Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Tracing the source of odor
• Part 2 of 3: Getting rid of the smell
• Part 3 of 3: Preventing odors
• Tips
• Warnings

Since basements are usually completely underground, they often get very moist. Combine that moisture with a lack of sunlight and you probably have a problem with smelly mold. There may also be other problems, such as leaking plumbing pipes. Finding out how to make a basement smell better will take some effort, but your nose will thank you for it.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Tracing the source of odor

1. Check out the drains in your basement. Sink drains, floor drains, washing machine drains and basin drains can dry out if not used regularly. The water in the siphon will eventually evaporate when the drain is not used. Without water, sewage gas will leak from the drain, which will eventually spread through your basement. You can overcome this problem by pouring water and cooking oil into your drains.
2. Check the toilet. If you haven't used the toilet in your basement for several weeks or months, the water in the toilet bowl may have evaporated. As is the case with drains, sewage gas can then come up and leak out of the toilet. However, this problem is easy to fix. Just flush the toilet so that there is water in the toilet bowl again.
3. Smell the fabrics in your basement. Because a cellar is often very humid, substances usually absorb a lot of moisture. The fabrics can start to smell if you don't clean them often enough. Take a walk around your basement and smell all fabrics, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, blankets, etc. If a fabric smells musty, you will have to wash it or throw it away.
4. Look behind walls and in crawl spaces. Check the spots behind the walls in your basement and in the crawl spaces. Look for black mold and dead or live pests. Even if you don't find the source of the odor, the basement can still smell musty due to the high humidity.
5. Check the ceiling tiles and small corners. Look at the ceiling tiles to see if they are moldy. Also check whether the joints between the ceiling tiles are discolored. While checking, also check every nook and cranny in your basement to find mold and moisture.
6. Check the drain pipes for leaks. Stench in the basement is often caused by a leaking drain pipe. Walk around your basement and check all plumbing pipes. Look at the connectors to see if any water is dripping or if it looks like the pipe has leaked before. Leaks can often be difficult to detect, so call a professional if you are unsure.

Part 2 of 3: Getting rid of the smell

1. Pour water and cooking oil into the drains. You can usually get rid of the sewer odor coming from drains by pouring a carafe of water into the drains. After pouring in water, pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of cooking oil into the drains. The edible oil acts as a barrier, so that the water does not evaporate again quickly.
2. Remove any moldy items. When you have discovered why some objects give off a musty mold odor, you have two options. You can try to remove the mold odor from any items that smell or you can just throw out any items that smell like mold. If you are unsure whether you can save an item, try cleaning it. If you can still smell the mold odor, you will probably have to throw the item away.
3. Store books and papers in airtight containers. It can be very difficult to get a musty smell from books and papers. If you don't throw them away, the basement will start to smell musty again, leaving you cleaning for nothing. If you don't want to throw the books and papers away, you will need to store them in airtight boxes or find another place to keep them. You can purchase airtight storage boxes at most department and household stores.
   • If you don't have much space, you can also choose to rent a small storage space.
4. Air out furniture. If there are items like furniture and carpets that have gotten the musty odor, you will need to put them outside when the weather is dry. Ideally, you do this in sunny weather with low humidity. Let the items air out and dry in the sun for several hours, and if possible, beat them several times with a broom to remove dust and other particles that also cause the odor.
5. Clean fabrics. If the furniture and carpets still smell, scrub them with a fabric and upholstery cleaner. You can get such a remedy at the supermarket. Soak smelly clothes, towels and blankets in colourfast bleach for half an hour. You can also put them in the washing machine and wash them with a normal washing program.
   • Sometimes the smell doesn't go away even after you air out and wash the furniture and carpets. In that case, it may be easier and more convenient to buy new carpets and furniture for your basement.
6. Clean with borax. Borax is a mineral that can be used as a natural cleaner and that kills mold. That makes borax a perfect cleaner for your basement. Put 200 grams of borax and 4 liters of water in a bucket. Then use a brush to scrub the walls and floors with the mixture. Then rinse the surfaces with water to remove the residual borax.
7. Remove stains with bleach. Bleach works well for removing stains that borax can't get rid of. Mix 500 ml of bleach with 2 liters of water in a bucket. Use a brush to scrub off any visible stains. The bleach will fade stains and sanitize them.
   • If you have windows in your basement, open them when you use bleach. You can also place a fan in the basement.
   • Before using bleach, put on protective gloves and a face mask. It's also a good idea to put on old clothes or an apron if you don't want to ruin your clothes.
8. Freshen up and air out your basement. After you've scrubbed the basement, let in fresh air to help dry everything. Open the windows if your basement has them. If you don't have windows, open the basement door and install a fan to improve air circulation.

Part 3 of 3: Preventing odors

1. Make sure to address the cause of the odor. For example, if you have a leaking drain pipe, you need to have it repaired. If you have a problem with pests, you should do something about it as soon as possible. Call a professional if the basement still smells, but you can't figure out where the smell is coming from.
2. Buy a dehumidifier. You can buy a dehumidifier at hardware stores and household supplies stores. With such a device you prevent your basement from becoming too humid. Keeping your basement dry will prevent mold from growing.
3. Hang a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can also keep your basement from getting too humid. If possible, install a ceiling fan in your basement. If your basement is very large, hang several ceiling fans. Run the fans for a few hours a day, even when you are in the basement yourself.
4. Use scent eaters. Some odor eaters to choose from are baking soda, cat litter, and charcoal briquettes. Grab a bucket or large container and fill it halfway with the odor-retaining agent of your choice. You can use several buckets if you want. Leave the bucket in your basement and replace the contents once a month to avoid mold problems.
5. Connect the basement to the ventilation system in your house, if you have one. If your basement is not connected to your air conditioning, it is a good idea to do so. As a result, the basement will no longer be damp. However, keep in mind that it will likely be expensive to connect your basement to the ventilation system.

Tips

• Clean your basement once a week or once a month to keep it from smelling bad again.
• Call a cleaning company if the job overwhelms you and seems too big to do yourself.

Warnings

• If you suspect you have toxic mold in your basement, don't touch it. Call a professional to have the fungus examined.
• If you find out you have pests in your basement, call a pest repeller to troubleshoot the problem for you.