How to Remove Musty Odors

Eliminating Odors in Damp Spaces

Air out closets, closed rooms, and cabins. Mold and mildew love cool, damp, and dark areas. Reduce moisture in the air by setting-up a fan, dehumidifier, or opening a window. Ideally, humidity should be kept below 40% in your house. Hire professionals to remove moldy ceiling tiles, carpet, linoleum, or drywall. These cannot be cleaned and are potentially hazardous to your health.

Scrub hard surfaces with detergent. Scrub non-porous hard surfaces, including walls, the insides of drawers, and laminate, concrete, or tile flooring with detergent and warm water.

Cover-up room odors with homemade potpourri. Simmer a stick cinnamon, orange peels, and whole cloves in water on the stove. Remove when the water begins to boil and set on a pot holder in the musty room to cool. You can also tie blends of spices or potpourri in pantyhose and place them next to a heating vent when the furnace is running.

Use cat litter to absorb moisture. Fill a tray or box with cat litter and leave it in places where you store unused clothing, such as closets or an attic, to reduce moisture and remove odors. Sprays such as "Oust" also help temporarily eliminate musty smells.

Hang mesh bags of crushed volcanic rocks in damp places. These are available at most hardware and do-it-yourself stores and can be used to naturally deodorize basements, closets, sheds, and even shoes. Read the instructions provided on the bag. This will tell you the size and number of bags needed per square foot area.

Wipe windows and doors with a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 vinegar. Afterward, spread a thin film of coconut oil on window sills or around the edges of windows and doors. This will prevent mold and mustiness returning for several months. To disinfect surfaces and kill mold, mix 3/4 cup (6 oz.) of bleach with warm water. Wear rubber gloves and use a sponge to wipe-down surfaces. Let it sit for 5 minutes before rinsing with water. Air dry. Regularly check windows, doors, and walls for mold or mildew spots or if the musty smell returns. Disinfect as needed.

Removing Odors from Fabric

Wash cloth items with white vinegar in a washing machine. Cloth items such as clothing, drapery, and linens can go in the washing machine. Add 1 cup (8 oz.) of white vinegar to a normal load and let it soak for 30 minutes. Start a regular wash cycle and add a liquid, scented fabric softener during the rinse. Put a scented fabric softener sheet in the dryer as well. If needed, repeat this step. The vinegar smell should dissipate after drying. You may be using too much laundry detergent or fabric softener. This can cause soap to accumulate on clothing, making them less absorbent and causing musty odors.

Wash cloth items with baking soda in a washing machine. Cloth items such as clothing, drapery, and linens can be washed with baking soda to remove musty odors. Add 1 cup (8 oz.) of baking soda to a normal load and let it soak for 30 minutes. Then, complete a normal wash cycle.

Wash or soak solid white cloth items in bleach. Place cloth items in the washing machine, making sure not to overload the machine. Add liquid detergent and set your washer for "warm" water. Once the machine has filled with water, add 1 cup (8 oz.) of bleach (reduce this for smaller loads). Complete a normal wash cycle. Bleach can remove both stains and odors caused by mold. However, check any garment label to determine if the item can be bleached, as chlorine bleach discolors items that are not white. Bleach can permanently discolor or damage clothing or fabrics. Natural fabrics such as silk, wool, or animal fibers are very likely to suffer bleaching effects. Check clothing tags for any "do not use chlorine bleach" warnings. Do not over wash clothes with chlorine bleach, as it can weaken fabrics such as linen, cotton, and rayon over time. The occasional bleaching will not do a lot of harm.

Hang clothes outside after washing. Exposing your fabrics to light and fresh air can remove odors naturally. Make sure fabrics are completely dry before bringing them inside and storing them. Trapped moisture is a major cause of mildew. Keep an eye on the weather and bring all fabrics inside if it gets damp or rainy. Do not leave out overnight if possible. Prolonged exposure outside in damp weather can cause mold and must in clothing.

Removing Odors from Appliances

Clean appliances with a white vinegar solution. Dilute a quart of warm water with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) baking soda. Wipe all appliances with the baking soda and water mix. Spread this mixture on the interior surfaces. Fill the space with crumpled newspaper and let sit for 24 hours or until dry. Remove the newspaper and rinse the appliance with water, then dry it completely. Remove all food from refrigerators and defrost freezers before cleaning.

Place an open box of baking soda in your refrigerator. If the refrigerator is in use, the odor will be absorbed in a few days. Replace the baking soda regularly, according to the instructions on the box.

Place a small dish or saucer of vanilla extract in your refrigerator. Put several teaspoons of vanilla in a dish or saucer and place it in your refrigerator in a spot where it won’t get spilled. Let it sit for 3 weeks to remove bad or musty odors. Freezer temperatures will cause vanilla extract to freeze, making it ineffective as a deodorizer.

