Short answer: if carpet smells musty near the walls in an older Adelaide house, the cause is often moisture rising through the walls, known locally as salt damp. Cleaning the carpet will freshen it, but the smell returns until the damp is fixed.
What salt damp is
Many older Adelaide homes, especially stone and brick villas and cottages, were built with damp courses that have since failed or been bridged. Ground moisture rises into the base of the walls and carries salts with it.
Signs on the walls include crumbling or bubbling plaster, flaking paint and white powdery deposits near floor level.
How it shows up in carpet
- A musty smell that is strongest along the skirting boards
- Carpet that feels cool or slightly damp at the edges
- Dark or rusty lines where the carpet meets the wall, from wet gripper strips
- Mould spots on the underside of rugs or at carpet edges
Smell in the middle of a room is usually something else, such as a spill, pet urine or an old leak. See our guide to pet urine smell.
What carpet cleaning can do
A professional clean removes the surface mould, dust and odour and leaves the room fresher. It is worth doing, especially before selling or at the end of a lease.
What it cannot do is stop moisture coming up the wall. If the damp continues, so will the smell.
What actually fixes it
Salt damp is a building repair. A damp specialist can confirm it and treat the walls. Until then:
- Keep furniture a few centimetres off affected walls.
- Ventilate the room daily, even in winter.
- Do not put rugs or boxes against damp walls.
- Run a dehumidifier in the worst rooms.
If you rent, report it to your landlord or agent in writing.
After a leak or flood
Carpet that got wet from a burst pipe or storm is a different problem and needs fast drying. See what to do in the first 24 hours and our flood damage service.
For a clean, see carpet cleaning. In winter, also read preventing carpet mould.
FAQs
Why does my carpet smell musty only near the walls?
Moisture is usually coming from the wall or floor edge. In older Adelaide homes, rising damp is a common cause.
Will steam cleaning get rid of the musty smell?
It removes the smell that is there now. If the source of moisture remains, the smell comes back.
Is salt damp the tenant’s responsibility?
It is a building defect, so it is normally a matter for the owner. Report it in writing.
