Every time you go down to the basement you breathe the air and it is filled with that nasty musty aroma. You are not alone. Basements in so many houses have that same smell coming from them too. If the aroma is something you would prefer to not have, there are ways to destroy it. This is probably a terrific notion anyway as the musty smell is a sign that mold and mildew are lurking about someplace in the basement and presents a potential medical risk.

Open windows all throughout the basement. This will allow air flow all over the basement and will assist in dissipating the musty smell. If there is furniture in the basement and carpeting is there remove any padding and replace it. {Afterwards, you should steam clean the carpets very well and dry them totally, using fans to distribute the air for faster drying. Take furniture out of doors and clean them there. Leave them to dry and air out in the sunlight. Be certain that if your dryer is in in the basement that it is appropriately vented to the outside so it does not create moisture in the basement.

Mix up a solution of chlorine and water with approximately a cup of bleach to a gallon of water. Mop up any cement floors and all the walls of the basement. Let the chlorine remain for about fifteen minutes then rinse the walls and dry them as well. This will destroy any mold or mildew that started to develop therefore doing away with the musty scent.

If these basic fixes aren't working and the musty odor comes back you should look for the reason. Analyze the outside of the home. Be certain that the gutters are functioning well and are not overflowing onto the ground around the foundation. Make certain the area around the base slopes down and away directing water to move away from the abode. This helps prevent water from pooling and seeping into the ground around the substructure resulting in hydrostatic pressure. This pressure results in splits and openings appear in the foundation which lets wetness into the basement. The wetness leads to the musty odor.

Be certain that the windows in the basement are in acceptable repair and are well caulked. This is one other way to keep moisture out, preventing the awful musty aroma from taking hold.

If you have cracks, gaps, or signs of moisture on the walls be certain to waterproof the walls. Repair any splits and openings. Use hydraulic cement to restore splits and gaps. Use a cement sealant that is waterproof to the walls and cement floors of the basement. This should kill any moisture from collecting in the basement and thus also eliminate that musty smell.

If the trouble still persists after you have finished everything mentioned above, it is time to consider purchasing a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air. This will maintain any humidity at a minimum in the basement. This will prevent the musty scent as there won't be moisture in the basement to accumulate and cause mold or mildew. This will also ensure that there are no medical risks to your loved ones caused by mold growth in the basement.