Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Most basements are completely below ground, so the air in the basement is usually very wet. The high humidity and the lack of sunlight cause the basement to smell unpleasant due to the mold. However, you should also check for other issues, such as water leaks. Dealing with odors in the basement takes some work, but your nose will be grateful to you.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Determining the source of the odor

1. 

   Examine the drainage holes in the basement. Sinks, floor drains or sinks can dry out if not used often. Then, the water below the exhaust will evaporate. When there is no water left, the smell of the sewer will rise through the drainage hole and gradually spread through the basement. You can remedy this problem by pouring water and cooking oil into the drainage holes.

2. 

   
   
   Check the toilet bowl. If it hasn't been used for weeks or months, the water in the toilet drain may have evaporated. As is the case with the drainage holes, sewer steam can rise from the toilet bowl. However, the solution to this problem is quite simple: Simply flush the toilet bowl to compensate for the evaporation.

3. 

   
   
   Notice the smell of the fabric items in the basement. Due to the high humidity in the basement, fabrics are often very damp and can start to smell if not washed properly.Walk around and smell the fabric objects in the basement, including upholstered furniture, clothes, blankets, etc. If there is a musty smell, the items must be cleaned or thrown away.

4. 

   
   
   Look behind walls and low spaces. Check behind the walls in the basement and low space for black mold or any dead (or alive) animals. Even if you can't find the source of the odor, you can still smell musty from the humidity in the air.

5. 

   
   
   Check out the ceiling panels and small nooks. Observe ceiling panels for markings. Carefully examine the joints between the ceiling panels for discoloration. While checking, look into nooks and crevices in the basement for mold and moisture.

6. 

   
   
   Look closely at the water pipes for leaks. Leaky pipes are the most common culprit causing unpleasant odors in the basement. Go around and check all the plumbing. Observe closely the joints for water dripping or appearing to leak. Leaks are sometimes difficult to detect, so call a qualified professional if you are unsure. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Deodorizing in the basement

1. 

   
   
   Pour water or cooking oil into the drainage holes. You can alleviate the drain odor from the drain holes by pouring a can of water down the drain, then adding 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of cooking oil. Cooking oil will act as a barrier to prevent water from evaporating quickly.

2. 

   Eliminate all mold contamination. When you detect something that smells musty, you have two options: Try to remove the musty smell or simply throw away all the items that have the musty smell. If you are unsure whether an item will be saved, you can try cleaning the item. If the musty smell persists, it may be time to throw it away.

3. 

   Store books and articles in tightly closed containers. Books with musty smells are difficult to deodorize If you keep them, the musty smell will spread through the basement again, and your much cleaning effort will be in vain. If you don't want to throw it away, you can store the books in sealed boxes or find another location to keep them. You can buy sealed boxes at most home appliance stores.
   • If you don't have enough storage space, you can rent a small storage space.

4. 

   Exposure of furniture. If the musty smell gets into the furniture or carpeting, you should take it outside to dry in dry weather, ideally in sunny weather and the air is low in humidity. Sun and wind for several hours to dry. If possible, use a broom to hit the item vigorously to remove dust and other material that could cause an unpleasant odor.

5. 

   Clean cloths. If furniture and carpets still stink, scrub them off with fabric cleaning products available at supermarkets. If your clothes, towels or blankets smell bad, soak them in a bleach for all fabrics for 30 minutes, or put them in the washing machine and wash on regular mode.
   • Sometimes drying and washing won't get rid of the unpleasant odor. In this case, perhaps the easier and more convenient way to handle it is to buy new carpets and furniture to equip the basement.

6. 

   Clean with borax (borax). Borax is a natural cleaning agent that has a fungicide effect. That's why borax is the perfect detergent for basements. Mix 1 cup (240 ml) of borax with 4 liters of water in a bucket, then scrub the wall and floor with the mixed solution with a brush. Rinse off the remaining borax with water.

7. 

   Remove stains with bleach. Bleach is helpful in the event that the borax does not get rid of the stains. You can mix 2 cups (480 ml) of bleach with 2 liters of water in a bucket and brush with a brush any visible stains. Bleach will remove the color of the stain and clean the entire area.
   • When using bleach, open windows in the basement if you have one, or you can bring fans into the basement.
   • Wear protective gloves and a mask before using bleach. Wearing old clothes or an apron is also a good idea if you don't want to damage your clothes.

8. 

   Deodorize and ventilate the basement. Once you have scoured it, you should put fresh air into the basement while you wait to dry. Open windows if the basement has windows. If you don't have a window, open the doors and use a fan to circulate the air. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Preventing odors in the basement

1. 

   Make sure to address what caused the basement to smell. For example, if the water hose is leaking, you need to repair the water hose. If you find pest problems, you should take them as soon as possible. Call a professional if an unpleasant odor persists and the source of the odor cannot be identified.

2. 

   Use a dehumidifier. You can buy dehumidifiers at supermarkets and home stores. A dehumidifier will handle the high humidity in the basement, and a dry environment will prevent mold from forming.

3. 

   Install a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can also help keep the basement damp. If possible, install ceiling fans in the basement. If the basement is too large, you should install two fans. Turn on the ceiling fan for a few hours a day and every time you are in the basement.

4. 

   Set of exhaust hoods. Some desiccants to choose from include baking soda, cat litter and charcoal pellets. Fill the bucket or container with the selected desiccant. You can use as many buckets as you want. Place these buckets in the basement and replace them once a month to minimize mold problems.

5. 

   Connect the basement to the indoor ventilation system. If the basement is not connected to the ventilation system, do this now. The ventilation system will help moisture escape from the basement. However, keep in mind that adding a basement to the ventilation system can be more expensive. advertisement

Advice

• Clean the basement once a week or once a month to prevent unpleasant odors from returning.
• Call a professional cleaning service if this is too much for you.

Warning

• If you suspect that there is poisonous mold in your basement, don't do it yourself. Call a professional service for a test.
• If you find a problem and pests in your basement, call a pest control service.