Few scents are harder to ignore than mildew smell. It’s musty, it’s overpowering, and it seems to cling to every inch of the room. If you have a carpet that’s infested with mildew smell, it’s time to take action.
What Causes Mildew?
Like mold, mildew is often caused by excessive moisture on a given surface. You may get mildew from a leak in your home, a bad spill, or high humidity.
In this case we’re looking at mildew in carpets, but mildew can also grow on towels, clothes, upholstered furniture, and other fabrics. Mildew causes allergy-like reactions in some, making it important to take care of fast.
What Does it Smell Like?
Mildew is generally easy to spot thanks to its distinct appearance and smell.
Mildew looks a lot like mold (both refer to fungi) — have a wide variety of colors, from white-to-black, and stains a carpet like dirt. The smell is very distinct, and very unpleasant. If you see the stains and smell the smell, you likely have mildew.
How to Get Rid of Mildew
Before we get into the smell, let’s briefly learn how to get rid of the mildew itself.
The easiest option is always calling a cleaning service that specializes in mildew and mold. They’ll take care of the mildew professionally and efficiently.
If you want to try yourself, you have to first dry the area/property . Then you can apply heavy-duty cleaning solutions or antifungal productsspecific each situation (clothes, carpet, etc.)
Now, scrub that area until it’s clean, and repeat if needed. In case of clothes, carpet or other things that can be removed, one solution that can help, especially with the mildew smell, is to put it in the sunlight.Hopefully, the mildew is gone by the end. If not, it’s time to call the pros.
Even if you get rid of the mildew, the smell sometimes remains. If that’s the case, you need to learn how to remove it once and for all.
Get Rid of Mildew Smell in a Carpet
One of the best ways to get rid of it is with an air purifier.
A good air purifier will easily remove most of the smell of mildew from your home. Not only that, it will help to expel many of the mildew or mold spores, letting you breathe easy. If you have allergies or asthma, an air purifier will make your life just that much easier.
How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Clothes
Sometimes, clothes pick up the smell from your washing machine.
Start by inspecting your washer for mold, and cleaning it out if it has any. If you want to perform a deep-clean, disassemble the washer entirely. Now that the washer is clean, give your clothes another wash, with soap and water, to remove the smell.
If the smell won’t leave your clothes, or you see mold/mildew stains, you can wash them with some chlorine-free bleach. If the clothes are white you can use household bleach solution (very diluted) with room temperature water, but remember that bleach can weaken the fabric fibers and are potentially harmful for your health. Some also suggest the use of vinegar to remove the smell, but is not complete guaranteed that will work. A good way to get rid of it is putting your clothes in a well ventilated place with plenty of sunlight.
Note: Do NOT mix bleach with ammonia or vinegar. This creates a potentially deadly toxic fume. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and check clothing label before washing your clothes. Moreover, if you use a bleach solution remember to use protective equipment and keep the area with proper ventilation during the cleaning process.
How to Get Mildew Smell Out of Towels
Towels are meant to dry things, so it conjures up a little extra anger when they smell of mildew. That smell can even get on other surfaces you might wipe with the towel!
To get that smell out of your towels, in addition to washing with soap and water, you can also do the same process as you did with the clothes, ventilating and exposing to sunlight or adding vinegar when washing.
Give them a dry afterwards and you should get fresh-smelling towels.
When in Doubt, Purify It Out
No matter what is causing the mildew smell, and air purifier is often the best solution.
From furniture to carpeting, curtains, and sheets, a good air purifier will capture and kill the odor. Don’t take our word for it, though — look at the science. All Airfree purifiers are backed by scientific datasheets that show exactly how effective they are in removing odor, mold, and viruses from the air.
By combining an air purifier with the other methods above, you can ensure that mildew smell goes away..
Simply leaving your cleaned clothes in a room with a good air purifier may be able to alleviate an extra bit of that smell. Beyond that, air purifiers can remove viruses from the air that may come from your clothes, including the one that causes the COVID-19.
Smell You Never, Mildew Smell
Mildew smell may be strong, but it’s not invincible. If you’re struggling to remove mildew smell from you home, follow this guide to take care of it fast. Don’t let mildew smell run your life any longer!
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