How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell in the House
· 4 min read
A musty smell is one of those things you notice the moment you walk back in after a weekend away, then stop noticing entirely after ten minutes. Guests notice it too. It is rarely a sign of a dirty home; far more often it is a sign of moisture that has nowhere to go. Damp air, a lack of airflow and soft materials that hold on to both are the usual ingredients. Masking it with candles or sprays only buys time, so the lasting fix is to find the source and dry things out.
Step one: follow your nose
Walk slowly from room to room and note where the smell is strongest. Typical suspects include:
- Corners of outside walls, especially behind wardrobes and sofas pushed tight against them.
- Bathrooms without an extractor fan or with one that is rarely switched on.
- Under the kitchen sink, where a slow drip can go unseen for months.
- The washing machine, particularly the door seal and detergent drawer.
- Cupboards under the stairs and in the loft, where air hardly moves.
- Window frames, where condensation gathers on cold mornings.
Look for dark spots, peeling paint, tide marks, warped skirting boards or a cold, clammy feel to the wall. These clues tell you whether you are dealing with everyday condensation or something structural.
Step two: let the house breathe
Modern homes are good at keeping heat in, which also means they are good at keeping moisture in. A few simple routines make a real difference:
- Open windows for a short while each day, even in winter, ideally on opposite sides of the house so air moves through.
- Use extractor fans while cooking and showering, and leave them running for a little while afterwards.
- Keep internal doors open when you can, but close the bathroom and kitchen doors while they are steamy so moisture does not drift into bedrooms.
- Pull furniture a few centimetres away from outside walls so air can circulate behind it.
- Avoid overfilling wardrobes; clothes packed tightly hold on to damp.
Step three: deal with laundry and cooking moisture
Drying clothes on radiators is a British habit that adds a surprising amount of water to indoor air. If you have to dry indoors, choose one well-ventilated room, crack a window and keep the door shut. Put lids on pans while cooking, and wipe condensation from windows each morning with a cloth or squeegee rather than letting it soak into the frames.
The washing machine deserves a look of its own, since a neglected drum can make every towel smell faintly stale. Our guide on how to clean a washing machine walks through the seal, drawer and filter.
Step four: refresh the things that hold smells
| Item | What to try |
|---|---|
| Curtains and cushion covers | Wash according to the care label and dry fully outdoors if the weather allows |
| Carpets and rugs | Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda, leave for a few hours, then vacuum thoroughly |
| Mattresses | Air the bedroom, strip the bed, vacuum the surface and let it breathe before remaking |
| Wardrobes and drawers | Empty, wipe out, leave open for a day and refill with only dry items |
| Books and boxes | Move them away from cold walls and out of damp cupboards |
Small patches of mould
Small spots of surface mould on sealant or window frames can usually be cleaned with a mould remover made for the purpose. Wear gloves, open a window, follow the label precisely and never combine products, especially anything containing bleach with acidic or ammonia-based cleaners. Do not dry-brush mould, as that spreads spores into the air. If anyone in the home has asthma, allergies or a breathing condition, keep them away from the work, and if symptoms seem to worsen around damp areas, speak to a GP.
Helpful tools
A dehumidifier can be useful in rooms that stay damp despite airing, such as a basement or a box room used for drying laundry. Empty and clean its tank regularly so it does not become a smell source itself. Some households also consider air purifiers for general air quality; our article asking whether it is time to buy an air purifier explains what they can and cannot do. Bear in mind that neither device fixes a leak, so they work best alongside the steps above.
When it is more than condensation
Some causes are beyond a cloth and an open window. Contact a qualified professional, such as a surveyor, a damp specialist or a plumber, if you notice any of these:
- A tide mark rising from the floor along a wall.
- Damp patches that grow after rain, suggesting water is getting in from outside.
- Wet floors, swollen boards or a leak you cannot locate.
- Mould spreading across a large area or returning quickly after cleaning.
- Damp near electrical sockets or light fittings, which should be checked by an electrician before anything else.
If you rent, report persistent damp to your landlord or letting agent in writing, with photos, so there is a clear record.
A fresher routine
Once the source is dealt with, the smell usually fades within days. Keeping it away is mostly habit: a daily window, fans on when the kettle and shower are working hard, laundry dried with care and furniture given a little breathing space. It is not glamorous, but a home that smells of nothing at all is exactly the goal.
