How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell After a Flood

After a flood has affected your home, it’s important to focus on the smell. You don’t want to wrinkle your nose every time you walk through the living room. Once the deodorizing stage of restoration has been done, you may still have to work on the overall smell of your home. A few ideas can get your home smelling the way that you want once again.

Clean Completely

When there’s a flood in your home, water can seep into all sorts of unwanted places. Even when you think you have gotten everything out, mold and mildew can sneak in. It’s one of the reasons why you should hire a professional to handle water damage and restoration. If you have mold, it can be very difficult to get rid of and even make the home unlivable. Identify water damage by looking behind furniture and under rugs. If you see stain lines, moisture buildup, or anything else, address it right away so that you don’t have anything left behind that can cause odors.

Choose Fragrances Carefully

Your home can suffer water damage in an array of locations. After a restoration has come through to dry and clean everything for you, there may be a lasting smell because water damage can sneak into various areas. Additionally, home fragrances that you once loved may remind you of the mold and mildew. Odor memory can be very strong, so it might be time to ditch smells that are reminiscent of the beach or linen and choose woodsy or fruity smells. To add more energy to a home, citrus fragrances are associated with upbeat feelings. You can incorporate these fragrances with candles, room sprays, and bowls of potpourri.

Replace Key Items

Even after you have cleaned everything, there are some things that you will want to replace. This will ensure that any lasting odors from the flood aren’t lingering inside of your home. Air filters, for example, should be tossed. You can replace them quickly and affordably. Other items include area rugs, decorative pillows, and throws. Anything that cannot be effectively cleaned should be tossed, especially if it continues to smell musty once you have properly cleaned and deodorized them.

There are plenty of ways to make sure that your home smells inviting after a flood. If there’s a smell that’s lingering from the flood, get creative. It might be time to clean something or to replace it entirely. Plus, you may have to try out a few different fragrances before you find one that’s a match for your post-flood home.

After a flood in your home, you’ll probably want to get it inspected for mold and other damages. Check out this other article about whey even metal buildings (like your shed, or your house—if it’s made of metal, etc.) should be inspected after a flood!