We all know this typical bad smell and we have no trouble identifying it. Favored by humidity problems in the house, mold and inefficient ventilation, it can even resist the best deodorizers which do not treat the origin. The unpleasant musty smell is often more common in winter when we are less likely to ventilate to renew the air because of the cold. However, it is one of the best ways to avoid these unpleasant odors. And above all, combine your efforts with a serious cleaning of the house (interior of furniture and linen included) with white vinegar or lemon juice. However, if it takes hold, there are some grandmother’s tips to get rid of it. So, if you are looking for how to remove the musty smell (or old smell) from your fabrics, in your rooms or in wooden furniture, you are in the right place!
In a room that smells musty
Due to lack of ventilation, a musty smell can settle throughout the house or in unusual rooms. How to eliminate this smell?
1) Close the windows. Spray vinegar around the room and leave closed for a few hours. Then ventilate for a few moments to remove the smell of vinegar. It smells bad at first, but it is very effective against persistent and nauseating odors and it fades quickly.
2) To make a room smell good again, there’s nothing like a few drops of essential oil of your choice on an ampoule. Once lit, the chosen scent will spread everywhere.
3) Plant cloves in an orange and place it somewhere in the room. This will make the place smell good and help eliminate foul odors.
Musty smell in furniture
1) Do boil a little milk and pour it into a cup. Place the cup in the furniture to be treated (wardrobe, kitchen cupboards, etc.). Leave it there for two days to eliminate stubborn bad odors.
2) In a small canvas bag, put a few dried lavender seeds and other fragrant plants or spices. Then slip this sachet into the furniture to perfume it.
3) Take a few cloves and place them in a bowl. Leave the cup in the cabinet for two days.
For each of these tips against the musty smell, prefer to leave the furniture closed as much as possible. For maintenance, leave a piece of charcoal or soap in your old furniture and cabinets to absorb odors and neutralize them. Cat litter can also work, especially if there are damp odors!
For a rug
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet in question and leave it overnight before vacuuming it. You can add essential oil or grind the baking soda with herbs and spices before applying it. So your rug or carpet will smell good! It is very effective against embedded odors.
Treat a fabric
Put the curtain or item of clothing affected by the musty smell near the radiator or in direct sunlight. The heat will get rid of musty odors on the textile. You can also use the deodorizing effect of baking soda or vinegar in the washing machine for clothing that is too saturated with odor.
Bonus: To get rid of musty odors and remove greenish stains, vinegar and baking soda will also be very useful.
Musty smell inside empty jars
Put a sugar cube in the jar that contains the musty smell and close it.