How do you get the musty smell out of a basement concrete floor?

Tackle the Smell Place bowls of baking soda around the basement. The baking soda will begin to absorb the odors and should make a significant difference over the course of a few days. You can also use bowls of white vinegar or clean cat litter—both will absorb odors as well.

Why does my basement smell like mildew?

Underground living spaces can’t hold moisture like the upper levels of your home. When the warmer air from above seeps into your basement, the moisture in the air condenses, and ends up on your dark basement walls and cold water pipes. Mold begins to form, and the unpleasant smell you can’t seem to shake is born.

How do you get mildew smell out of floor?

The right cleaning element also disinfects, killing any odor-causing bacteria.

Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of water and 1 cup of white vinegar.
Dip a mop into the cleaning solution and wring it out.
Let the floor air dry and repeat if any musty smell remains on the wood.

What does mildew smell like in a house?

And what does mildew smell like? Probably what you’d expect it to smell like, actually: earthy, damp, tangy — kind of like dirty socks or rotting wood. These unpleasant smells come from the microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC) mold releases as it grows.

Why does my basement smell like mildew and mold?

Some of the most common unpleasant odors in the basement are caused by mold, mildew, sewer gases, or a dead decaying animal such as a mouse. Sewer Gas Not only can the smell of sewer gas be repulsive, but it can also be quite dangerous.

What can I use to get musty smell out of my basement?

Borax is a powder, much like baking soda. It is a useful cleaner in the basement and a helpful tip when learning how to get rid of musty smells. Borax works exceptionally well when used on cement walls, cleaning mold from cracks. It also helps to inhibit future mold growth. Gloves are essential when using anything to clean mold.

Why does my basement carpet have a musty smell?

Basement carpets are often notorious for having a musty, damp smell. Before you begin to try and remove the musty smell from the carpet, you will need to make sure that the carpet is completely dry first. Once the carpet is dry, go over it a few times with a vacuum and suck up all the dirt and hairs.

Why does my basement smell like sewer gas?

Musty smells in the basement air are caused by mold growth, water damage, or high humidity levels. Sewer gas distinctively smells like sewage and permeates through to affect all of the house smells. The solutions to fix these two problems are different.

Mold and mildew growth occurs where there is dense or substantial humidity. Moisture accumulates in basements when there is an avenue for it to enter. Common reasons why basements smell musty include: Cracks and gaps in the walls or floor. Malfunctioning floor drains. Malfunctioning appliances and fixtures.

What is the smell in my basement?

Moldy Smell in Basement. If you have an unpleasant smell in your basement (whether it is finished or not), the most likely cause of that smell is mold and mildew that could be growing anywhere, even on or under your carpet.

How do you get damp smell from basement?

The fabric fibers retains a damp, musty odor and may make you basement smell. Fill cans or leave open boxes of baking soda around the basement to absorb the mildew smell. You can also sprinkle a layer of baking soda over the floors and let it sit for a few days.

Why is there mold in your basement?

One of the biggest causes of mold in the basement is flooding. If a house is flooded, water runs down to the basement and stays there long after the other rooms have dried. Dangerous molds like toxic black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) can start to grow after a flood. These molds need materials to be very wet for several days to begin growing.