for products that can be used to clean your tent).
After camping, make sure your tent is completely dry before you roll it up and store it
Step 4. Freshen the air in your car cabin
Sprinkle baking soda or a carpet cleaning product on the seats (including small cushions) and the car floor, then clean with a vacuum cleaner.
- Place an open container of coffee grounds or a tray of cat litter in your car and leave it overnight to absorb bad odors.
- Spray the bleach solution (a mixture of 120 ml of bleach with 3 liters of water) on the carpet, then rinse with water using a hose. Do the washing on a hot sunny day so you can dry the carpet outside.
Step 5. Neutralize musty smelling books without damaging them
To remove a musty smell from books, you can use crushed or crushed volcanic rock (sold at hardware stores in wire mesh bags). Get a clean, large plastic basket or basin with a lid (or at least a lid), then place the volcanic rock fragments in the container. Place the milk crate (a small basket for storing milk bottles) on the volcanic rock and place the book in the milk basket upright. Cover the plastic basket and let it sit for a few days.
- Tuck a paper towel between the pages of the book, then store the book in the freezer overnight.
- If it's a sunny and hot day, take your books outdoors and open them, then dry in the sun to reduce moisture in the books.
Tips
- Most air freshener spray products only mask the musty odor and don't get rid of it. However, there are some products (e.g. Oust) that can temporarily 'trick' your olfactory receptors into thinking that the musty smell in the room is gone. While solving or eliminating the main source of the musty odor in the room, you can use the product.
- The musty smell will persist or reappear if you can't identify and fight the root cause, such as moisture or bacteria.
- If you can't use a washing machine (or don't have a washing machine), soaking clothes in a tub or bucket of warm water for 30 minutes is effective at removing musty odors from clothes.
- Make sure your clothes are thoroughly rinsed and completely dry before storing them in the wardrobe.
- As much as possible avoid storing items in cool, dark, and damp places as these conditions encourage mold growth.
- Try cleaning the washing machine or wardrobe drawers (or your wardrobe as a whole) if a musty smell persists from your clothes. It's possible that the musty smell isn't coming from your clothes, but from your washing machine or wardrobe, which spreads mold and bacteria on your clothes.
- Make sure your towels are completely dry before you put them in the basket with your other clothes.
- Do not use bleach or ammonia to clean household appliances. Both of these materials can damage the surface of the tool and produce harmful gases.
- Prevent mold and mildew from growing in your home by fixing leaks or plumbing problems that affect your plumbing system, walls or roof (eg leaving leaky stains and dampening the walls or roof). water
- Get rid of carpets or pillows that are very moldy.
Warning
- Chlorine dioxide can cause irritation. If you use chlorine dioxide, make sure the air in the room has changed before you enter the room. If you're using it to get rid of musty smells in cupboards, close the cupboard doors tightly.
- Contact the cleaning service for recommendations regarding cleaning services or treating items from mold. Before signing a service rental contract, make sure you get a favorable offer. Also, make sure the contract states that cleaning or re-treatment can be performed (if the first cleaning was not effective at removing mold and musty odors). Don't try to clean things yourself, especially items that are perishable or dangerous.
- Mold that builds up in rooms like basements, attics, cramped spaces and air vents can be toxic to you. If you see one, wear a mask, as much as possible to avoid inhaling mold spores, wear gloves and wash your hands if you accidentally touch them.
- Keep in mind that mixing chemicals, especially bleach, can be harmful to your health. In addition, the mixture of these chemicals can also evaporate easily. When mixing cleaning chemicals, mix the ingredients in a clean glass bowl or measuring cup. Do not use a spray bottle that will be used again for a different purpose. If you need to use a spray bottle, buy a new spray bottle and label or name the bottles so they don't get confused or used for other purposes.
- When using cleaning or bleaching products, make sure the room you're in is well-ventilated with adequate airflow.
- Make sure the surfaces of items like carpets or upholstery are completely dry before you can sprinkle baking soda on them. Moisture on the surface can cause the baking soda to harden, making it less effective at absorbing musty odors. In addition, the hardened baking soda will also be more difficult to remove from the surface of the fabric.
