How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell? : Mildew is a fungus, a living organism, which often leaves an unpleasant smell in the area where it is formed. The odor can be caused by a number of things, from humidity, excess moisture or poor ventilation to excessively warm conditions. Mildew can grow and thrive in several places, such as bathrooms, basements, storage sheds, air ducts, cars, books and in the corners of a room. Fortunately, getting rid of the odor is not impossible or a difficult task. With a few simple items, you can easily get rid of mildew smell and make your home smell clean and fresh again.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Mildew Smell
Here are a few effective home remedies to help you eliminate the odor of mildew from your home:
1. Homemade Solution
Scrubbing the affected area with an effective cleaning agent is one of the best ways to get rid of unpleasant odors from your house. You can make an effective solution to scrub mildew away with a few ingredients that are always available in stores. Once you have this homemade cleaning scrub, you can start the task of getting rid of the mildew smell that is bothering everyone at home.
How to Use:
- Mix 2 parts of white vinegar, 1 part of boric acid, 2 parts of hydrogen peroxide and 4 parts of water.
- Scrub the affected area with the solution until you get rid of the mildew and odor.
Note: Keep in mind that you should not use an excessive amount of the solution as it may cause an increase in the moisture levels in that area.
Related: How to get rid of mold from home?
2. Tea Tree Oil
Another effective way to get rid of mildew smell from a room or any other affected area is to make a solution containing tea tree oil. This is a safe and natural solution that will not harm children or pets in your home. Tea tree oil is a highly useful ingredient in home remedies for a number of problems so it is handy to always have a bottle at home.
How to Use:
- Mix 1 teaspoon and 1 cup of water.
- Shake well and pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution over the affected area and let it dry naturally.
- The mildew odor will fade away within a couple of days.
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3. Grapefruit Seed Extract
You will find grapefruit seed extract as an ingredient in many range of products nowadays, but did you ever think that it would be effective against mildew odor?
How to Use:
- Mix 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract and 2 cups of water.
- Shake well and pour the solution into a spray bottle.
- Spray the affected area thoroughly with your homemade anti-mildew solution.
- Allow it to dry naturally.
- The mildew smell will go away in a few days.
Related: How to get rid of stink bugs with home remedies?
4. Vodka
You can use vodka to get rid of mildew smell from almost any area that is affected. You do not need to use expensive vodka for this home remedy. Buy a cheap bottle of vodka from the store and get ready to eliminate foul mildew smell from your home.
How to Use:
- Pour the vodka into a spray bottle.
- Spray the mildew-infested area and leave it for 15 minutes.
- Scrub the area with an old toothbrush.
- Repeat if necessary until the foul odor is completely eliminated.
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Get Rid of Mildew Smell from Clothes
Before you try any home remedy to eliminate the foul odor of mildew from clothes, make sure that you check your washing machine first, as it could also be a mildew source. Clean your machine properly and dry your clothes out in the sun instead of using a dryer.
Here are a few effective home remedies to eliminate the nasty odor from clothes:
5. Borax
When it comes to removing mildew odor from clothes, borax is one of the best things. Not only does itt get rid of the odor, but it also leaves your clothes and sheets smelling fresh and clean.
How to Use:
- Add ½ cup of borax to 1 cup of hot water.
- Mix well until the borax is completely dissolved and then after filling it with water and clothes, pour the mixture into your washing machine.
- Run the washer for as long as possible, with the hottest and longest cycle that your clothes can handle.
Related: How to get rid of termites from your house?
6. Vinegar
This is another excellent ingredient for eliminating mildew smell from clothes. It can be used in your washing machine to get rid of the foul odor of mildew from your clothes, towels, bed linen, etc.
How to Use:
- After loading your washing machine with hot water and clothes with mildew smell, pour in 1 cup of vinegar.
- Let it run without detergent.
- Add detergent to the same load after some time and run the washer again.
- Dry the clothes properly once washed.
Note: You can also add 1 cup of vinegar while rinsing the clothes. This can help in eliminating the odor of mildew completely.
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7. Ammonia
One of the most common items in your home to be affected by mildew odor is towels. Ammonia works very well when you need to remove this nasty smell from towels. Needless to say, it is unsanitary and unhealthy to use towels affected by mildew, which is why it is important to curb the problem as soon as possible.
How to Use:
- Add laundry detergent to the washing machine after filling it with boiling water and wash your towels.
- While rinsing the towels, add ½ to 1 cup of ammonia. Allow the machine to wash the load.
- You can either dry the towels in the dryer or take them out to dry in the sun.
Related: How to get rid of gnats with home remedies?
Mildew is a nasty problem that affects almost every home. If you notice the smell of mildew in any area of your home or on your clothes, quickly use one of the home remedies mentioned above and you can be sure that your home smells nice and fresh once you get rid of mildew smell.
