Mold Odors

Mold odors in a house or building can be distraction or worse, if the odor is really strong. Many people suffer allergic reactions to odors, and mold can be a big cause of those reactions. But, eliminating the odors created by molds is simple, if done right. By taking a few sensible steps, most any mold odor can be eliminated.

Find the Source of the Odor: Mold can sometimes be hard to spot. It likes dark, dank and moist places. Investigate those areas in a house first, and make a list of their locations. Check for any water leaks, or areas of high (above 50 percent) humidity. There are thousands of different types of mold, but most are easily seen, so concentrate on the spotting any mold buildups.

Treating the Moldy Source: There are a number of things a person can do to eliminate a moldy odor. The single best step is to get rid of the mold itself. Washing down a surface with hot, soapy water works well. Then, a treatment with any store-bought mold killer sprayer followed by more drying and treatment, if necessary. Also, a mechanical vapor steam cleaner may do the trick.

Tough Molds: If the mold is more embedded than thought, you can also make up a chlorine bleach and water solution to help tackle the problem. Mix about 8 ounces of bleach into 64 ounces of water and scrub down any moldy surfaces. Always use rubber gloves when doing so, to prevent any skin problems from using chemical mixes.

Moldy Smells: After eliminating any mold, any water buildups and lessening the humidity to below 50 percent, the left-behind mold odors can be treated in a number of ways. One of them is with a common odor neutralizing spray, which can be found on most supermarket or home store shelves. Also, thoroughly washing, dry-cleaning, or otherwise cleaning up the once mold-ridden surface or item will serve to get rid of the last of the moldy odor left behind.

Odor Proofing: Prevent mold and mold odors from getting into a house, building, clothes or other items in the first place. If the humidity is above 50 percent, install a dehumidifier. This will dry out the air and prevent the release of odors from mold. It also deprives the mold of the moisture it needs to grow. Use a good odor-neutralizing spray as needed to stop further odors in a home or on items.