I just moved into an older rental house that smells pretty musty. The place was built before the 80s and has popcorn ceilings, so I'm a bit concerned about asbestos in the walls. I'm wondering what the best ways are to freshen up the air in here. I've thought about removing the popcorn ceilings and renting a commercial air purifier. Is that a good idea? What other methods can I use to make the house smell cleaner? It was supposedly cleaned before we moved in, but the smell is still there.
3 Answers
Ozone treatments can work wonders for eliminating odors. Also, consider using odor-blocking paint when you repaint. If you're dealing with carpets, you might want to steam clean or even replace them entirely. Removing popcorn ceilings can be tricky and expensive for a rental, so painting over them might be the easier option.
Using a dehumidifier and a good air purifier is a great start! Those can really help tackle musty smells and improve air quality.
Since you're renting, just make sure you keep your landlord in the loop about any big changes like ceiling removal. Painting the walls and cleaning everything, including carpets, could make a huge difference too. If the smell persists, it might be worth checking the ductwork since old house odors can often hang out there as well.