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Post by _Linda_ on Jul 7, 2010 9:25:22 GMT -5
I have an unfinished basement with a dirt floor. It smells damp and musty, and the smell is throughout the house. Besides opening all the windows, what else can I do to get rid of the stench? Thanks for all ideas.
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Post by peppermint66 on Jul 7, 2010 9:47:01 GMT -5
There are products you can buy at any Mart store or Home Improvement store that help with the odor and the dampness. Two brand names that come to mind are Damp Rid and Humi-Dry.Hope this helps.
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Post by amberwind on Jul 7, 2010 10:08:21 GMT -5
I would suggest a dehumidifier. If you can't set it in the basement, put it right outside the basement door. Paint some Killz on the basement ceiling and walls - a damp and musty smell is often the biggest noticeable symptom of a mold or mildew problem.
Also, talk to some contractors about putting a concrete floor down to make the basement semi-finished. They'll likely cut you a break because they need the work, and it'll improve the value of your property.
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Post by Script on Jul 7, 2010 10:34:14 GMT -5
I have an unfinished basement with a dirt floor. When we moved in here, we also had a dirt floor in part of the basement: the whole large furnace room area. We eventually had a concrete floor put in: this was not super-expensive, as there is a window to the outdoors. This room is not finished, as in: plain brick walls, open ceiling with wires, pipes, etc. The floor makes a huge difference......... We keep a de-humidifier running all summer in the basement. This makes a big big difference. I notice a musty smell too, sometimes, and it's NOT mould or mildew [expert opinion from contractor friend Richard]. A HUMIDIFIER requires maintenance and care. A de-humidifier is much much easier to work. Ours has to be emptied manually, but it is in a room near an outside door and near a washroom. I have seen some that are hooked up with a hose [DIY] to drain directly into a floor drain. good luck and please know you aren't alone....
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Post by _Linda_ on Jul 7, 2010 11:29:06 GMT -5
Thank you all for the great ideas. I will have to check into all of them.
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Post by mellowyellow on Jul 7, 2010 12:03:46 GMT -5
Anywhere that has dirt has the potential to attract moisture and cause that smell.
In my case, I had to have my house excavated from the outside and lined with waterproof liners, plus get the weeping tiles/french draines redone. Even so, I still have to run the dehumidifier because moisture (not pooling water, just microscopic moisture) seeps in through the floor, under the laminate.
As for smell, I have had YEARS of trying things, before the basement was repaired. What worked best was using the dehumidifier, and also (going to sound crazy), cutting onions and setting them in the room to absorb the bad smell. They really did work well. And no, didn't leave the rooms smelling like onion. I also had used an air sponge type thing that has a crystal mixture in it that pulls the moisture out of the air and lets it drip into a basin below the crystal.
Candles only work for as long as they are lit. Air fresheners do not work. You can always smell the damp smell behind them. Charcoal sometimes works. For me it didn't. Baking soda sometimes works. For me it didn't because the space was too large.
Getting rid of the basement carpet and lots of fabric that had been in the basement was the quickest way to get rid of a lot of the odour. It was a miraculous difference.
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Post by success19 on Jul 7, 2010 14:23:24 GMT -5
Boxes of baking soda might absorb the odors too.
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Post by CaringFriend on Jul 7, 2010 17:19:01 GMT -5
Getting rid of the basement carpet and lots of fabric that had been in the basement was the quickest way to get rid of a lot of the odour. It was a miraculous difference. I heartily agree with this. Even if you do concrete the floor and also add a dehumidifier, that odor will linger because it has been absorbed in fabrics. Also, discard any paper and cardboard boxes because they, too, absorb that odor. Sounds like the solution is concrete the floor, get a dehumidifier, and discard all fabric and paper products stored there. To all readers here: My website www.OrganizedFinancialHarmony.com will close at the end of September. If there are any articles there which you found helpful, you may want to go back and copy/paste them for future reference.
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Post by def6 on Jul 7, 2010 18:22:23 GMT -5
Open windows and a fan maybe to circulate the air. Clean any visable mildew you may see on surfaces with bleach water. sometimes a bowl of vinager set out absorbs odors. Dirt floor-you got me on that one.
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Post by _Linda_ on Jul 7, 2010 20:06:32 GMT -5
There is part of the problem. None of the windows open in the basement. And, it's been raining off and on all day. I know there is nothing I can do about Mother Nature. Oh well. I am going to have to at least do the dehumidifier and the Damp Rid. Unfortunately, I can't afford to have a concrete slab poured right now. Maybe next year? Thanks everyone for the ideas.
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Post by bigtimetroubles on Jul 8, 2010 6:03:09 GMT -5
I have that smell in my basement because of dampness from rain coming into basement and sewer back ups....it stinks....I hate going down there now...I am working there now to get the junk out of there into trashcans and out on street for Friday pickup....have to go down there later today....need to wear a mask I suppose....hugs btt
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Post by mellowyellow on Jul 8, 2010 12:03:12 GMT -5
When I had flooding in the past, it was explained to me that opening the basement windows was something you should NOT do. That it caused more humidity to enter into the house, rather than less. Something about equalizing the air pressure and some such thing. You should open the windows upstairs and try to cause a good ol' Victorian cross-draft.
Getting your basement drains snaked can also be a HUGE help with damp smells. If there are any tree roots or residue in the pipes, they can cause stagnant water to linger in the pipes, rather than emptying out properly. That gross air permeates the basement, regardless of what is done to the environment.
I lived with this problem for ten years before solving all the issues, so I sadly know what it's like.
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Post by CaringFriend on Jul 9, 2010 0:24:11 GMT -5
Oh well. I am going to have to at least do the dehumidifier and the Damp Rid. Unfortunately, I can't afford to have a concrete slab poured right now. Maybe next year? To make the concrete floor "happen" sometime in the future, don't put it off. Start today to simply have someone come in and give you a quote on the job. Then divide that number by 12 to see how much you need to set aside monthly. If that figure is a bit high, then divide it by 18. Then stick to the plan. Otherwise, you may keep saying you don't have the money. At least this way, in a year or two, you will have something. To all readers here: My website www.OrganizedFinancialHarmony.com will close at the end of September. If there are any articles there which you found helpful, you may want to go back and copy/paste them for future reference.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 9, 2010 11:54:57 GMT -5
I agree with getting an estimate soon; it might not be as expensive as you expect.
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Post by usedtobeneat on Jul 10, 2010 15:47:36 GMT -5
I know of an old trick to seal a dirt floor. It's time consuming, but not as expensive as a concrete floor. Get a five gallon bucket and put about 6 inches of dirt in it. Regular plain old dirt. You can use plain old fill dirt if you want, or dig some out of the yard, but make sure you don't have any grass in it, and don't use potting soil because it's usually got chemicals in it. Add some very hot water to fill the bucket up. Add one dozen egg whites to this and stir it until it's VERY well blended. Get a wide paintbrush and paint it on the dirt floor. Let it dry overnight and then do the same thing for the next two days. After three coats of it, it will be hard and sealed. You can also boil rice or potatoes and the water it was cooked in. If you boil the rice, use a small bag and a huge spaghetti sauce pot so it's very soupy.
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