This method works well for irregularly shaped areas such as crawlspaces. Mold blasting with baking soda is an eco-friendly solution that does not involve harsh chemicals. Baking soda leaves the crawlspace or other area of the home smelling and looking clean and fresh.
OdorXit AQM (Air Quality Manager) is an oxidation packet that once opened and water is added, can be placed in the musty crawl space and let it work over time (up to 30 days). MOMS is an oxidation powder that is added to water to create a liquid you can apply to the musty odor source with a spray bottle.
One of the most popular house cleaning tips for removing mold is to use vinegar since it kills many bacteria, including molds. Just mix vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle. Spray all over the affected crawl space walls or floor. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub the area.
Your crawl space is likely the home to most of your plumbing. If a drain pipe is broken or rusted badly, the result could be sewage leaking into the crawl space. This smell can be particularly bad. To remedy the situation, the sewage must be removed, the affected area must be disinfected, and the plumbing leak fixed.
Mold Is Growing in Your Home
Mold is one of the most common causes of a bad smell in the home. Mold emits a musty, earthy odor that can seem stronger after it rains. Moisture is a key part of mold's life cycle, so any leaks in your roof or added humidity can fuel mold growth in your home.
Sodium bicarbonate is a great media for removing mold and addressing odors in crawl spaces. It has many other uses in the auto body and food cleaning industry as well. It is USDA-approved as an A-1 cleaner and suitable for use in FDA-regulated facilities.
Ward off mold with tea tree oil, cinnamon, clove oil, or thyme oil. Each option will kill mold and prevent spores from coming back. Combine a teaspoon of the oil of your preference with a cup of water in a spray bottle. After spraying, allow one hour for the solution to dry, then wipe away with a clean towel.
Vinegar typically performs best on mold when it is used undiluted in full strength. Simply transfer the white vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the vinegar directly onto the mold. Do not rinse or scrub.
If the musty smell seems to be emanating from a small area like a closet or cupboard, grab some baking soda! Place a small dish of baking soda in the enclosed area for up to 24 hours. The baking soda will absorb excess moisture and odors, and leave things smelling much fresher.
Place bowls of baking soda around the basement. The baking soda will begin to absorb the odors and should make a significant difference over the course of a few days. You can also use bowls of white vinegar or clean cat litter—both will absorb odors as well.
Baking soda does kill mould on non-porous surfaces but again this is only a temporary measure. As a desiccant it will also absorb some of the moisture that fosters mould growth in the first place. For general cleaning use about 1 tablespoon of baking soda and dissolve in a bottle (500mls) of water.
Bleach kills virtually every species of indoor mold that it comes into contact with including mold spores which leaves a sanitized surface making it resistant to future mold growth.
A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.
While it is possible to use bleach to kill mold as well, experts agree that vinegar is a much better option. Unlike bleach, vinegar can effectively kill the mold at the root, which means it's less likely to return. Vinegar is also less toxic than bleach, making it a better choice for household use.
While a significant mold infestation is best handled by a professional restoration company, you have a powerful weapon against occasional mold growth in your kitchen cupboard: white vinegar. This humble household staple can kill more than 80% of mold species, including hazardous black mold.
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Also, you risk causing damage to the area beneath the mold when you leave the vinegar to sit on it for too long. So when it comes to removing mold with vinegar, it's best to avoid leaving it overnight and stick with the 30 minutes to 1 hour sitting time.
'Bleach will kill mold spores growing across a hard surface, but if the mold has extended below the surface, then white vinegar is the best choice,' she says. 'The vinegar will penetrate to kill the mold and mildew at the root, preventing it from regrowing.
There's a musty smell in your home
When you walk into your home, you want it to smell clean and fresh. Moisture in the air tends to hold and trap odor, Bautista says. A dehumidifier will dry out the air and take away this moldy scent.
If your home or clothing smells musty, chances are you have mold or mildew hiding out. While other things — like a lack of ventilation or high levels of humidity — can make a musty odor more noticeable, they typically are not the primary cause of the smell.
If you experience a sewer smell after heavy rainfall, it could be a result of sewer backup. During heavy rains, the excess runoff water piles pressure on the city's sewer system, causing a sewer's backflow into individual lines. The backflow may cause the sewage to back up into homes.
Getting Rid of Mold With Baking Soda
Add one-quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda to a spray bottle of water and shake until it has dissolved. Spray the moldy area with the baking soda and water solution, then use a scrub brush to remove mold from the surface.