My unfinished basement has a dank, musty smell, but it's dry. How can I get rid of it? Our house is 70+ years.

Question

It hasn't always smelled this way! One room had been converted into a home office probably 20 years ago, so we tore everything out, carpeting and all, several months ago. We haven't done anything further with that room aside from clean it. All the floors are concrete - some parts painted. But now, when I start heading down the stairs to do laundry, I am met by an unpleasant odor. It makes me want to stay out of there and NEVER finish the basement!!

Answer 1

first thing install a dehumidifier and then get yourself an ionizer. there has to be humidity in the air you do laundry down there. then spray Clorox to kill the mold.

Answer 2

You need to get the air flowing through the basement. When that room was being used as an office, the window was probably left open for ventilation for at least part of the day. And the air flow would have cleaned the whole of the basement.

Instead of not going down there at all, the problem would be solved if you use the basement regularly. Even walking in the basement causes air current disturbance. Let the old musty air out. Bring fresh air in.

Opening the heating vents alone will probably cure this, as hot air rises. As soon as you open the basement door the hot air would rise into the rest of the house, and the colder air from the floor level of the main floor would rush down to replace it. Air flow results in freshening of the air. Et voila! No more musty smell!

Answer 3

I am sure that there is moisture someplace and that mold is there some place. Check to make sure you can find the moist spot(s) and find out the reason for it.. a 70-year old house can be a relic or can be a nightmare.. Tearing out the carpet was a definite plus... I always like to use clorox when dealing with mold and prdobably the smell is just the basement.. never been used until you are now renovating it so get some cleaning done of the walls, and everyplace.. use clorox and simple green to get the old smell out and a NEW smell in.. If there is NO moisture any place.. then getting the old smell out could be easy

Answer 4

Our house is very similar. The smell has been particularly awful this week for some reason. We cranked up the dehumidifier to med-high from low. It think it will be better when we turn the oil burner on for the winter, as the heat dries the basement in a way the dehumidifier can't. My sympathies. I would not ventilate if it is damp and warm outside, when the air sinks into the cooler basement, condensation sets the stage for all kinds of mold and mildew problems.

Answer 5

My Dry Basement

Answer 6

Just because it looks dry, does not mean it is dry.
My basement is no different then yours? If you do not have a DEHUMIDIFIER that is part of your problem, dampness has set in and it is going to take some time to get rid of the dampness, open a copula of boxes of soda that hill help also put them on a shelf apart from each other, that will help get rid of the smell.

Answer 7

Spray everything with chlorox....let it dry. The smell is coming from mold in the cement and wood and stuff, so just spray (saturate) everything (walls, floor, ceilings, everything) with chlorox and that will kill the mold.

PS...I'm assuming that it's a pretty much rough basement.

Answer 8

dehumidifier and bleach, also do you have concrete under your floor? check, it may be a dirt floor in a house that old. if so, it'll continue to be a problem until you pour a floor in.

Answer 9

A dehumidifier may help. you can still have excess humidity there.

Answer 10

More ventilation