Basement Odors

A musty basement isn't something you have to live with - though many people do! Start with the easier solutions first; you may have only a minor problem. Move on to the more complex solutions as your situation warrants.

Instructions

Steps

Step One

Ventilate. Too much moisture is the cause of musty basements, and a couple of open windows at opposite ends of the area may provide adequate cross-ventilation to air out the smell.

Step Three

Mop or wash down concrete floors and walls with a solution of bleach and water (about 3/4 cup chlorine bleach to 1 gal. of water. Let the solution sit on the concrete surfaces for 5 minutes, then rinse and dry.

Step Four

Check the drainage around your house. Porous basement walls may transmit moisture from the ground outside during rainy spells, and the trapped moisture increases the humidity in your basement. Make sure the ground slopes away from foundation walls, and that downspouts extend 6 feet or more from the house.

Step Five

Waterproof the basement. Look for cracks in the walls and floor and seal them with hydraulic cement. Apply concrete waterproofing sealer where the floor meets the wall.

Tips & Warnings

Overall Things You'll Need

Member Comments

by Lynda Messer on 11/22/2005

Removing mold or mildew odors - I found that if you put a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of white vinegar in 2 opposite corners of your room (on the floor, maybe under a table or behind a piece of furniture where it is not noticeable)it will take the odor out within 24 hours. Do this once a week or as needed due to evaporation. I live in a tri-level colonial and my family room is on the bottom floor. I have no basement under my family room...It's just wall to wall carpeting. Under that, there's concrete and under that, there's SOIL! The only time my family room is not damp or "mildewy" is in the winter when I use my fireplace.

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How to Remove Musty Basement Smell

Introduction