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What Can I Do About A Gross Mildew Smell In My Bedroom?Bedrooms are the place that you spend most of your time. I know that I want my bedroom to be as pleasant as possible, and be a place I don’t mind spending hours at a time. There are things that can make your bedroom not such a fun place to be. One of the worst things that can happen to your bedroom is unpleasant smells. An unpleasant smell can make your bedroom a downright terrible place to be. These kinds of smells can start small and tend to grow and before you know it is overwhelming. One smell that I hate the most is the smell of mildew. I have taken great lengths to learn where the smell of mildew comes from and how to properly get rid of it. Hopefully, what I have found out can help you as well.
Where Can Mildew Odor Come From?
It’s good to address mildew smells before they get out of control. Many times the faint smell of mildew is something relatively harmless there are times when the smell of mildew can be the first sign of a more serious issue that can give you some real problems.
The first thing you need to do when you detect the possibility of a mildew buildup is try to find the source of the smell. It may take a bit of diligence, but if I can manage to follow my nose, you should be able to as well.
Sniffing around to find a smell, particularly a bad one is not the most entertaining or enjoyable of household activities, but finding the location is important. You can’t fight the smells if you don’t know where they are coming from.
The first thing you will want to do is turn off your air conditioning unit and any fans that you have going in your bedroom. The fans and air conditioning, if left on, will push around the air in the room and make it hard to pinpoint a location or source of the smell. Check to make sure there is nothing else stirring your air around either. It will far easier to zero in when the air is still. When all the devices are off, you should also shut the door to cut down even further on air motion, and so the smell does not escape.
After all of this, follow your nose like Toucan Sam. But a Toucan Sam for mildew . . . Either way, sniff around and follow the strength of the smell until you locate the source. The source will more than likely be a place that is a source of moisture, a place where moisture gathers, or a place that is exposed to moisture on a regular basis.
You should be aware of most of the regular places where moisture gathers or is present, but there may be some places that gather moisture that you may not expect, so follow the smell where it leads you, but play close attention to the level of moisture.
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One location that is sometimes overlooked as a source of moisture and mildew is the windows. If you have windows that lead outside you should be diligent to check the windows for a buildup of mildew.
There are a few reasons windows can build up mildew. The temperature can differ from inside and outside, and this can often result in condensation. This condensation can gather and give the moisture that is required for mildew to settle in. The gathered wetness can take time to evaporate naturally if the blinds and curtains are not opened regularly.
If the windows are the cause, there also may be an issue with the fitting of the window. Sometimes if windows are not sealed properly, they can let rain, or melting snow into small cracks in the seal and this can facilitate mildew. More than that, if it is left unchecked or unnoticed for too long, the seeping moisture can get into your walls and mold can start to grow inside of your walls.
If you are still having problems finding the source of the unpleasant mildew, smell you can check behind your outlets and switch plates. Remove these covers and smell the air that is lingering inside of your walls. If the air coming out of your walls is musty and filled with that mildew smell, you may not have a source that is inside of the bedroom. They air may be traveling in through another location. This can range from a simple issue to something that can be a sign of a large problem
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If there is mold inside of your walls, there may be a large issue that needs to be addressed. On the other hand, the smell can be drifting in from an adjacent room. Sometimes this can be another bedroom that is close by. Bathrooms and kitchens are also common culprits. There could also be a leaky pipe or other plumbing feature in the walls that is building up with mildew.
Your ductwork and vents could also have a leak and have some hidden mildew. Check these locations as well. If there is a build up in the vents, it can exaggerate the problem, because of the air being blown out through the vests and distributed through the rest of the house.
People also tend to miss the ceiling. Anything leaking from the roof can cause water damage to your ceiling so make sure to give it a once over. Look for discoloration or water damage. This may be a source of the mildew smell and can be a sign that your roof needs work.
Although in the end, the most likely source of the mildew smell is your carpet. Carpets have a way of holding onto moisture and building up mildew. Search around the carpet for the exact spot that is causing the offense. This may take getting down on your hands and knees and crawling around close to the carpet, to find the exact location.
When you find the exact location, figure out where the moisture is coming from. Is it a leaky pipe, window, or any other feature that is exposing the carpet to water. Find a way to dry the space. Pull all of the moisture out of the area. You should be able to clean the area with vinegar and making sure that the space gets dried well.
Follow Your Nose
There are many causes of mildew in the bedroom. They are mostly from a source of moisture. You may need to find the source, as it can be a sign of a bad problem. This means if it is unchecked you may leave a problem unsolved. It could be as simple as a window or carpet that needs a cleaning, or as bad as mold in your wall. Follow your nose to find the location and clean it and dry it. It is important to find where the moisture is coming from and be aware of it before it gets too bad.
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If the subflooring also shows signs of mold / mildew growth, it will need to be sanded and sealed to prevent recurrence.
Home Eccers, have I missed any potential sources of mold / mildew growth in a bedroom?
Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
Getting rid of mildew smell in the house is important. Not only is it disgusting, but mildew spores in the air can cause sickness. Getting rid of the mildew smell isn’t difficult, although it does take some work. The effort is worthwhile.
Cleaning
Cleaning is the best method for getting rid of the mildew smells. Locate the area where the mildew smell originates. You need to throw out any old papers and cardboard that are there. These can hold mildew spores and will keep the smell in the air. You should also throw out or carefully wash any fabric in the area and get rid of any old upholstered furniture that’s there. Once you’ve eliminated these things, you should wash the entire area with a solution of bleach and water, then leave it to dry. If possible, open a window close by to give ventilation to the area. This will help in getting rid of the mildew smell.
Odor Absorbers
Using odor absorbers is a good way of getting rid of the mildew smell. You can buy all kinds of sprays and items that promise to eliminate odors, but there are simple, cheap ways to do this. Take some charcoal briquettes and put them in old empty coffee cans. Distribute these around the area affected by mildew smells. These will take away the odor by sucking it in. It will also absorb moisture in the air, which can make mildew. Be aware that you’ll need to replace these once a month in order for them to remain effective.
Baking soda is one of the best things you can use for getting rid of mildew smell. It’s renowned as an odor eliminator, and it will do an excellent job on mildew smell. Simply open a box and leave it in the area to take away the smell of mildew. It will need to be replaced every couple of months. Also very efficient as an odor absorber is cat litter. Lay out a tray of cat litter in the area and it will take away the mildew smell. It will only last well for 2 weeks before needing to be replaced.
Keeping the Mildew Smell Away
After getting rid of the mildew smell, you need to be able to keep it away. Repeated thorough cleanings of the area is something that’s vital to making sure that no mildew smell returns. Keep giving good ventilation to the area. Fresh air is a big enemy of mildew and mold. Whenever the weather allows, have a window open in the area.
Dehumidifier
Keeping a working dehumidifier in the area is an excellent way to keep the mildew smell away. It will remove the moisture that can cause mildew from the air. Having this running, especially in damper weather, will keep mildew away. Similarly, an ionizer is a very effective tool for keeping mildew away. It takes the damp ions from the air and keeps it smelling fresh.
Last update on 2023-03-20 at 10:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API