How to eliminate the smell of mold in an apartment and prevent its reoccurrence

Causes of dampness in a private house

What exactly became the source of the appearance of mold in our home, we did not speculate. Because all possible factors fit our situation perfectly. Among the reasons that contribute to the appearance of dampness, the following can be distinguished:

1. Roof. If there are cracks in the roof and the slightest open gaps, any type of precipitation will gradually penetrate into the interior of the dwelling. At first, there are no signs of leakage on the ceiling, but over time, moisture accumulates, causing the development and spread of the fungus.
2. Foundation. The lack of ebb tide was the impetus for the beginning of the destruction of the base of the house. In addition, water pipes passed under the floor, which leaked, and thus the foundation was washed out, moisture accumulated under the floor covering.

1. Walls. They can be partially destroyed and covered with cracks. In our case, mold formed on them due to the absence of a hood in the bathroom and in the hallway.

1. Wall covering. If the room is lined with plastic or other similar material, then it cannot "breathe", which leads to the accumulation of moisture and the formation of mold.
2. Underground. In the absence of supply and exhaust ventilation, dampness accumulates in a short time. In this case, the smell, along with the fungus, spreads throughout the home.
3. Groundwater. With their close occurrence, it is necessary to have high-quality waterproofing, made both inside and outside the house.

Where does the problem come from

Often the smell of dampness in the house is found where there is high humidity in the room. For example, in the shower room, in the cellar, in the kitchen and in corner rooms. In an ordinary apartment, the optimum humidity is 50%, in houses it can be 2-3% higher. She is the reason for the appearance of dampness. It is possible to avoid serious problems if you know the symptoms of dampness:

• musty smell;
• mold on the walls and ceiling;
• steam or condensation on glass;
• all things in the room are damp.

Separately, it should be noted that the increase in humidity in the room can occur in different ways.

Therefore, it is important to determine what caused more dampness.

Pay attention to the ventilation ducts - they are responsible for the normal air circulation in the room, if they do not work as needed, dampness in the house is ensured. One ventilation is often enough to remove dampness

Monitor the state of utilities - even a small pipe leak is enough for the instant appearance of mold and mustiness.

If it turns out that everything is fine in the room, there are no problems, but the smell of dampness is present, then you still need to sound the alarm. The smell of dampness easily penetrates from other rooms. In apartment buildings, there were even cases when the smell of damp came from neighbors. There is nothing good here - mold spores penetrate with the air, which are extremely dangerous for living beings. Mold is a constant companion of dampness, and it entails serious diseases - dermatitis, allergies, bronchial asthma and others.

Avoiding mold odor

The main reason for the appearance of fungus is high humidity in the apartment. It is possible to prevent the appearance of mold by creating an environment unsuitable for its development - dryness. What you need to do to remove the fungus and avoid its reoccurrence:

• check ventilation and fix problems in its operation;
• buy an air dryer;
• ventilate the room daily;
• try not to keep moisture-loving plants in the house, and also not to dry clothes.

Dampness in closets with clothes or bed linen can be easily removed due to humidity.To get rid of it, it is enough to put a few tablets of the activated corner and a bag soaked in essential oil.

It is recommended to regularly inspect problem areas: corners, the floor under the linoleum or carpet, the wall behind the sofa, under the bathroom, in order to notice mold in time. It may be necessary to change the heating system if the apartment is constantly cold and humid. In non-residential premises, it is customary to remove moisture by placing a box with cat litter, soda or crushed activated carbon.

Folk remedies

You can get rid of the smell of mold in the room with the help of folk remedies.

There are many recipes to consider to help you:

Bleach or bleach

Make a 1:10 solution and rinse the room, paying special attention to the places of infection with the fungus. Then - ventilate the room.

Soda

Baking soda is a great help in dealing with unpleasant odors. Soda should be diluted with water, and rub the affected area with a rag. This is a harmless and effective method.

Hydrogen peroxide. In this way, not only the smell is removed, but also the fungal formations themselves. Rub the blackheads with undiluted liquid, and then rinse with water, removing excess moisture. But you should be careful with painted objects, as peroxide can remove the color of the coating along with the mold.

Table vinegar. They should treat moldy areas, and after a while rinse with water. For prevention, this procedure can be repeated in a week.

Ammonia. To remove the smell of mold, and the formations themselves, a solution of water and ammonia 1: 1 will help. The procedure should be repeated several times, after a certain time. Rinse and ventilate the area.

