Make Your Home Less Musty

Your home has been locked up tight for months now - it's probably feeling a bit stuffy. The good news is that you don't have to wait until spring to air it out! Here are some tips to get to the root of the source of musty smells, along with some simple remedies. Refrigerator and Appliances If your refrigerator is emitting bad air, then give your appliance a thorough cleaning, dispose of any expired items and open a box of baking soda. Let the baking soda work for a few days until the odor is gone. For appliances that are no longer running, use baking soda and water to clean the interior. Fill the empty appliance with crumpled newspapers and wait one day. Rinse with water. Clothing and Furniture If your clothes and upholstery need freshening, then mix white vinegar with water. Run musty clothes through the wash with a cup of vinegar. For upholstery, put the vinegar and water mixture in a spray bottle and apply. The smell of vinegar will disappear over several hours, along with the foul odor. Crawl Spaces and Basements If your crawl space or basement has seen better days, head to your local garden center for lava rocks. Lava rocks come in mesh bags and can be hung in different corners of damp or dark spaces. They naturally soak in foul odors and will clear a room of unwanted smells over several days. Hang your lava rocks in sunlight for a day when they lose effectiveness. Various Rooms Sometimes a room just needs to be aired out! While you might not want to open all the windows at once - brrrrrrrrrrr! - choose a room at a time and close it off as best you can. Open the windows and turn on those fans. After a few hours, close the windows and open the doors. It might be cold for a bit, but the stale air will be gone. Inside the Walls If an odor persists after all of your effort, you may have a bigger problem at hand. Search carefully for mold and mildew. Remove outlet covers and use your nose to see if the odor is stronger inside of the walls. If it is, you may be accumulating condensation due to improper batting or window flashing installation. Time to call in the professionals.