All homes need a certain amount of humidity to be healthy. It’s when the humidity level gets too high for too long that things get smelly. This How-To Guide explains the 6 most common surfaces in a home that can develop a musty smell over time, and offers expert tips for eliminating this unpleasant odor. Read on for proven techniques and odor removal products that are safe for people, pets and planet.
In this guide:
- What’s the best home odor remover: Neutralizer or deodorizer?
- How odor neutralizers work
- The right technique for getting rid of odors in a home
- Why it’s important to identify the source of the damp smell
- Top 6 surfaces in a home with a damp or musty smell
- How to get rid of musty odors in the house (humid or damp smells)
- What to do if you still smell the musty odor after the first treatment
- Where to find Purodora products
What’s the best home odor remover: Neutralizer or deodorizer?
The particles behind a home’s strong, lingering odors such as urine, cigarette and musty smells can seep into all sorts of surfaces. When it comes to eliminating any unwanted smell, you have to locate the source of the odor and neutralize it.
Unfortunately, few products sold in stores are actually odor neutralizers; they simply mask or deodorize the smell. Some merely create an unpleasant mix of odors that can make the situation worse. Even if these products do work for a while, the unwanted odor will eventually return.
To completely eliminate stubborn odors for good, you need a product containing an odor neutralizer that’s specific to the molecule behind the odor.
Purodora products use advanced odor-neutralizing technology to eliminate even the most stubborn odors on contact (including products that completely eliminate skunk smell).
How odor neutralizers work
Purodora odor neutralizers quickly and permanently eliminate all types of tough odor problems, including cigar, wet dog smell and urine. They even eliminate odors that have been around for years. As soon as the product comes into contact with the source of the odor, it molecularly binds to it to neutralize the odor. The odor instantly disappears. The only smell Purodora products leave behind is a fresh, pleasant scent.
See the science behind this advanced odor neutralizing technology and why Purodora products are guaranteed to work!
Pro Tip
For best results, make sure the odor neutralizer reaches ALL of the unwanted odor
To eliminate unwanted smells completely and permanently, odor neutralizers need to come into contact with the entire source of the odor. For deeply embedded odors, a few treatments may be needed for the product to reach all of the odor-causing molecules and neutralize them entirely.
The right technique for getting rid of odors in a home
Having the right products is important, but it will only take you so far. You also need to use the right odor-removing technique. Below we explain the best odor-removing techniques and products that are proven to work.
Why it’s important to identify the source of the damp smell
If you’re noticing a musty smell in your home, the very first thing you should do is try to identify and correct the source of the problem as quickly as possible. Until you do, the musty smell will just keep returning. Be on the lookout for tell-tale signs such as damp walls and floors, condensation in windows, mold in corners or white streaks on concrete. These can all be red flags that your home has a more serious moisture problem that needs fixing.
While you’re inspecting your home, keep the following in mind:
- Have you ever had a water infiltration problem?
- Are there any cracks in the foundation or leaky windows?
- Is the house standing on mostly loamy soil?
- Is the plumbing in good condition?
- Did the sewer ever back up?
- Is the distance between the gutters and the home to regulation?
Once you’ve identified and corrected the source of your humidity problem, you can begin treating the affected surfaces with the right odor removal products. The good news is that you only need a couple of products to get rid of musty smells from any surface in your home. We recommend using Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer and Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics.
Here’s why:
Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer
- Quickly eliminates musty smells from concrete, wood, carpets, walls and ceilings
- Neutralizes odors, doesn’t mask them
- Easy-to-use product, no rinsing required
- Leaves a fresh clean scent for several hours
- Won’t damage or dull the finish on wood floors
- Safe for people, pets and planet
- Leaves a pleasant herbs & peach scent in the air for several hours after use
Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics
- Quickly eliminates stubborn odors caused by cigarettes, cigars and moisture in fabrics
- Neutralizes odors, doesn’t mask them
- Easy-to-use product, no diluting or rinsing required
- Alcohol-based neutralizer: works on contact and then quickly evaporates to eliminate the risk of fabrics mildewing
- Won’t stain fabrics or metals
- Also great for use on car seats, carpets & seatbelts
- Leaves a pleasant peach & sandalwood scent in the air for several hours after use
Top 6 surfaces in a home with a damp or musty smell
Most of us are familiar with that musty basement smell, but dampness and humidity can seep into just about any surface of a home. Unfortunately, some surfaces really grab on to that damp odor and don’t easily let go. These include:
- Closets & clothing
- Floors & walls
- Ventilation system
- Carpets
- Upholstered furniture
- Concrete & untreated wood
How to get rid of musty odors in the house (humid or damp smells)
Assuming you don’t have a water infiltration or serious humidity problem on your hands, getting rid of damp and musty smell from your home is actually quite easy when you’re working with the right products. Here’s how to tackle specific surfaces throughout the house.