Bleaching powder. This method is perfect for damp, poorly ventilated rooms (basements, utility rooms, as well as kitchens and bathrooms). To do this, sprinkle the substance in the affected areas, leave for a day and rinse with detergents.

Vanillin or lemon juice. These products will help remove odors from leather items.

Remove moisture in a private house: preventive measures

Getting rid of humidity in the house is quite problematic. Therefore, it is recommended to prevent this phenomenon and follow a number of recommendations:

1. Airing. You can reduce the humidity in the room by regularly ventilating the house. In the kitchen, the window should be ajar almost all the time, especially when cooking. Since the vapors emanating from boiling liquids settle on all surfaces of the room, they are quickly absorbed into the walls and become a source of fungus development.
2. Heating. In winter, it is recommended to turn on the heating at the required power level so that the room is warm and comfortable enough. Savings (in our case, residents tried to reduce gas consumption when using AOGV and practically did not heat the house in autumn and spring) can lead to irreversible consequences in the form of fungus growing on all surfaces and the formation of mold even inside the cabinets. In summer, it is better to keep the windows not curtained so that the sun's rays can freely penetrate into the dwelling and "heat" it.
3. Elimination of moisture sources. Wet laundry can be the main culprit in the spread of mold in your home. It is not recommended to dry things indoors without a good ventilation system. In the summer, it is better to use a special drying cabinet, and in winter, things can be placed on the heating radiators.

What is dampness in the house fraught with for health?

Dampness also negatively affects human health. Children and the elderly are particularly affected by mold and mildew.

Among the most common consequences of living in a damp room are the following:

• allergic reactions;
• the development of dermatoses and mycoses;
• the occurrence of asthma attacks;
• ARVI;
• headache;
• constant malaise;
• dizziness;
• nausea;
• insomnia.

If the house smells of dampness, existing chronic illnesses can suddenly flare up. Also, most of the usual seasonal pathologies can, on the contrary, become chronic. Therefore, living in a humid microclimate entails not only negative aesthetic, but also physical problems.

What can cause an unpleasant odor

A foreign smell can appear for various reasons. The main one is mold. In conditions of high humidity and stable temperature, mold microorganisms actively multiply, and in a closed chest of drawers, their waste products quickly begin to give a characteristic odor, which is difficult to get rid of.

The reasons for the appearance of mold:

• Stacking insufficiently dried clothes in the closet;
• Excessive moisture formation inside due to the presence of dampness in the room.

Wood absorbs moisture (and odors) well, creating a comfortable environment for mold. Getting rid of it is the first priority.

In old dressers, there is another unpleasant smell - mothballs. Earlier, balls with this substance were used against moths, but their persistent smell can persist for decades.

Wood's ability to absorb odors is responsible for the presence of odor in almost any antique furniture, unless special measures have been taken to get rid of it. The old musty smell is formed by a complex mixture of aromas that have ever been in this piece of furniture.

Finally, the presence of smokers or active athletes in the house are two more reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

The causes of fungus in the apartment and house

The source of mold is microscopic fungus. In the environment, its spores are found everywhere: in the soil, in the air, on any solid objects. At low concentration, they are invisible. If conditions arise for their rapid growth, then an overgrown colony of fungi can manifest itself in the most negative way:

• black mold on the wall or ceiling;
• unpleasant plaque on shoes, clothes, furniture and other items;

• musty smell.

The main condition that accelerates the development of the colony is high humidity (over 65%). We do not live in the tropics and this parameter of the weather is not constantly high for us. But in some places of the house, constant high humidity is possible:

• bathroom, kitchen with poor ventilation;
• walls, ceiling, windows - any areas of the building where point freezing is possible, since local hypothermia leads to the formation of condensation;
• basement, subfloor in the absence of ventilation.

In the absence of air circulation, even with normal humidity, mustiness may appear, that is, the concentration of fungal spores in the air increases so much that we begin to feel it. The most famous situations:

• switched off refrigerator, washing machine, if they have not been used for a long time;
• cabinets that have not been opened for ventilation for a long time;
• empty house with completely closed vents.

Step 1: eliminate sources

The smell of dampness in the apartment arises for various reasons, which lead to the same result - a high humidity. The problem can be triggered by:

• flooding by neighbors;
• lower or upper floor (basement influence and roof leakage);
• corner apartment (cold walls);
• not insulated walls of a private house;
• poor ventilation or heating;
• dilapidated water pipes.

To remove the cause, you have to make significant investments in roof repairs or replace the old sewage system. However, without eliminating the main source, it will not be possible to get rid of the smell of dampness and dark spots on the walls.

