Musty odour in the bedroom

Musty odour in the bedroom – 7 tips for more freshness

Mouldy air in the bedroom is not only unpleasant, but can also have a negative impact on your quality of sleep. To remove bad odours quickly, you should first get to the bottom of their cause. In our guide, you can find out what the typical triggers for musty odours in the bedroom are and how you can easily make the room fresher.

Bedroom smells musty – mould?

Bad odours in the bedroom can have various causes. One possible cause is mould spores that settle on damp walls or textiles. If the humidity in the room is too high, mould finds a breeding ground to grow. Mould is noticeable through a musty smell in the bedroom, which persists even after repeated airing. In the case of severe mould infestation, black stains can also be seen on the walls and textiles. You can find out how to combat superficial mould stains with simple household remedies in our guide to removing mould from mattresses. If the mould infestation is already at an advanced stage, the only solution is to ask a specialist for advice.

Other reasons for poor air quality in the bedroom

But mould is not the only reason why your bedroom might smell. If you notice unpleasant odours, especially in the morning, this is probably due to the stale air that has collected in the room overnight. During sleep, a person loses up to one litre of body fluid, which is released into the room air. A 10-minute airing of the room is usually enough to remove the stale air. However, if your bedroom smells musty despite ventilation, there are other possible triggers. For example, if you occasionally eat breakfast or other meals in bed, food residue can collect in the bed linen or carpet. Over time, these start to mould and spread unpleasant odours around the room. Wet or dirty clothes are also a common cause of musty air in the bedroom. It is best to avoid storing your laundry in the bedroom and use another room instead.

7 tips for removing unpleasant odours in the bedroom

A few tips can be followed to quickly get rid of a musty odour in the bedroom. Find out here how you can easily ensure more freshness within your own four walls.

1. Have mould removed professionally

If mould is the cause of the musty smell in your bedroom, you should get rid of it quickly. Mould not only looks unappetising, it also poses a health risk. If there is extensive mould, you should have it removed directly by a specialist. This is because they often have to remove the entire wallpaper to protect the wall from mould spreading again.

2. Correct ventilation and heating

To avoid the odour of stale air, you should also attach great importance to regular air exchange and maintaining a constant room temperature. Especially in the morning, when body odours from the night have collected in the room, it helps to ventilate the room thoroughly to exchange the warm, humid air. You can also find more tips in our guide to correct ventilation and heating.

3. Use a mattress base

A musty odour in the bedroom can also be caused by a lack of air circulation under your mattress. For example, if your mattress is lying directly on the floor without a slatted base and bed frame, the moisture on the underside cannot escape. You can compensate for the lack of air space between the mattress and the base with a mesh mattress topper, for example. This ensures that your mattress is ventilated from below and prevents moisture build-up.

4. Fresh air through plants

For more freshness in the bedroom, it is also advisable to place indoor plants. These not only improve your indoor climate, but also filter pollutants from the air. Air-purifying plants such as aloe vera, dragon tree, green lily, ivy or hemp are particularly recommended. When choosing your bedroom plant, however, be sure to consider possible allergies. Strongly scented plants should also be avoided.

5. Cleaning carpets and curtains

If you occasionally eat in the bedroom, you should also clean the carpet and curtains thoroughly from time to time. High-pile carpets in particular are the ideal hiding place for small food residues. Dander and hair also like to collect in carpets and curtains and attract mites and other parasites.

6. Hygiene before going to bed

You can also prevent a musty odour in the bedroom if you prioritise thorough personal and oral hygiene before going to bed. For example, use a tongue scraper or a mild mouthwash to prevent strong bad breath overnight. On hot summer days in particular, it is also advisable to take a shower just before going to bed. Musty odours are mainly caused by old sweat.

7. Home remedy for unpleasant odours: salt, coffee & lemon

Gegen schlechte Gerüche im Schlafzimmer können außerdem auch einige Hausmittel helfen. So hat Salz zum Beispiel eine feuchtigkeitsbindende Wirkung, wodurch schlechte Gerüche neutralisiert werden. Auch eine Schale mit Kaffeepulver oder Zitronenwasser haben diesen Effekt und können schnell für mehr Frische im Raum sorgen. 

Quickly eliminate unpleasant odours

Unpleasant odours can therefore be quickly removed with a few household remedies or simple tricks. However, if extensive mould infestation is to blame for the musty air in the bedroom, you should ask a specialist for help.