How to Eliminate Musty Odours from Water Damaged Properties

If a property has experienced water damage and all repairs were taken care of, but the place still has a musty odour, it is most likely the result of mould. It thrives in damp, warm and dark places. To properly deodorize a home, the affected area will need to be dried and the mould properly removed.

Tips for removing mould-related odours:

• The damp places throughout the home that could support mould growth should be checked.
• If the affected area is less than 10 square feet, the property owners can clean it themselves by scrubbing the surface with a mixture of household detergent and water.
• Bleach should NOT be used, as it only kills live mould, but not mould spores, leading to faster mould growth.
• For areas larger than 10 square feet, a professional mould remediation company must be contacted immediately.
• In order to dry an area, the best things to use are dehumidifiers, air-moving machines and fans. If the problem is large in scale, it’s best to hire a restoration company that can provide industrial-strength machines and has mould removal experience.

If it is determined that the musty smell is not caused by mould, here are some tips to remove the odour from porous materials:

1. For carpets, a simple way to eliminate odour is to use baking soda, a natural deodorizer. When the carpet is dry, baking soda should be sprinkled on it and allowed to sit overnight. The next day, the baking soda can be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

2. On upholstery, white vinegar can help absorb the odour, by spritzing some on the upholstery using a spray bottle. The vinegar will air-dry after a while. The strong smell of vinegar, along with the musty odours, will be gone once it has dried.

When solving an odour problem is beyond the capabilities of the property owners, they should contact a restoration professional, such as PuroClean, right away.

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