How Can I Get Rid of the Musty Smell in My Basement?

If you want to get rid of the foul smell in your basement, you need to dry it out and remove all mold deposits. This may sound easy, but it can be quite difficult and dangerous. Some forms of mold are irritating to the skin and can damage your respiratory system. To get rid of the smell and mold for good, you need to prevent dampness from getting into your basement and dry it out. This can be complicated and time-consuming, so it’s best to contact a professional for advice and support. The best solutions for odor removal are: 

• Damage Repair 

Identifying and repairing the damage which is allowing dampness into your home is all-important if you want to eliminate bad odors. Have a professional assess your home and deal with any damage that may be contributing to the humidity levels in your home. After all, it won’t matter what you do to remove the smell if your basement stays damp; it will only recur. Installing waterproofing measures into your property, too, will help to manage humidity levels. These will be especially important if you are unable to fully cut off all sources of water on your property. A sump pump and vapor barrier will go a long way towards keeping the environment in your basement comfortable. 

• Dehumidification 

Once the main cause of water and dampness are resolved, it is important to dehumidify your basement fully to remove bad odors and prevent mold recurrence. Humidity in the air is a huge factor in mold formation, after all, and mold is one of the biggest factors in the creation of strong, musty odors in a basement (or any space, for that matter). 

An energy-efficient dehumidifier will provide you with a consistently dry, comfortable environment that is non-conducive to mold formation. A professional can install one in an hour or so. This will prevent the musty smell from recurring in the future, of course, but it may not completely remove the musty smell that is already present. For that reason, you should look into ways to deodorize your property. 

• A Deep Clean 

Once you have repaired all damage and the humidity in your home is under control, a deep clean is your best option for removing all remaining traces of mold, pest droppings, or rotted organic matter from your basement. This will help you to chase the last of the bad smells away and has the added bonus of leaving your basement sparklingly clean. 

Your biggest concern when undertaking a deep clean should be killing all the mold formations that are already in your basement. There are specialized cleaning products that are designed to remove mold, but a blend of bleach and water will do the trick just as well. Remember to wear gloves, however, as bleach can be hard on your hands. For more serious cases, be sure to contact a mold remediation professional.