Eliminating musty smell in closets & clothing
Step 1. Check the closet for mildew and signs of water damage. If you don’t see any traces of mold or water infiltration, clean your closet with Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer.
- Mix ½ cup (120 ml) of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer in 1 gallon (4 L) of warm water.
- Spray affected surface with solution and allow to air dry. No need to rinse
- A second application of the product may be necessary if the odor persists after the first treatment.
Step 2. Smell your clothes, which can sometimes turn musty if left untouched in closets for a long time.
- Spray Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics directly on clothes and allow to air dry. No need to rinse.
- (Don’t be fooled by the name; it also does a great job of eliminating musty odors on all fabrics.)
Eliminating musty smell from floors & walls
If a specific room or area in your house or apartment smells damp – such as a basement, bathroom or laundry room – treating the walls and floors can often do wonders.
- Dilute one part of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer in five parts of water.
- Wash the floors and walls and allow to air dry. No need to rinse.
Eliminating musty smell in a ventilation system
The ducts in a ventilation system or air exchanger can sometimes develop unpleasant odors that eventually spread throughout your home.
- Remove the filters from the system.
- Spray filters with ½ cup (120 ml) of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer mixed with 1 gallon (4 L) of warm water.
- Immediately reinstall the filters while still wet and turn on the ventilation system or the air conditioner.
- Run the system continuously so that the product can be distributed in the ducts and throughout the house.
- Respray filters every 2 hours until smell is completely gone.
Pro Tip
You can repeat this treatment on a regular basis to keep the inside of your home smelling clean and fresh.
Eliminating musty smell in carpets
If you have a carpet in a room with an odor problem, chances are it has absorbed the smell, too.
- Mix one part of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer in five parts of water and add to a carpet cleaner.
- Clean the carpet with the machine.
- Use fans to dry; no rinsing required.
Pro Tip
Before cleaning a carpet with any product, always test a non-visible area first to ensure the product won’t discolor the carpet.
Eliminating musty smell from upholstered furniture
Got upholstered furniture in a musty room or basement? You guessed it: it will probably develop a musty smell, too.
Spray Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics directly on the fabric while pressing down on the cushion with your hand to help the product penetrate deeper.
Allow the surface to air dry. No rinsing required.
Pro Tip
If the musty smell has seeped really deep into the cushions, inject the product with a syringe and needle directly into the cushions. It may sound strange, but it really works!
Did you know?
Purodora Smoke Odor Neutralizer for Fabrics is an alcohol-based product that eliminates odors upon coming into contact with the odor-causing molecules. It then quickly evaporates to leave fabrics dry. That means no risk of mildewing – even if you inject the product deeply in a thick cushion.
Eliminating musty smell on concrete & untreated wood
Here’s how you can eliminate the musty smell on concrete or rough wood walls and floors:
- Dilute one part of Purodora Damp Odor Neutralizer in five parts of water.
- Spray the diluted product directly on the surface and allow to air dry. No rinsing required.
What to do if you still smell the musty odor after the first treatment
Don’t worry. Just be patient and keep at it.
It can sometimes take a couple of treatments to completely eliminate the musty smell from a surface – especially if the odor has been around for a long time. Don’t get discouraged. If 75% of the smell is gone within a few days, it means the treatment is working, but that there are still some odor-causing molecules left to neutralize. Keep treating the surfaces. Eventually you will eliminate 100% of the damp smell from your home, once and for all.
Where to find Purodora products
Purodora odor neutralizers are available online and at many pet supply stores. To find the retailer nearest you, consult our Find Us section!
We want you to be completely satisfied with our products. If you have any questions or comments, contact us by email, phone or live chat! We’re here to help!
