How to Get Rid of Dampness Smell & Musty Smells

Musty smells: Dampness and mould can cause several distinct odour problems in homes and buildings, which are often musty, earthy or sour smells. And they're persistent too.

Chemical-like smell: Some types of mould can produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that evaporate into the air. These can sometimes create a smell that's like alcohol or a fermented odour.

Rotting odours: In more severe cases, dampness can lead to the growth of bacteria and the decay of organic materials, such as wood or insulation. This can produce a rotting or decomposing smell, which is often stronger and more offensive than a simple musty odour.

Health risks

These odours aren't just unpleasant. Prolonged exposure to damp and mould can lead to respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and other health problems. 

At some point (and sooner rather than later), it's essential to address the root cause of the dampness and remove all mould and mildew. Of course, if you're concerned about your health, you should seek expert medical advice.

Eliminating musty and damp odours

• Deep clean and dry the area: The best defence is to clean and dry the area. Steam clean carpets and upholstery to remove any mould spores and odours. Ensure these items dried thoroughly afterward. The problem many people have is that the damp comes back, as does the musty smell.
• Odours can linger for some time: Musty smells can linger long after the mould has been cleaned because the odour-causing compounds can permeate porous materials like wood, fabric, and drywall. Even after the source of mould is removed, these materials can continue to release odours unless cleaned or replaced.
• Sunlight exposure: Expose affected items to direct sunlight if possible, as UV rays can help kill mould and neutralise odours.
• Baking soda, white vinegar and coffee grounds: These can all help neutralise musty odours. Place bowls of them in the room, around the affected areas. This can be quite a chore over time, so we created a no-hassle solution, the Smell Away® (see below).
• Activated charcoal: Activated charcoal is an effective odour absorber. Place it in small containers around the room or area. Or, if you want an easy solution, use a product with an activated carbon filter such as the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser & Dust Remover.

The Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser eliminates the musty smells caused by damp and mould. It act's as a room deodorizer

Absorbs musty odours and traps them

The Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser contains ingredients that absorb and trap odour molecules from the air, including those responsible for the musty smells produced by mould and dampness. By capturing these odour molecules in the unit, it stops them from circulating in the environment.

The activated carbon filter is made from carbon that has been treated to create a large surface area with many tiny pores. When air passes through the filter, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air are attracted to, and trapped by, the carbon.

Musty wardrobe solution

Do your clothes smell like they’ve been locked away in a tomb? The culprit may be your wardrobe — trapped musty air, dampness, and stale fabric. The Smell Away® neutralises odours at the source, getting rid of mildew and musty staleness without masking it like air fresheners. Simply place thr Smell Away® in the bottom of the wardrobe, evenly space the clothes out in the wardrobe so air can circulate, and switch on. Don't close the wardrobe completely — leave a small gap of about 1cm (half an inch).

Neutralises odour molecules caused by damp

The Smell Away® works by chemically neutralising the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by mould, which are the primary source of musty smells. Smell Away’s activated carbon filter helps to remove VOCs from indoor air. This process alters the molecular structure of the odour-causing compounds, rendering them odourless.

Improving air quality

In addition to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the activated carbon filter within the Smell Away® also removes airborne dust and dirt, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

Built to last

The Smell Away® is powerful. It can run continuously, which some of our customers have to do when experiencing particularly strong or persistent odours. The filter inside the Smell Away® lasts 1-2 years of heavy use, and replacement filters can be purchased from this website.

Less than half a penny (1p) per hour

The Smell Away® is designed to be budget-friendly. It consumes very little energy: just 14 watts (14W) per hour of electricity, meaning that the average UK customer pay less than half of 1p to run the Smell Away® an hour. 😊

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the national average price per pence of kWh of electricity is 22p (£0.22), as of July 2024. So the calculation for Smell Away® usage is: 0.014kWh x 22p = 0.308p … less than half a penny!

Customers who've used the Smell Away® to get rid of musty, damp smells

“We were experiencing a dampish smell in the basement“
“We were experiencing a dampish smell in the basement and tried a dehumidifier but it had no effect. So I did a web search and the Smell Away was the first product I found that claimed it could solve the problem, which it has. It does what it says on the tin.”

Customer from Keston

“Highly effective product“
“We bought a Smellaway to combat a sour smelling odour from damp and mould. I noticed a marked improvement the next day and will now use it regularly to manage cooking smells from a small kitchen. Tried a number of other products on the market but this was much more effective”

Customer from Southwalk

“Effective but takes time“
“We’ve had the SA1 for a couple of weeks now, and it seems to be working well. We’ve just moved to an old house with some very musty rooms - the SA1 has definitely made a big difference, but it needed to be running for a day or two to really be effective.”

Customer from Liverpool

Get to grips with mould-related problems before early autumn, if possible

Musty smells are more common in certain seasons, especially in late summer and early autumn, when humidity levels are higher. This is because mould tends to grow more rapidly in warm, humid environments, leading to a stronger release of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and, consequently, a stronger musty smell.

For that reason, it is recommended that you put the Smell Away® to work before the humidity starts to build in the environment. The Smell Away® will work year-round, but the smell will be easier to tackle before the humidity starts to rise.

Try Smell Away® risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee

If you're not satisfied within 30 days of purchase, we'll refund your money.

Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser & Dust Remover is the no-hassle, easy solution for remove odours of all kinds, including musty smells. It's energy-efficient and costs less that half of a penny (1p) to run in the UK for an hour. It's about the same size as an air purifier and is incredibly easy to use, and ensures your room is free of lingering. Plus, it cleans the air by removing airborne dirt, dust, pathogens and VOCs. 

If you're tired of dealing with persistent musty odours, give the Smell Away® Odour Neutraliser a try — you won't be disappointed!