Article verified

editors

Before you get rid of an unpleasant odor in a private home, you need to find the source of the stench.Sometimes the problem arises from breeding mice or a large accumulation of old shoes.If it is not known exactly where the scent comes from, it is necessary to follow a series of procedures that will help either reduce its intensity, or find the epicenter.

If there is an unwanted smell of fried fish or rotten eggs, then it is worth checking first of all the kitchen space or the wiring. In some cases, wires or other parts made of plastic begin to give off fish when heated.

Sewer stench

If it smells distinctly of dead rat or mouse droppings, it is worth checking the sewers and risers in the house, most likely there is a fecal leak somewhere. To eliminate it, it is necessary to clean the toilet and wash the faience product itself. To clean the toilet bowl of plaque and remove the unpleasant odor, you need to pour a little vinegar inside and leave it for several hours. After that, the toilet is washed, all plaque is cleaned with a brush.

It is important to clean your kitchen and bathroom drains. In the kitchen, the pipe can become clogged with household food waste, which, after a while, begins to rot

The problem is especially relevant if the pipe does not have a special elbow, which is filled with water (water seal) and does not allow the stench to enter the room.

In the bathroom, the drain is clogged with other waste - hair and the remains of cosmetics. You can clean the plaque using chemistry or homemade products.

Dirty things in the washing machine are often associated with a sewer pipe by the sense of smell. They should be washed as quickly as possible in hot water, turned on the intensive rinse mode on the typewriter, and the washed clothes should be hung out in the fresh air. After such manipulation, the household appliance is thoroughly wiped with a clean cloth - mold may form behind the cuffs and in the drum.

Mold

By the way, about mold. It is rather difficult to find out that she appeared. And many manage to do this only because of the stench that has arisen from nowhere. Mold smells like moisture, dampness and old object. First of all, you should check all walls and other places for the presence of disputes that have appeared. Removing mold is not easy, but possible. To do this, dissolve one glass of bleach in four liters of water and treat the lesion with the resulting liquid.

During work, it is better to wear personal protective equipment - gloves and a respirator. After the procedure, the surface is wiped first with a damp sponge, and then with a dry cloth. Remember - if the rot has managed to penetrate deep into the building material, then it is better to remove it along with it.

Household mold less than one meter in area is safe. But this does not mean that it cannot but cause an allergic reaction or provoke the development of serious diseases. If the fungus begins to spread too quickly, then you should contact a professional disinfection service. Experts will be able to identify the type of mold and eliminate it in a short time.

Folk methods against dampness

Bleach

Bleach (bleach) - very effective, but dangerous for humans

You need to use it carefully. The solution is prepared by diluting the product with water 1:10.

The following products are not as effective and are not suitable for removing stubborn stains from porous surfaces. But they are also less harmful to the health of the residents.

Vinegar

It is sprayed on the affected areas, after a few hours it is washed off with a damp cloth. The procedure is repeated after a few days.

Baking soda

Not toxic to humans. To achieve the result, a concentrated solution of soda is applied to rotten places, after which it is not washed off with water.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide, undiluted like baking soda, is applied to mold stains. But this method is only suitable for white walls and things, as peroxide discolors.

Ammonia

Ammonia can remove mold, but the procedure is repeated several times.A 1: 1 solution with water is prepared, applied to the lesion site and washed off after a few hours. This solution must not be mixed with other agents, as a chemical reaction may occur.

Reasons for the appearance

The appearance of mold in the apartment is associated with the following factors:

• high humidity due to poor ventilation;
• roof leak;
• freezing of walls;
• low temperature due to poor heating performance;
• insufficient ventilation.

The appearance of mold is accompanied by the formation of dark (or black) plaque on the walls and furnishings. Without appropriate measures, the fungus will spread throughout the room.

It can smell not very pleasant from different rooms - kitchen, bathroom or combined bathroom. It can be smelled in the linen closet and in the resting places of pets. The source may be disguised and not immediately visible to the eye, but once you start general cleaning, everything will fall into place.

The main reason is high humidity in the house. In 90%, this very circumstance is the root of all everyday troubles. How to fix this, read this article. Here are detailed instructions for reducing dampness, there is a video instruction.

There is also a trash can in the kitchen, which occasionally gets a strong smelling waste. Another source of unpleasant stench in the kitchen is the refrigerator, which can also spoil or leak food.

Smoking

Smoking also spreads the smell, as many men try to go out on the balcony less with the onset of winter. An overflowing ashtray gradually thinns the smell that fills the entire small room, absorbs into walls and household items, including towels and toilet paper, cotton swabs. It is rather difficult to neutralize tobacco "amber", as it quickly eats into the surface.

