Are damp smells lurking in your home? Definitely not something to be proud of if you’ve got visitors coming over or are planning a romantic home date.
Unfortunately, your house’s foul smells may be coming from mould. Read this article to find out how you can remove this fungus from your home and banish the smell it emits!
Identify where the musty smell is coming from
First, you’ve got to know where your enemy is located. Mould thrives on moisture, so looking in your bathroom could be a good starting point.
Other areas and/or items to consider include:
- Basket filled with damp or wet clothes
- Furniture, such as upholstered chairs
- Curtains and carpets
- Window sills
- Basement or attic
Moreover, foul odours may also emit from your house’s gutters, such as when they become filled with decaying leaves. Make sure to clean those areas.
Learn how to remove mould depending on the type of surface
Before you start cleaning though, see to it that you arm yourself with some protective gear like rubber gloves and a mask.
Also, procure a variety of cleaning materials, such as cloths, spray bottles, brushes, bleach, and more. You can also use vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda.
Depending on the kind of surface or material you’ve got mould on, here’s how to remove them.
1. Fabric
First, see which ones are still savable, and discard those that have been damaged too much by mould.
According to Good Housekeeping, take the fabrics outside of your house and brush away the mould on them. Then, proceed to hand wash them if they’re not machine washable.
For machine-washable fabrics, apply liquid detergent, and wash them using hot water and chlorine bleach or non-chlorine bleach.
Note that you should use the highest water temperature possible and the right type of bleach as per the fabric’s care instructions.
2. Tiles and Grout
As mentioned earlier, the bathroom is one area where mould is likely to foster because of its high levels of moisture.
According to The Spruce, to clean tiles and grout, you can opt for commercial cleaners, but a cheaper alternative is chlorine bleach and water. In a gallon of water, add one cup of bleach.
Apply these to areas infested with mould and let it stand “for at least 15 minutes before scrubbing or retreating.” Afterwards, rinse with water and wipe it to dry.
It’s also recommended to keep your windows open until the areas you cleaned are completely dry.
3. Walls and Ceilings
To clean mould from walls and ceilings, Good Housekeeping recommends using a sponge or brush, water, detergent, and chlorine bleach.
First, you’ll need to clean the area with detergent and water along with either a sponge or brush. Let this completely dry first before you apply your next solution.
To a gallon of warm water, mix 3/4 of a cup of chlorine bleach. Apply this to the affected areas with a sponge or brush. Make sure you’re wearing rubber gloves.
Let the bleach solution remain there for five minutes before you scrub, rinse, and air dry.
No time? Just hire a professional cleaner
This is especially recommended if a large area of your house has been affected by mould or if you simply no longer have the time to deal with this problem.
If you’re wondering which cleaning companies to hire, you can check out our recommendations here!
Hopefully, this article will help you get rid of that musty odour from your home. Anyway, now that we’re done talking about unpleasant smells, how about we switch to the opposite?
In other words, how about filling your home with the fragrance of flowers for a change? If you don’t know any flower shops, here are our top picks!
- Best flower delivery shops in Limerick
- Best flower delivery shops in Galway
- Shops that do the best flower delivery in Cork
- Shops that do the best flower delivery in Dublin
Other sources: HomeServe Living