Find and remove the cause of a musty smell, then clean, dry and ventilate the room properly.
MS-01Open up and air the roomOpen windows on opposite sides of the room if you can, plus the door, to get air moving through. Leave for 15-20 minutes. This clears trapped, stale air before you start hunting for the cause.
MS-02Track down the sourceCheck corners, behind furniture, under rugs and carpets, and around windowsills for damp patches, black speckling, or a musty patch of fabric. Look at window frames and glass for condensation marks. Musty smells almost always mean damp or mould somewhere, even if you can't see it straight away.
MS-03Check extractor fans and vents are workingIf the room has an extractor fan, switch it on and check it's pulling air, not just making noise. Check trickle vents on windows are open, not painted shut. Go outside and check air bricks aren't blocked by plants, leaves or rendering.
MS-04Treat any mould you findWear disposable gloves and a mask before touching mould. Spray a mould and mildew treatment on the affected area, leave it for the dwell time on the bottle, then wipe off with a disposable cloth. Bag the cloth and gloves and put them straight in the bin.
MS-05Wash soft furnishingsMusty smells cling to fabric. Wash curtains, cushion covers and any rugs at the hottest temperature the care label allows. Hang them outside or somewhere well-ventilated to dry fully before putting them back.
MS-06Wipe down hard surfacesMix white vinegar with water (roughly one part vinegar to four parts water) and wipe skirting, windowsills and any tiled areas. Dry everything thoroughly afterwards with a clean cloth, since damp surfaces left to dry slowly can start the smell all over again.
MS-07Deodorise the carpetSprinkle bicarbonate of soda evenly over the carpet and leave it for a few hours, or overnight if the smell is strong. Vacuum thoroughly afterwards, going over each area twice to pick it all up.
MS-08Deal with ongoing dampIf a wall feels damp to the touch or the smell comes straight back, run a dehumidifier in the room for a few hours a day until it dries out. Keep the room gently heated rather than cold, since cold surfaces are where condensation forms.
MS-09Keep it from coming backLeave trickle vents open day to day, and use the extractor fan every time you cook, shower or dry washing indoors. Air the room for 5-10 minutes each day, and don't push furniture right up against external walls, since that traps damp air behind it.
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