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Figuring out why you have a musty smell in your house is the first step to getting rid of it. Mold or mildew is most likely causing the unpleasant odor. People use these terms interchangeably, but they’re actually different.

Mold is a fungus that loves to grow in moist, humid places. It’s typically black or green and has a raised, uneven texture. Stay vigilant for signs mold may be growing in your home. 

You’ll find mildew growing on your shower walls and in your bathroom’s nooks and crannies. It’s a specific type of mold that grows flat. Mildew is usually white, gray, or yellow.

Use baking soda and vinegar or shaving cream to fix your carpet stains. But if you prefer a quicker solution, rent a carpet shampooer and use an enzyme-based cleaner to treat and resolve your discolored carpet issue.

To remove pet urine stains and odors from a microfiber couch, first blot the area to absorb as much liquid as possible. Then, generously cover the spot with baking soda and let it sit for a few hours to absorb the odor before vacuuming it up.

For cleaning the stain itself, you can use a commercial urine stain and odor removal spray—be sure to follow the product's instructions.

Alternatively, you can use a DIY solution based on your couch's cleaning code:

• For 'S' code couches: Lightly spritz the stain with rubbing alcohol and gently scrub with a microfiber cloth.

• For 'W' or 'S-W' code couches: Use a mixture of one cup of vinegar and one cup of rubbing alcohol, spritzing and scrubbing the area gently.

The best cleaner to remove soot depends on the surface material and the type of fire, but consider dish soaps or degreasers, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and hydrogen. Low-oxygen fires often leave behind greasy soot, which is best removed with dish soaps or degreasers. Baking soda can be useful for absorbing soot deposits from carpets, followed by rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the set-in stains.