How to Remove Musty Smell from Your Home This Winter

Ever walked into your home after a few days away and been hit with that stale, damp, slightly earthy odour? You’re not imagining it, and you’re definitely not alone. If you’re searching for how to remove musty smell from your house, winter is usually when the problem is at its worst. Closed windows, less ventilation, and constant damp weather all combine to trap moisture indoors, and that trapped moisture is exactly what musty smells thrive on.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a mystery, and it definitely doesn’t have to be permanent. Let’s walk through where these smells usually come from and give you a simple, step-by step process for tackling each room.

Why Does Your House Smell Musty In Winter?

When humidity has nowhere to go, it settles into carpets, curtains, cupboards, and soft furnishings, creating the perfect environment for mould and mildew spores to develop. Even if you can’t see visible mould, that telltale smell is often an early warning sign that it’s starting to form somewhere out of sight. If you’ve noticed patches appearing as well as the smell, our guide on how to remove mould naturally is a great next step.

Winter makes this worse for a few reasons. We keep windows and doors shut to stay warm, in turn cutting off airflow. We’re drying more washing indoors because it’s too wet or cold outside. Heating systems can circulate stale, dusty air rather than filtering it. Put all of that together, and it’s no wonder musty smells tend to peak between June and August.

How to Remove Musty Smell, Room by Room

Bedrooms and Wardrobes

1. Take everything out of the wardrobe and check for any damp patches, mildew spots, or items that feel unusually cold or moist to the touch.

2. Leave the wardrobe doors open for a few hours on a dry day to let air circulate through the space.

3. Wipe down the interior shelves and walls with a cloth dampened with water and a splash of white vinegar.

4. Avoid packing clothes in too tightly when you put everything back, as airflow is what stops moisture (and odours) from settling.

5. Pop an open box or small dish of bicarbonate of soda on a shelf to absorb any lingering smells over time, and replace it every month or so.

Laundry Areas

1. If you’ve been drying clothes indoors on an airer or clothes horse, this is very likely a major contributor to musty smells in your home. Wet clothes release a huge amount of moisture as they dry, and without good ventilation, that moisture settles into your walls, carpets and curtains.

2. Choose the room with the best airflow to dry clothes in, ideally with a window cracked open or an exhaust fan running.

3. Check your washing machine itself, as a build-up of detergent residue and mould in the seals can transfer a mystery smell straight onto your clean laundry. Our guide on how to clean a washing machine walks through this properly.

4. Leave the washing machine door and detergent drawer open between loads so the drum can dry out completely.

5. Wash any towels, bath mats, or laundry bags that have been sitting damp, as these hold onto musty odours easily.

Carpets and Rugs

1. Sprinkle bicarb soda liberally over the entire carpet or rug, focusing on high-traffic areas and any spots that feel damp.

2. Leave it to sit for a few hours, or ideally overnight, so it has time to absorb trapped moisture and odours.

3. Vacuum thoroughly, going over each area slowly to lift as much powder out of the fibres.

4. Check for any specific damp or mystery patches and spot-treat them, similar to the method in our guide on how to remove dog smell, which covers baking soda and hydrogen peroxide treatments that work just as well on general musty odours as they do on pet smells.

5. If the smell persists after a DIY clean, book in a professional carpet steam clean to lift out the deeper, embedded moisture and grime a household vacuum can’t reach.

Bathrooms

1. Wipe down tiles, glass and grout after every shower to stop moisture sitting on surfaces overnight.

2. Leave the door open (or a window cracked) for at least 20 minutes after showering to help steam escape.

3. Run your exhaust fan during and after showers.

4. Launder bath mats and towels regularly.

5. For a deeper dive into tackling bathroom smells specifically, our guide on removing odours from your bathroom has plenty of extra tips.

Cupboards and Storage Areas

1. Clear out linen cupboards, under-sink cabinets and garage shelving so you can properly see what’s going on.

2. Wipe down shelves and interior walls with a water and vinegar solution.

3. Check for any items that have absorbed moisture, such as cardboard boxes or fabric storage bags, and replace or air these out.

4. Pop in a moisture absorber or a small dish of bicarb to keep the space fresh going forward.

5. Leave doors open periodically to let air circulate, especially after a run of wet weather.

Preventing Musty Smells From Coming Back

Learning how to remove musty smells is only half the job. Keeping it gone comes down to a few simple habits:

• Ventilate your home whenever the weather allows, even just for 10-15 minutes a day.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens, and actually let them run for a while after use.
• Avoid overfilling wardrobes, cupboards, and storage spaces so the air can circulate.
• Stay on top of dust and clutter, since both can trap moisture and odours. Our top tips to eliminate dust are a great place to start.
• Build a regular cleaning routine so damp, musty corners never get the chance to take hold. If you’re not sure where to begin, our home cleaning schedule breaks it down room by room.

When to Call in the Professionals

At Simply Spotless, we know how to remove musty smells at the source, using proper deep cleaning techniques. Ready to breathe easier this winter? Book a home cleaning service or end of lease cleaner online instantly, and let us take care of the hard work for you!