Musty smells in homes can be caused by a range of issues, from improperly dried linens to dampness and mold. No matter the cause, a musty smell is often worrisome and should always be investigated.
Consider investing in a dehumidifier and/or air purifier–particularly if the musty smells just keep coming back. Maintain–or start–a regular cleaning schedule. Cleaning regularly will ensure that dust, mold, and mildew don't build up and prevent musty smells from taking hold.
Musty Smell Sources
A damp odor may stem from mold and mildew buildup in a bathroom, attic, basement, or laundry room. These are typically places without a lot of ventilation and where moisture buildup is more common.
An air purifier could help reduce the smell. Along with cleaning up mold and mildew you find, consider giving your entire house a thorough cleaning. Dust, dirt, dead skin cells, and other accumulation can cause odors, too. The more dirt and grime you remove, the better your home will smell.
Use the word musty to describe an unclean, stale, and possibly moldy smell. If something smells musty that means it's probably been sitting in a damp corner without any air for a little too long. Musty smells take time to develop: they're caused by dampness and mold, and signal some amount of decay.
A moldy odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and should be investigated. The health effects of inhaling mVOCs are largely unknown, although exposure to mVOCs has been linked to symptoms such as headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin.
If your home has a stale, musty scent, there could be a handful of explanations, including a plumbing leak, high humidity, poor airflow, dirty HVAC equipment, or soiled carpet.
You want to look for signs of moisture around pipes, P-traps and drains in rooms or areas with musty smells. Washing machine drain issues: Another common reason your house smells musty but no mold growth is in sight is a problem with your washing machine drain.
Also, a musty smell is among the early signs of mold infestation in your home. You'll start to smell it within 24 hours after mold spores have started to form. (Once lingering spores in the air find their way into damp surfaces, the mold will begin to spread.)
Common culprits to watch out for include mold and mildew, dust, dirty laundry, stains and spills, pet accidents and leftover food. Once you determine the source of the smell, dispose of it and clean the area as needed.
Do Air Purifiers Remove Musty Smell? Oftentimes musty smells are due to mold spores present in the room. An air purifier can help to remove musty smells by cleansing the air of these mold spores and leaving the room smelling fresh and clean. Not to mention much healthier for you to breathe.
Mold has a strong, pungent odor that's enough to make you gag. Mildew has more of a musty smell that can make you wrinkle your nose, but it doesn't invade the senses as much. If the smell is reminiscent of wet, forgotten laundry or a damp basement, then you're likely smelling mildew rather than mold.
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.
Molds can grow on plant materials as well, but are also commonly found on building materials like walls and flooring and most home contents (books, cardboard, clothing, etc.). The primary difference between moldy and musty odors is in the strength of the smell; musty odors are usually not as strong as moldy odors.
You might notice a musty smell, but not be able to see any mold growing. In this case, you should look for areas that might be exposed to water. Mold needs moisture to grow. If you're smelling mold in a usually dry area, you might have water damage or a leaking pipe.
Known for being found in dark, dank places like many other kinds of molds, black mold has a strange musty odor—definitely not a pleasant scent for human nostrils. Some people have compared this smell to that of rotting wood or paper, while others have said it smells like cedar.
These symptoms usually first appear 2 to 9 hours after exposure and last for 1 to 3 days. Other affected persons have progressive shortness of breath and cough, as well as weight loss. Work-relatedness may only become apparent over long holidays if symptoms resolve and then recur on return to work.
In some instances, mold can definitely make you sick, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Some people experience symptoms such as constant migraines, headaches or shortness of breath while others report brain fog as well; some may also develop fatigue and depression.
Dip a cotton swab into the diluted bleach. Swipe the affected area with the swab. If it's mold, the area will start to lighten right away.
It can also come from humid parts of the house without enough ventilation to dry out the moisture. It can even come from piles of wet clothes, towels, and other items made from fabric. Excess moisture can give your house that unpleasant musty smell even if no mold grows.
Once the mold is discovered and remediated, the odors will likely go away.
Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers won't help treat active mold that's already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.
Dyson purifiers capture 99.97% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns. A sealed HEPA filter captures particles as small as allergens and viruses, while activated carbon removes gases and odors.