Musty smell throughout house! Help

Question

I recently purchased a small (very small home) and it smells musty.  The area I live is damp and I wonder if a dehumidifier and air purifier  will help.  Everything in the house feels damp....

Kristen From The Road To Domestication · Answer

I know a dryer sheet in my glove compartment took the damp smell out of my car...I don't know if it would work in a house, but a few around here and there might help?

Rhonda Davis · Answer

I've used charcoal that I purchased in the fish and aquarium section of big box store. Cheap and easy to pour into small cups or any holders and place around strategic areas of the whole home. Just leave it open and you should notice the musty smell dissipated in a day or two. Local Dollar Store has had similar containers for sale recently - one for deodorizing and one for removing dampness. Tried those, too, and they worked very well. They are larger and I only needed one in each end of the house to work the deodorizing magic. I often keep a few small plastic containers with a layer of the charcoal in areas were mustiness congregates or other odoriferous sites like under the bathroom sinks, closets or cabinets. Hardly noticeable and they do the trick without too much cost and no artificial scents which I find problematic. Hope this helps.

Marion Nesbitt · Answer

I'd buy a dehumidifier to get at the source of the smell - too much moisture and maybe not enough air circulation. Rhonda Davis has a good idea about the charcoal. I use a dehumidifier in my basement in summer. Upstairs I have an Oreck air purifier in my den as I am a smoker. It is amazing at removing odours and milli size particles of everything. Best product I have purchased in years.

Wanda.ll · Answer

Use a product called Air Sponge. It goes in room or into return air handler. Works like a charm. When it is balck and hard get a new one. I used it to clear a house of cigirette smell.

Jeanette S · Answer

If you live in a house with a crawl space, check to make sure it is dry under there. It may be holding moisture or rain may be coming in. Check your gutters to make sure they are draining away from the foundation. Wet feet make for stinky smell...you house may have wet feet. I insist the heat or a/c get turned on to clear out the 'wet air' in the house.

Traci · Answer

Have had the same problem, dehumidifier helped in the basement now I just have to get rid of the moth ball smell upstairs ugh.

Traci · Answer

home owner before us had boxes of them EVERY where, drove me nuts trying to find them all.

White Oak Studio Designs · Answer

This is all very good ideas and mustiness/mildew is an issue I've faced too. We live ona crawl space and had high ground water flooding for five springs in a row and I am afraid that water pooled under my three season porch floor. As a result the porch always smells musty. I can get rid of the smell in the short term by opening all the sliders and letting in the fresh air but as soon as it rains again and it is closed up the smell comes back. I've talked to builders for removal ideas to get rid of it. I'm everyone says that its permanent. I would definitely use a dehumidifier in your home, mine goes 24/7 which helps me inside the house. I also use a air purifier..and I recommend when you shop for one you look for one that is quiet. Mine is so powerful and so noisy that I can't have it in my bedroom, which is where I really need it. The sound and the lights keep me awake. I will check out that Air Sponge. For those who have that, where did you buy it? BTW: Moth balls are toxic so please be careful there!

Beverly R · Answer

Very helpful information, going to give some  try.

Sheila Pack · Answer

There's an air purifier called Fresh Air from EcoQuest that has different settings. It can be put on a higher setting, to rid a home of musty moldy smells, and it really works. It does leave a very slightly 'bleachy' smell in the air afterwards, but it goes away after a few hours of being put back on 'normal' mode. They aren't cheap, but they work. My late husband did home remodeling, and whenever they had a moldy bathroom remodel job, he would set this thing up and run it for 24 hours before they started the project, to protect himself and the other workers from the health dangers of the mold spores. They do require cleaning periodically, but it's a simple disassemble, rinse and reassemble method. And, yes, a dehumidifier should help, as well.

White Oak Studio Designs · Answer

You are right, a really good air purifier is not cheap, our model was $750.00 - the kind they use in the hospital during open heart surgery. We had serious flooding and I was very, very sick and we worried we might lose our home to the water/mold. But they are worth it and last almost forever. Do some research on Goggle as there are a lot of different models and options you can choose among.

Lisa Kaplan Gordon · Answer

Absolutely buy a portable dehumidifier. Just make sure you empty the water collecting bin regularly. You find the big filling up quickly, you might need two machines.

Carol · Answer

We used to have this problem in our cabin. As it was closed most of the year, it didn't have time to air out enough before we'd close it again for the winter and part of the spring. I found a product called Damp Rid at the Dollar General store and put a canister of it in every corner and closet of the rooms. It helped a lot. A mixture of equal parts water and vinegar in a mister spray bottle helps to get rid of the musty smell. Simply spray it on the walls and especially the creviced areas. May have to repeat a few times, but the vinegary smell disappears quickly taking the musty and moth ball scents with it.

Sharon · Answer

charcoal briquette (for the Barbie) will help dispel the odor and no smell like moth balls, good luck

Lynn · Answer

@Marion Nesbitt Thanks for the adivce with Oreck. It is nice to know I don't need to shop all over the place to find the right air purifier.

Vigirl · Answer

I live in the virgin islands and we deal with damp/musty areas a lot. Damp rid is good for closets and small areas. We use a dehumidifier 24/7 and it is wonderful. Over a period of time the water wont fill up quite as fast. You will notice a difference within a day or so.

Lynn · Answer

Thank you Vigirl- I have purchased a really good dehumidifier and air purifer - costs hurt my budget, but I have to have them.  Many blessings and a Happy New Year.

Musty smell throughout house! Help

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Musty smell throughout house! Help

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