How to Get Rid of a Musty Smell After Water Damage

Weeks or months after a leak or flood, a stubborn musty smell can linger even though everything looks and feels dry. Masking it with air fresheners or candles never works for long — because the odor is a symptom, not the problem. Here's what's really going on and how to get rid of it for good.

What Causes the Musty Smell

That damp, earthy odor comes from microbial growth — mold and mildew — releasing compounds as they grow on materials that stayed wet. It almost always means moisture is still present somewhere: in drywall, carpet padding, subfloor, insulation, or inside a wall cavity where you can't see it. Where there's that smell, there's moisture and usually mold.

Why DIY Fixes Don't Last

• Air fresheners and candles only mask the odor temporarily.
• Surface cleaning doesn't reach mold inside walls or under floors.
• Ozone machines and foggers can knock the smell down but don't remove the moisture feeding it.
• Bleach on porous materials doesn't kill mold at the root and adds its own moisture.

How Professionals Eliminate It

1. Find the moisture — meters and thermal imaging locate hidden damp areas behind walls and under floors.
2. Remove affected porous materials that can't be salvaged, like wet drywall and carpet pad.
3. Dry the structure to standard so mold has nothing to grow on.
4. Treat surfaces with EPA-registered antimicrobial agents to stop growth.
5. Use HEPA air filtration to clear airborne spores during the process.

When to Call for Help

If the smell keeps coming back, covers a large area, or you can't find the source, it's time for a professional assessment. The same goes for any musty odor after Category 2 or 3 water. Our Baltimore team locates the moisture, removes the cause, and eliminates the odor at its source — call us for an inspection.