Cabinets and racks

The rooms intended for sleeping sometimes begin to smell musty. The source of the scent is the linen closet, the clothes in which have not been washed for a long time and mold spores have settled in them. This happens because dirty or unwashed clothes with moisture residues get inside. Occasionally, things that have not been worn for a long time begin to grow moldy. The situation can only be saved by regular wet cleaning and the annual busting of seasonal clothes, coupled with washing.

Animals

Another problem is the stench from a pet, especially if it has done its dirty work directly on the sofa or carpet, that is, on moisture-wicking surfaces. If the pet did not make a puddle, but the stench remains, then, perhaps, the matter is in the wool itself and the animal does not interfere with buying.

Apply professional remedies: 4 ways

Folk ways - how to get rid of the smell in the apartment, does not always work the first time. After a while, the smell of mold reappears. There are effective professional means for disinfecting the premises:

1. Dali is a universal antiseptic for all surfaces: brick, wood, concrete, drywall, plaster, etc.

Dali - universal antiseptic

The manufacturer promises:

• effective cleansing;
• the fight against formations of a biological type;
• destruction of fungus, mold, moss, algae.

How to use:

• rinse and dry the surface;
• apply an antiseptic with a spray bottle;
• leave for 24 hours;
• clean the surface with a stiff brush;
• rinse with warm water, wipe dry.
• repeat the procedure weekly.

Price for 600 ml: 150 ₽.

Review

1. Alpa "Fongifluid" - antifungal and anti-mold agent, destroys fungal spores at the molecular level.

Alpa "Fongifluid

The manufacturer promises:

instant cleaning of any surfaces from fungus: rough, loose and smooth.

How to use:

• apply to the surface with a foam roller or soft sponge;
• leave for 2-4 hours;
• rinse with water.

Price for 2 liters: 550 ₽.

Review

1. Olimp Stop-Mold is an antiseptic for instant processing of damp rooms with mold.

Olimp Stop-Mold

The manufacturer promises:

• effective removal of fungal spores at the molecular level;
• for bricks, concrete, plastered and painted surfaces;
• does not contain chlorine, is not toxic.

How to use:

• apply the product to the cleaned surface with a foam roller;
• distribute evenly over the entire area;
• leave for half an hour;
• wash off with warm water;
• wipe dry.

Price for 1 liter: 100 ₽.

Review

1. Biotol spray is a biological antiseptic.

Biotol spray

The manufacturer promises:

• effective removal of mold and odor;
• safe - does not contain chlorine.

How to use:

• apply to the cleaned surface;
• distribute the product evenly with a soft brush (do not use hard metal brushes);
• leave for 2 hours;
• wash off and dry the cleaned area.

Price for 500 ml: 400 ₽.

Review

Precautions: Before starting work, do not forget to wear gloves and sterile masks

Folk remedies against mold

There are many DIY home remedies for mold removal.

Bleach containing chlorine. Common whiteness is often used. It is diluted in proportions of 1:10, and applied to the affected areas. Chlorine kills spores and cleans the surface. The disadvantage of this method is that the processing sites take on a yellowish color. After drying the treated area, you will have to make cosmetic repairs.

Ammonia is an irreplaceable assistant in the house. We dilute alcohol with water in equal parts, and spray on the affected areas, leave for two hours. Then wipe the treated surface with a damp cloth and dry.

We spray table vinegar by analogy in its pure form in places where mold has accumulated. After two hours, wipe and dry the surface. Using this method, it is advisable to re-treat after ten days.

We also use hydrogen peroxide in its pure form. We apply it to the areas of the spread of the fungus, mainly on large black dots. After a while, wash off the peroxide with a copious stream of water. With a dry cloth, wipe off excess moisture and dry the surface.

Baking soda. An effective remedy for removing stubborn stains. Prepare a solution of 200 milliliters of water and one teaspoon of baking soda. Wipe the affected area with a soft sponge. Then wash it off with water and carry out the procedure again. No need to rinse again. The presence of soda on the affected surface will serve as protection against new fungus.

Solutions based on copper sulfate are effective methods for eliminating fungus:

• We dilute 1 kg of copper or 1.5 iron sulfate for 10 liters of water. You can dilute both ingredients in 0.5 kg each.
• We dilute 1.5 kg of copper sulfate and up to 2 liters of acetic acid for 10 liters of water.
• Pour 900 grams of borax, 0.5 kg of boric acid and 1.5 liters of vinegar into 10 liters of water.

