7 Things Making Your Home Smell Stale This Summer – And The Quick Solutions to Keep Your Home Fresh All Season

We might expect musty odors in winter, but they can often linger in our homes well into summer, even when we throw open the windows and let natural light flood in.

The problem lies in high humidity and soaring temperatures. Everything from our washing machines to pet beds can contribute to stale smells throughout the season, and understanding the cause is key to making your home smell nice again

Here, our cleaning experts share the seven things to look out for, and how to tackle the issue at the source for a fresher home for hosting.

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1. Moisture In Your Washing Machine

In a warm, humid summer, damp areas struggle to dry out. This is especially true of our washing machines, no matter how often you clean a washing machine that smells.

Alex Varela, Cleaning Expert with Oakville Maids, explains, 'Front load washers in particular have this issue when they start trapping moisture and lint, as they have a rubber gasket to close the door properly. After each wash, it’s a good habit to wipe the rubber gasket with a dry cloth to remove excess moisture.' The Great Value Multipurpose Microfiber Household Cleaning Cloths, available at Walmart, for example, are perfect for this, so long as you know how to wash a microfiber cloth afterward.

'Leave the door open between loads or after you’ve finished using your washing machine so air can circulate and dry the drum and the gasket,' adds Alex. It can also be wise to increase how often you clean a washing machine in summer, too, not forgetting the filter.

2. Stacks of Paper Clutter

As Alicia Sokolowski, Cleaning and Laundry Expert and President and co-CEO of AspenClean, explains, the summer season doesn't necessarily create new odors, but amplifies smells already lingering in your home.

'An increase in temperature often comes with humidity, making everyday materials damper for longer periods of time,' she says. 'These moist environments are what create perfect conditions for bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow, causing homes to smell stale even though they look perfectly clean.'

One of these problem areas, she continues, is paper clutter. 'Paper is one of those materials that secretly harbors moisture that most homeowners aren't aware of. Paper is hygroscopic, meaning that it absorbs and releases moisture along with the surrounding air.

'Especially in the summer, tightly packed magazines, cardboard, and other paper products hold moisture, collect dust, and restrict airflow, creating little spots for musty smells to fester.'

To combat this issue, Alicia advises beginning by recycling your paper more frequently, which is also an easy way to be more sustainable at home. 'Then, vacuum the shelves where you usually store your paper,' she adds. 'After doing so, go in and wipe down the area with a natural all-purpose cleaner (available at Amazon) and microfiber cloth; this will ensure that you remove any remaining dust or moisture.

'For more important documents, we recommend that you store them in areas that are clean and dry, away from any moisture-prone areas, such as basement floors and damp walls.'

3. Kitchen Sponges Breeding Bacteria

'Kitchen sponges and dish cloths stay damp for long periods, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria during the summer,' explains Karina Toner, Cleaning Expert at Spekless. 'A dirty sponge alone can make an otherwise clean kitchen smell stale.'

To avoid this, she advises replacing sponges every one to two weeks, washing reusable dish cloths after each use with hot water, and always allowing them to dry completely between uses.

Alternatively, consider your stance on the dish sponge vs dish brush debate. Cleaners warn that banishing your kitchen sponge altogether is the way forward. Replace it with the All-Purpose Kitchen Brush, available at Walmart, instead.

4. Musty Upholstered Furniture Traps Stale Odors

Upholstered furniture, such as couches, armchairs, curtains, rugs, and pillows, all collect dust, skin oils, food residue, pet dander, and other airborne smells.

'In the summer,' explains Alicia, 'humidity will bring forth these trapped smells and slow down the drying process after spills or cleaning. More so if this furniture is near cold exterior walls, it may develop condensation or hidden dampness, making the fabric prone to growing mold and mildew.'

So, to clean your upholstery, use a cordless vacuum (our favorite is the Dyson V15 Detect, available at Amazon) to thoroughly remove dust.

'This includes under the cushions and behind and below the piece itself,' shares Alicia. 'We would also recommend that you wash any removable covers. Remember that all covers should be completely dry before you put them back; otherwise, this will trap moisture, and mold will begin to grow. Another tactic is to make sure that all rooms in your home have plenty of airflow. Simply opening a window will help make sure that no unpleasant smells return!'

5. Pet Beds

I'm lucky enough to share my home with four dogs, so I know all too well how important it is to wash dog beds regularly in summer. They can often be counted among the things you aren't washing enough.

'Pet beds, like our own, collect dirt, but they also hold fur, dander, saliva, and the occasional accident, making it more important that these pieces are cleaned often,' says Alicia. 'During the summer, thicker pet beds will likely take longer to dry, harboring odor-producing microbes. These smells can then contaminate nearby floors, rugs, and other furniture, multiplying the problem!'

I've found that the easiest way to avoid this is to wash your pet beds on a sunny day and allow them to air-dry outside in a sunny spot. This has the added benefit of killing any lingering bacteria.

'My trick is to remember doing it is always doing so right after towels and bedding, once a week, so I remember everything "related" to beds was done the same day,' adds Alex. 'If your pets had accidents, treat the stain as soon as possible with an enzymatic cleaner,' such as Nature's Miracle Dog Stain and Odor Remover, available at Walmart.

6. Towels Cling to Moisture and Bacteria

Speaking of towels, your bathroom towels may be causing musty smells in the bathroom.

'After having a shower, all that water and moisture will stick to towels, which causes bacteria and mildew to grow on top of the fibers, giving it that “wet dog” smell,' warns Alex. 'To prevent this, don’t just leave them hanging in your bathroom; if possible, hang them outside.

'If you don’t have a backyard or balcony, hang them open in a well-ventilated space. If you don’t have enough space, you can install a retractable clothesline, available at Amazon.'

7. Trash Cans

Trash cans are filled with bacteria, even if they are empty. Plus, food and residues decompose faster than usual during warm weather.

To clean your trash can and keep it from smelling in summer, rinse your trash can with a hose and dry it in the sun once a week, advises Alex.

'Also, each time you take out the trash and replace it with a new bag, spray the inside with a multi-purpose cleaner,' such as the Method Antibac All-purpose Cleaner, available in a pack of two at Walmart. 'This will help reduce the odor as much as possible before you rinse it the next time.'

What to Shop

Freshening your home during summer begins with cleaning, but adding a candle or fresh blooms is also a lovely way to make your home smell like summer afterward. Below, shop from a selection of cleaning and scenting essentials to transform your space and eliminate stale odors.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Experts

Alex Varela

Alex is a Cleaning Expert with Oakville Maids. Specialized in residential cleaning, he helps deliver reliable, high-quality home cleaning services with a focus on detail and consistency.

Alicia Sokolowski

Alicia and her husband Chris Solodko set out on a mission to debunk the myth that in order to deep clean, you need to deploy potent, harmful chemicals to 'get it done.' They released the AspenClean cleaning service products to the public in 2018, with formulas derived from plants and minerals to ensure healthy cleaning and minimal environmental impact. Alicia also created the first detergent to be certified by the EWG.

Karina Toner

Karina is a professional cleaner and operations manager at Spekless Cleaning, which provides residential and commercial cleaning and maid services in Washington. She has over six years of experience overseeing all operations and quality control, and her advice has also appeared in The Spruce, Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, and more.

'If your home smells stale during the summer, resist the urge to simply cover the odor with candles or air fresheners,' adds Karina. 'The most effective solution is to eliminate the source by washing fabrics regularly, controlling indoor humidity, and improving ventilation. Once the underlying cause is addressed, any home fragrance you use will last longer and smell much more natural.'

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