How to Get Rid of That Musty Basement Smell
Even if you don’t live somewhere that has a basement (or one that you can access), you are probably familiar with the “basement” smell. It almost always smells like mildew and mildew, but you won’t find the same scent in every basement.
In addition to the damp smell, the rest of the basement-specific smell usually comes from the laundry (if their washer / dryer is in the basement), what is stored there, and the general “home smell”.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. In an article on the This Old House website, Tom Scalisi explains how to identify and then eliminate this recognizable scent.
Find out what is causing the smell
Most often, musty odors are caused by mold and / or mildew, which grows easily in basements due to moisture. To get rid of this smell, you first need to find out its source. Scalisi suggests checking the following areas for leaks and cracks:
- Basement windows (are the wells diverting water incorrectly towards the house, not away from it?)
- External entrances to the basement
- Windows on the floor above
- Entrance doors on the floor above
- Plumbing in the bathroom and kitchen on the floor above
But those aren’t the only potential problems, Scalisi says. Others may include your groundwater table, dry floor drain or under-sink siphon, and any upholstered furniture or carpet below.
Fix whatever is broken
Once you determine the source of the odor, make the necessary repairs to get rid of it and prevent it from occurring in the future. This could include things like fixing leaking windows, removing musty carpet, removing any damp materials in the basement, or fixing cracked pipes, Scalisi said.
Control humidity
Now that the source of moisture and / or odor has been removed, you need to take additional steps to make sure your basement stays dry. The easiest way to do this is to use a desiccant. Scalisi guides you through this process:
[Dehumidifiers] draw moisture from the air and condense it into a removable container that can be removed and emptied. In some cases, you can run the drain hose to a floor or sink drain, eliminating the need to empty the tank. Dehumidifiers are great for basements.
Aim for a humidity level of about 50 percent to keep the space comfortable but not conducive to mold growth (which is over 60 percent). You can also use a box or window fan to improve ventilation and air movement for faster drying.
Deal with the smell
At this point, you are ready to tackle the real scent. To do this, Scalisi offers the following methods:
- Place bowls of baking soda in different parts of your basement for several days.
- Other options are to place bowls of clean kitty litter, white vinegar, or products specifically formulated to eliminate musty odors such as DampRid (individually, not all together).
- Clean the entire basement as thoroughly as possible.
- If you have carpets or furniture that smells like mildew, consider renting a professional steamer for a few days to wash them thoroughly.
It goes without saying that the purpose of this entire process is to find and eliminate the source of the odor, not just mask it with some kind of scented spray or air freshener. This will in no way affect the solution of the general problem, and your basement will smell like musty lavender.