Musty Basements - Tips And Tricks To Eliminating A Musty Basement

Walking downstairs into a musty basement is not a pleasant experience to say the least. The smell can practically knock you over! Created by moisture, mold, dust and dampness, basements that are musty can be uncomfortable and downright unhealthy. So how can you go about getting rid of the musty smell and the problem altogether? Here are some helpful tips that will eliminate the problem forever.

To get started you will need to first clean everything out of the basement. What I mean by that is that you'll need to remove it all out. Yes, this is a big job to be sure in many cases, but it is the only way to completely get rid of the problem.

Next, toss out everything you no longer use that was in the basement. If you're like most people, the basement oftentimes becomes a collection area for everything you no longer use. This only adds to the issue. So this is a great time to take advantage of getting rid of unwanted items.

Once you have a clear basement you can begin to clean it up. If you find mold on the walls you can use bleach and scrub them down. Bleach can be effective in in fighting basement mold and cleaning the area. A fresh coat of good moisture barrier paint on the outside walls of the basement is ideal. This will help prevent mold and moisture from forming and creating the musty smells. It may take more than one coat to do the job right. You may want to follow this up with a water sealant as well. At least on the bottom portion of the walls.

Do you have carpet on the floors? You will want to use a carpet cleaner or extractor on it to thoroughly give it a good cleaning. It's the only way of removing the smell because carpets absorb odors so easily. If you have a concrete or vinyl floor, wash it down and get it like new again.

Finally, be sure to keep an air freshener downstairs. That can help in reducing the odor from a musty basement.

One last tip in dealing with musty basements is to use a dehumidifier. These units work so well in eliminating any moisture from causing must and mold from forming. Yes, you will need to spend $300 on a good unit, but the benefits of a basement dehumidifier will far outweigh the cost. This is especially true if you use your basement as a family room, bedroom, rec room, etc.

Use these tips and you will soon find that a musty basement is a thing of the past.