How do I remove musty odors from an old house?

If you plan on repainting, use TSP. If not, wash down with vinegar. Everything, ceilings to floor.

https://www.hunker.com/12443939/how-to-remove-odors-from-an-old-house

We once had a motel room, supposed to be non smoking, but someone did. They put an OZONE GENERATOR, in the room while we went to dinner, Odor gone when we returned. You might try it if you can find one.

Open the windows on dry sunny days. Run a few dehumidifiers for a few weeks. Wash all surfaces-vinegar does help. You can place bowls of it in every room for a few days. Repaint--that will help immensely. Remove any soft surfaces like rugs and carpeting curtains and drapes. Clean any carpeting with a steam cleaner. Open any closet doors in the house so they can air out.

You need to get some air circulation in your home. Open windows and set up an oscillating fan to freshen it up. Do this regularly especially during the summer and it will help your problem.

Charcoal works well. BBQ season and it's easy to find. Just be sure not to buy the ones that a fire-starter has been added. Spread them around in various areas of the house and they will absorb odors. I did this in a musty basement and placed them in paper bowls. Helped immensely!

We just moved into my dad's old farm house, it's been closed up for so long, we deep cleaned everything and i actually rubbed peppermint oil on all his cabinet doors inside and out, it cleared the sinuses out, Lol, but we also have a wax melter in every other room with baked apple pie wax. scrubbing the carpets helps and dusting and febreeze everything that doesn't move. You may have to febreeze everyday for a few weeks, plus Air it out, that will really help and washing all bedding, dollies and curtains and towels, rugs, cleaning out old stuff like closets, and throwing junk out that's musty smelling or put it in a tote and seal it up. Just keep repeating. Cooking, baking bread, that always smells good in a home, it'll be gone before you know it, the more the home is opened the more air gets through for freshness.

Painting sure helps too.

Clean, clean, clean! Use vinegar! You must remove everything in the house, beause everything probably has some degree of mold. And furniture, curtains, clothing, all absorb odor. Put everything, one room at a time, out into the yard so it can air out and you can check it over for mold. Clean with vinegar before putting back inside the cleaned house. Anything fabric, like curtains or clothes, should be laundered with vinegar.

Kick Grandma out! LOL.....

Hi Linda,

Remove all soft furnishings and carpets or have them all cleaned. Have it checked for Woodworm and dry rot etc. Hope that helps.