Prepare the solution of your choice based on the ingredients on hand. Preheat it to 70 degrees and spray on the affected areas. Funds based on copper sulfate and boric acid are prepared in large quantities for the purpose of processing bulk areas.

Main reasons

The reasons for the appearance of a smell in an apartment can be not only animals or humans. Often what is stored incorrectly is lost. Then it is difficult to escape from the stench. You can correct the problem by identifying the source of the odor.

Household items

Appliances in the kitchen often cause unpleasant odors. When you open the refrigerator, you feel that some product has deteriorated. It smells bad and ice stuck to the freezer.

Wet, poorly dried laundry is stored in cabinets. And in the laundry baskets there are dirty towels, clothes for more than one day. Over time, it begins to smell like mold throughout the house.

Alcohol and smoking

The room where people smoke is saturated with smoke. After the holiday, the aromas of fumes remain in the rooms for a long time. Upholstered furniture and clothes strongly absorb odors.

Pets

Our smaller brothers brighten up our loneliness. But it is necessary to keep dogs and cats in the house correctly. Otherwise, the smell of urine, excrement penetrates even into neighboring apartments.

Expired food or trash can

If a person wants to spoil the smell in the apartment, it is worth throwing waste after cleaning the fish into the trash can. Chunks of rotten meat or meat dishes in the refrigerator leave behind a sickening aroma that is difficult to get rid of for a long time.

Sewerage, poor ventilation, unscrupulous cleaning, storage of dirty things

The scent of mold and dirty things can always be present in the bathroom if the room is not cleaned in time. Problems with siphons, clogged sinks and toilets lead to the smell of sewage in the apartment for a long time.

With a poor-quality hood or dust-clogged ventilation, the aromas of the house are not at all pleasant.

Home remedies for fungus and indoor dampness

There are many industrial compositions for combating fungus and how to choose them, how to use, check with specialists. We offer inexpensive, but quite effective home-made tools made from scrap materials:

• Bleach will eliminate almost all types of fungi and spores. It must be remembered that under its influence, some things can deteriorate. For surface treatment, use a mixture of 10 parts water and 1 part bleaching agent.
• Hydrogen peroxide 3% solution, which is applied to moldy surfaces by spraying, and after 10 minutes of exposure, all covered areas are thoroughly cleaned mechanically.
• Vinegar and baking soda: The affected areas are first covered with a layer of dry baking soda and then covered with vinegar. At the end of the chemical reaction, all flaws can be easily removed or washed off with water.
• A mixture of water and laundry soap can also act as a natural antiseptic and can be used to combat mold.
• Tea tree oil, like soap solution, is used for minor problems. The method consists in applying a mixture of oil and water in a ratio of 1:50 with a spray bottle and leaving to dry naturally.

Getting rid of the smell of mold with folk remedies

There are hundreds of popular ways to get rid of the musty smell. How to remove the smell of mold is described in the following folk recipes. We get rid of the smell of mold once and for all with the help of such means:

• Baking soda. Surfaces with an unpleasant moldy odor are treated with a damp cloth. It must be dipped into a container of water with soda and rubbed on the affected areas. It is even possible to use this method for things that children use.
• You can use coffee grounds to remove mold from cookware. For this, the affected objects are rubbed with coffee grounds and left for half an hour. After that, rinse and wipe dry.
• You can get rid of the unpleasant odor of dampness with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide is suitable for both flat and rough surfaces and helps to get rid of not only odors, but also visible signs of fungus.
• How to remove unpleasant odors with vinegar? A small piece of cloth is moistened with 9% vinegar and items that smell like mold are treated.
• You can remove the smell from damp household premises (basement, bathroom, kitchen) using bleach. The room must be covered with a substance and left for a day. After that, the lime is swept away with a broom and the room is rinsed with water and detergent. After cleaning, the room requires ventilation.
• Lemon juice or vanillin is used to remove mustiness from leather items.
• Borax solution is an effective remedy for damp odor control. It is diluted as follows: half a glass of powder is dissolved in a liter of water. This product does not emit poisons and is completely safe.And also the borax solution prevents the new appearance of mold after its removal.

Smooth and hard surfaces are treated with a mixture of ammonia and water, in a one-to-one ratio. It is strictly forbidden to mix ammonia with bleach. What is it fraught with? When these two substances interact, they release a poisonous gas that can significantly harm human health.

Ammonia in combination with water will serve as a good helper in the fight against mold.

To get rid of musty odors on clothes, they must be washed at a high temperature and ironed, preferably with steam.