Remove odors from the oven with dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, and vanilla. Commercial oven cleaners can be toxic and leave an unappealing smell. You can remove smoky or unappetizing odors from your oven simply using things found in your kitchen. To make oven cleaner: Mix together 1/2 cup (4 oz.) dish soap, 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) baking soda, 1/4 cup (2 oz.) white vinegar, and 1 teaspoon (0.166 oz.) vanilla extract in a glass bowl. Add enough water so your mixture forms a thick paste, but is not watery. Coat or paint the interior surfaces of your oven and leave overnight (6 to 8 hours). You want the mixture to "foam-up" so it can lift grime from the surface. Use a scrubber and water to wipe down the oven. Repeat if needed. Alternatively, fill a spray bottle 1/2 full of white vinegar and fill the rest with water. Spritz the inside of your oven and wipe with a moist sponge. This will help remove odors, but not baked-on food or grease. Sprinkle salt on burned-on food in the oven. Wait until the oven cools and wipe with a damp cloth.

Clean musty odors from a washing machine with bleach or vinegar. Mildew can form in washing machines (especially front-loaders) causing musty odors even in freshly washed clothes. Empty any clothes from the washer and add 1 cup (8 oz.) of bleach or vinegar. Set the temperature to "hot" and run the machine on a short, normal cycle. Let the machine drain. Periodically leave the lid or door to your washer open when not in use to prevent mold and mildew formation. Clean the interior and exterior surfaces of your washing machine with a diluted bleach (2 teaspoons per 1 gallon cool water) or vinegar solution (2 tablespoons white vinegar per 1 gallon cool water). Wipe all surfaces with a paper towel moistened with water. Let sit for 12 hours or until completely dry before using.

Removing Odors from Furniture and Carpets

Kill mold spores using chlorine dioxide. This is used on boats to control musty odors, and in libraries to control outbreaks of mildew. There are several convenient sources of small amounts of chlorine dioxide that are sold for use in boats and closets. Apply the liquid to the moldy area and allow it to air-dry. If you can’t find chlorine dioxide in your local hardware store, order it online.

Spot-clean mold or mildew stains on carpets with hydrogen peroxide. Mix the solution by adding 3 teaspoons (0.5 oz.) hydrogen peroxide to 5 teaspoons (0.83 oz.) of water. Use a thick paintbrush to brush onto the affected area. Test the solution first in a non-visible part of carpet as hydrogen peroxide can bleach or fade colors.

Clean carpets with baking soda. Coat the surface of a dry carpet with baking soda, then work into the carpet fibers with a damp sponge mop. Let it sit until it’s completely dry and then vacuum it up. You may have to vacuum the carpet twice, and move the vacuum in opposite directions. You can also have your carpets professionally shampooed, or rent a do-it-yourself shampooer from a grocery or hardware store. Clean small throw rugs or doormats in a washing machine. Check the manufacturer's label for cleaning instructions first.

Clean out cupboards and trunks with baking soda. Leave an open box of baking soda in your cupboard or trunk to remove odor and absorb moisture. Let it stand for at least 2-3 days before removing. You can also wipe cupboard, trunk, or drawer surfaces with a 50-50 solution of baking soda and water, then add a liner to keep the area clean. A small opened can or container of fresh coffee grounds can also be effective in small spaces. Leave it for 2-3 days before removing or replacing. Alternatively, remove all items from the storage space and sprinkle a thin layer of coffee grounds or baking soda on the floor of the surface. Let sit for 2-3 days and then vacuum it up or wipe it with a damp cloth. Leave it open and let it air dry.

Removing Odors from Other Items

Deodorize shoes with baking soda. Spoon several teaspoons of baking soda into the sole and seal shoes in a plastic Ziplock bag. Place the bag in the freezer overnight. Remove it the next morning and dump the baking soda into the garbage. You can also sprinkle Odor Eaters powder in your shoes. Pack wet shoes (especially sneakers or cleats) with crumpled newspaper. Replace newspaper when it becomes soaked through. This will help the shoe dry faster and prevent wet shoes from developing musty or bad odors.

Air out your suitcase or backpack. Leave the item outside in the sunshine for a few days. Heat and light help kill mildew and bacteria. You can also wipe down the items with disinfectant wipes, especially if the item is made from plastic or another hard material. Place several dryer sheets in your suitcase or backpack or fill fabric packets with cat litter that contains baking soda. Keep suitcases and backpacks fresh when not in use by placing wrapped bars of soap. Place throughout the main compartment as well as in any large pockets.

Air out tents. Set up the tent in your backyard on a sunny day. You may never get rid of the mold stains but you should be able to get rid of the odor with a good scrub (read the tent manufacturer's instructions for appropriate products) and some sunny days. After camping, make sure the tent is completely dry before rolling-up and storing.

Freshen car interiors with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda or carpet cleaner on upholstery and floors and then vacuum it up. You can also place a hanging air freshener from your rear-view mirror. Leave an open container of coffee grounds or a pan of cat litter in your trunk overnight to absorb odors. Spray rubber mats with a diluted bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to 1 gallon hot water) and then hose them down with water. Do this on a warm, sunny day so you can leave the mats outside to air dry.

Deodorize smelly books with crushed volcanic rock. Neutralize unpleasant or musty odors in books with crushed volcanic rock (purchased in mesh bags from a hardware store). Lay a mesh bag with crushed volcanic rock on the floor of a clean plastic bin with a lid. Set a clean milk crate directly on top of the volcanic rock, and lay books vertically in the crate. Cover the bin and leave it sealed for several days before removing your books.