Mouldy Smelling Basement - how to get rid of smell ?

Question

My fiance's father has a cottage up north and has a basement in this self-built home. The business only has secure cement patio stones on top of levelled dirt as a floor, with carpet over top.

It's been like this for about 10 + years I believe.

It has a horrid smell to the basement and the only temporary relief is to place a dehumidifier in the basment until it fills.

What can I do for a quick fix? I have friends coming to stay in this cottage and it smells horribly in the basement!!

reminder : looking for a QUICK FIX

Answer 1

you'll have to get rid of the moisture, which'll mean running a dehumidifier constantly. I own a 90-year old house with a stone basement and this is how I keep the basement smelling fresh and dry. In order to avoid manually dumping the water bin, we've attached a hose to the bin (there was an attachment to do so) and run the hose to the floor drain. It drains automatically now.

Also, if you have any electricity in the basement, use one of those plugin airfresheners, scent of your choice. I like Oust.

You may also want to open a window for a while, if you're able.

good luck!

none of this took very long. hook up a dehumidifier, let it run, open a window and plug in an air freshener. I don't know how much quicker it could get than that.

Answer 2

A dirt floor with patio stones and then carpet over the top.....Hmmm where to start?

Remove the carpet. Hire a contractor to pour a proper concrete floor. Seal the concrete in the basement. Install a dehumidifier that drains outside the cottage.

Problem solved.

Quick fix: Remove the carpet. Buy some Rid-X hang ups to help control the humidity and keep running the dehumidifier.

Answer 3

1) Dehumidifier will still help alot, see if you can find a way to drain it so you do not have to empty it all the time.

2) That carpet is probably the culprit for the smell, but there are other possibilities. If you see mold anywhere on the walls or anything like that, spray it with some bleach water or mold and mildew spray to get rid of at least part of the source.

3) Long term you will probably want to try and figure out a way to permanently install a dehumidifier that can drain itself and find a way to let that basement air out a little better.

You could also try putting in a self-spraying air freshener or something of that nature to at least mask the smell a little.

Answer 4

1. Air it out for a whole day
2. Mop with that new Orange Pine Sol. if carpet Sprinkle Baking soda all over the carpet and vac then sprinkle more and let it set
3. Put charcoal around (it absorbs dampness
4.Get some cedar shavings at Wal Mart (pet dept) and sprinkle them all over the basement where they won*t show
5 Spray Febreeze all around just before they move in
6 If all else fails, tell them there is a dead mouse in the basement and you cannot find it.

Answer 5

purchase a dehumidifier additionally spraying any seen mildew with a hundred% bleach will kill it yet you ought to hold down the humidity to stop the mould from forming and growing to be. additionally any Sheetrock on partitions and ceiling must be got rid of and discarded and altered with new after any mildew has been got rid of. make certain which you do ware a mask it is designed for the ecosystem you're working in yet another words you like a mask which will dodge mildew spores from entering into your lungs. additionally use green Sheetrock it has it has stuff geared up into it that fights mildew, another element verify the basin on the A/C verify it has no leaks if it does replace it additionally a stable element to do is to run plumbing from the basin on the A/C up and out of the basement you will ought to purchase a sump pump designed for this so the water could properly be pumped up and out, any floor drains interior the basement, you ought to pour a cup of bleach and water mixture in them as quickly as a month as a thank you to maintain sewer gases from springing up.