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Old House Smell: What Is It, and How Do You Get Rid of It?
Old house smell: Those three dreaded words evoke something rather frightening and repellent to most homeowners. You know what we're talking about, right? It's that musty odor that creeps up and greets you the instant you set foot inside an older home.
What is this mysterious stench, anyway?
What causes that old house smell
“Three things that musty old houses have in common: little ventilation, high humidity, and darkness,” says Bill Carroll Jr., an adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University. That makes these places the perfect petri dish for mold to flourish, which happens to be the main purveyor of that "old house smell."
That said, that musty smell isn't mold per se.
"What you're smelling are called MVOCs: mold volatile organic compounds," explains Carroll. "These are chemicals associated with a certain stage in the mold life cycle that are volatile enough to evaporate, but also have a strong enough inherent odor to be detected.”
The good news is that this funky smell isn't a health issue, says Carroll. It’s just annoying—and probably more than a little embarrassing—particularly if you're trying to sell your house to people who wrinkle their nose as soon as they enter your home. Luckily, though, there are ways to get rid of the odor.
How It Works
Using silver and hydrogen peroxide as a mold odor remover
Mold is a widespread problem. And because it is visible, it is desirable to remove mold and mildew as effectively and quickly as possible using the most appropriate mold remover. Which begs the question: how to stop mold and what is the best anti mold agent? The answer may vary depending on the chosen approach – ultimately, the best remedy against mold is always the one that best satisfies your own requirements.
Using Hydrogen Peroxide HaloMist Fogging To Remove Musty Odors
The simplest way to obtain an effective yet permanently non-toxic formula against mold is to rely on a mold remover substance that decomposes rapidly after it has been effective. Hydrogen peroxide meets this requirement. This disinfecting effect is based on the separation of hydroxyl radicals, which destroy the mold. At the same time, however, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen after disinfection.
This effect is further enhanced with silver. If silver is used with hydrogen peroxide to treat mold, the effect is about six to eight times stronger than using hydrogen peroxide alone. This means that you can expect the same (or an even better) effect from a silver-enhanced 5% hydrogen-peroxide solution (such as HALOMIST) as from a 35% hydrogen peroxide solution. Silver remains on the treated surface after disinfection and inhibits re-contamination to a certain extent.
Silver and Hydrogen Peroxide and Mold: Why Are They So Effective?
Hydrogen peroxide offers several advantages as a mold remover. In addition to its disinfectant and fungicidal effect, the oxidative power of the released hydroxyl radicals neutralizes a large proportion of the toxins produced by the mold (depending on the species). Aflatoxin and Co. are very sensitive to oxidative substances.
In addition, allergenic surface proteins, such as those found in airborne mold spores, are also denatured by the hydroxyl radicals that split off from the hydrogen peroxide. The mold's ability to germinate is also disrupted. This means that the spores, which become airborne when hydrogen peroxide and silver are used for mold removal, are much less problematic than they would be without prior treatment with HALOMIST hydrogen peroxide.
There is also another aspect to consider: since hydrogen peroxide with silver is a more effective anti mold cleaner than hydrogen peroxide alone, a lower concentration is sufficient. This not only reduces the aggressiveness of the disinfectant on surfaces and materials, but also allows safe application AND has no bleaching effect:
No bleaching effect? And that's supposed to be advantageous? Yes! This is because bleaching removes the possibility of completely removing the layer of dead mold by mechanical means. In other words, bleaching makes it possible to accidentally leave behind mold material on the wall, which then becomes a breeding ground for new generations of mold.
