Every moment you enter the basement you inhale the air and it is filled with that offensive musty smell. You are not the only one. Basements all over the world have that similar odor exuding from them too. If the scent is something you would rather not have, there are ways to eliminate it. This is likely a terrific notion anyway as the musty aroma is a clue that mold and mildew are lurking around someplace in the basement and presents a potential health hazard.

Open windows all throughout the basement. This will provide aeration all over the basement and will assist in dissipating the musty scent. If there are furnishings in the basement and carpeting is there get rid of any cushioning and replace it. {Afterwards, you should steam clean the carpeting very well and dry them fully, using fans to circulate the air for speedier dehydrating. Take furnishings out of doors and scrub them there. Permit them to dry out and air out in the sun. Make certain that if if your clothes dryer is located in the basement that it is properly vented to the exterior of the house so that it doesn't create moisture in the basement.

Put together a solution of bleach and water with nearly 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water. Wash down any cement floors and all the walls of the basement. Let the bleach sit for about fifteen minutes then wash the walls and dry them off. This will destroy any mold or mildew that had begun to grow therefore eradicating the musty smell.

If these elementary fixes aren't sufficient and the musty odor returns you should look for the reason. Examine the the exterior of the abode. Be certain that the gutters are functioning well and are not overflowing onto the ground around the base. Be certain the area around the substructure inclines downward and away leading water to flow away from the abode. This helps keep water from pooling and seeping into the ground around the substructure resulting in hydrostatic pressure. This pressure makes splits and gaps form in the groundwork which allows moisture into the basement. The wetness leads to the musty smell.

Make sure that the windows in the basement are in good condition and are well caulked. This is one other means to keep moisture out, preventing the harsh musty odor from moving in.

If you have splits, openings, or signs of wetness on the walls be certain to place a waterproofing product on the walls. Fix any splits and gaps. Use hydraulic cement to restore splits and gaps. Use a cement sealing product that is waterproof to the walls and cement flooring of the basement. This should destroy any moisture from accumulating in the basement and thus also kill that musty smell.

If the difficulty still continues after you have finished everything mentioned above, it is time to think about buying a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier takes out the moisture from the air. This will keep any humidity at a minimum in the basement. This will preclude the musty odor as there won't be moisture in the basement to accumulate and create mold or mildew. This will also ensure that there are no medical risks to your loved ones caused by mold development in the basement.