What Causes Mildew Smell And How To Minimize It In 3 Ways

Microbial volatile organic compounds are what causes mildew smell. If perceived positively, MVOCs can also become mildew or mold growth indicators. 

If you ever asked yourself the question, “why does my house smell like mildew”, then you probably know that the answer is there is mildew in your area.

what causes mildew smell

This post will give you a more profound explanation on that matter as a connection to the cause of mildew smell. However, you will know what mildew is first and where it usually grows. 

After that, you will learn to minimize microbial volatile organic compounds in just three ways. You may now continue reading!

 

What Is Mildew?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency differentiated mold and mildew. Since the main subject in this post is mildew, we will focus on that. 

According to the said agency, mildew is also a particular type of fungus. Generally, It refers to the growth of mold in a flat manner. 

Mildew was described as an early-stage mold. It is because mildew is only seen as tiny spores that do not penetrate surfaces and not as a piled-up mold yet. 

There are only two types of mildew– downy and powdery. The two can be identified through their color and where they are found. 

Downy mildew typically starts as yellow spots that eventually turn brown. These are commonly seen on crops like potatoes and grapes. 

On the other hand, powdery mildew is seen in flowering plants. These are white or gray splotches, but it becomes black or yellowish-brown with time. 

 

Where Does Mildew Grow? 

You’ve known that downy mildew grows on agricultural crops, and powdery mildew grows on plants. We will expound on where mildew develops for this part of the post.

 

Outdoor growth

Even though there is more sunlight and enough air circulation in outdoor areas, mildew can still grow there. Dampness is one factor that can cause mildew to develop. 

For example, if rain comes and your outdoor furniture is left exposed to rainwater, it becomes susceptible to mildew. It will worsen if it were left wet for an extended period. 

If you happen to experience this mildew outdoor growth, here is an article on how to remove mildew from outdoor wood furniture to help you. 

You cannot let an unpleasant smell welcome your guests, don’t you? Now, let us proceed to the indoor growth of mildew.

 

Indoor growth

You should also save your indoor equipment from mildew. Carpets, closets, dishwashers, and even your washing machines are just a few of the house materials you need to take good care of. 

A house with no good air circulation and is always damp might encounter this unusual problem. To avoid such situations, make sure to regularly clean your home, keep it dry, and put air ventilators. 

Indoor mildew has worse scents because these are being contained. Do not let your family suffer from it. 

 

Why Does Mildew Smell?

Whether indoor or outdoor, powdery or downy, the reason why mildew smells is just the same. It is because of microbial volatile organic compounds. 

MVOCs consist of more than but are not limited to 200 compounds. These are formed during the metabolism process of mildew and molds. 

The more the mildew actively develops, microbial volatile organic compounds produce the smell. This smell is described typically as musty and pungent. 

You should consider it if you suspect any mildew growth in an area because of the smell. There is a way for you to know if there are MVOCs in your air. 

VOC and mVOC Testing is essential in maintaining quality air in your house. You will know more about it and why you should avail it by visiting the link. 

 

How To Lessen MVOCs?

 

1. Removing the mildew

One of the first few things you can do to remove the microbial volatile organic compound presence is to get rid of its source– mildew and mold. 

 

2. Install air ducts

You should install air ducts in your house to avoid containing the air. Having these will help filter the air and change it into a new fresh one. 

For some, air ducts must be pricey. With that, you can just open your air recovery systems like windows and doors once in a while. 

Meanwhile, if you have air ducts installed already, just make sure to always clean them to avoid dirt contamination.  

 

3. Use synthetic flooring

It is highly advisable to use a synthetic floor system instead of carpets. By doing this, you will not have to worry about not changing your flooring. 

Replace carpets as early as you can to avoid mildew and a musty smell. Synthetic ones are much more affordable than authentic carpets. 

 

Conclusion

It is easy to distinguish why a house smells like mildew, but knowing what causes mildew smell is tough. It sure can be confusing.

The topic of microbial volatile organic compounds is complicated. However, it is necessary to understand these things, especially for home and building owners.

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