6 Reasons Your Home May Be Musty
The home can be musty for a number of reasons. It could be a lack of airflow or too many leaks here and there. This post gives 6 reasons for mustiness, and tips to help make the home airier, less humid, and more pleasant to live in.
CARE
Nicole Lasam
7/31/20253 min read
Ever wonder why there is hardly any evidence of early or precolonial life in our tropical islands? It isn't that we had no civilisation to speak of; rather it's that the climate destroys many things by humidity. So, what evidence we have of our precolonial period can be found in the gold items and the copper plate documents, and maybe some clay jars, too, but that doesn't mean those were the only things our ancestors used!
The challenges of the past haven't changed. Even today, the tropical climate continuously makes it difficult to preserve the things that we keep in our homes. From not-so-often used clothing and sheets to piles of old paper and books, many homes have plenty of fodder for mold to grow on; just leave them to fester for long enough and you've got a mold problem and a musty house. I got to thinking about this because of the monsoon rains about two weeks ago, which forced us to close our windows to keep the rains out. We had to use the air-con to control the humidity, which kept climbing higher and higher. The air flowing in and out of our home was the key in keeping the mustiness at bay, so having lost it (because we closed our windows), we had to use the next best thing.
What causes mustiness at home?
Leaving mold to grow in the house is not a good thing because mold is the cause of many allergies and illnesses. And when the smell of the mustiness seeps out of your house, you know you have a big problem. How to address this? Consider the list below to find out the source of mustiness and see what can be done about it.
Having so many things squirreled away. It's easy to collect (accumulate?) things such as books, documents, souvenirs, and whatnot. In our house, just one school year is equivalent to a shelfload worth of paper, which can easily become musty in a humid home. For those with limited space, it may be wise to trim down on the things we keep shelved, stuffed in, or piled up in storage spaces as these spaces can retain water (from plain and simple vapor/humidity) and create a lovely home for spores.
Not regularly cleaning and drying the bathroom and the areas with a water source. We cannot rid our homes of water sources; we need water to stay clean. So it's wise to keep the areas with a water source (such as bathrooms, the kitchen sink, and other washing areas) as dry as possible all the time. Be mindful of leaks and the air flowing in and out of the area to ensure thate there is air volume exchange. This air volume exchange brings with it the humidity that lingers in the air; when the air is constantly replaced, it discourages mold growth.
Closing the windows to trap air and not let it out. In relation to above, stop the habit of keeping the air cooped up inside the house. Open the windows, or if not possible, use the air-con to replace the air. It is a bad habit to use the air-con to cool the room, then switch it off to "trap" the cool air and linger in it, which again increases humidity in the space.
Leaving the home alone for long periods. Leaving the home for long periods sometimes cannot be helped because you will need to go away on trips or other reasons. When you leave the house, it's likely that you will close the windows and the curtains, which makes the home dark and humid. When humidity increases outside, it can also affect inside the house. Being away constantly for long periods gives mold plenty of time to do its musty job. Perhaps one thing you can do when going away for a long period is to close the windows but leave the curtains open (sunlight kills mold). Have someone shut the water supply while you are out. Then, as soon as you return, open the windows to change the air.
Keeping things that get moist (like shoes, socks) in airless areas (or what we call "kulob"). Air out moist or damp things in open spaces to keep them from becoming a haven for mold to grow. If you have a shoe cabinet or closet, place a dessicant inside to help keep the moisture controlled.
Buying not-well-made particle board furniture to furnish the home. Furniture made from low quality particle board are more susceptible to humidity-caused mold. Especially if you use them for storage of other humidity-retaining materials like paper and cloth. If you do have these types of furniture, place them in an area of the house that gets ample sunlight to discourage mold growth on them.
These are just some of the biggest reasons for increasing the mustiness at home. When keeping house, it's also good to take care of the things you don't see!