Home remedies for moldy smell in basement laundry room.?

Question

Hey we are renting an older house with rudimentary design flaws, but too busy (and, like I said we don't own the house) to start at square one to fix it up.

There's a moldy smell omnipresent. Dehumidifier helps only a little. In the summer, it's fine to leave the window open, but the smell is still there. When winter comes (and we're in Atlantic Canada so it comes soon and hard), an open window would be ridiculous.

So, home remedies ONLY, anyone have thoughts. I.E. an open box of baking soda or something?

Thanks

Answer 1

Get rid of mildew, dust, and stale odors by wiping down walls with undiluted white distilled vinegar on a cloth or a sponge mop.

Answer 2

Clean with Pine Sol and put moth balls around for a month. Then spray with a good room fresher.

Answer 3

You got good answers from your first two. Myself, I attack it a little more directly. I take an old sponge mop and mix up some Lysol or bleach and soapy water (or laundry detergent) and mop the walls. Then I use some cheap can of antibacterial sanitizer (a spray can). Then I would put the baking soda out. The dehumidifier, cat litter, baking soda etc. absorb odors, but don't attack them.

Answer 4

You need to eliminate any mould on the walls. I have a similar problem and I first tried to scrape the walls clean when they were dry in summer, and then used a bleach having amonia. It was only partly successful. Then I tried a toilet cleaner which contains about 7% SODIUM HYPOCHLORIDE, and this worked better. Apply with a cloth or spray it on, but don't stand too close.

SAFETY FIRST! ALWAYS HANDLE THESE MATERIALS WITH RUBBER GLOVES AND HAVE GOOD EYE PROTECTION GOGGLES. IF THESE MATERIALS GET ON YOUR SKIN, STOP WORK AND WASH OFF IMMEDIATELY.    

Answer 5

buy a cat litter tray and add cat litter and baking soda or bicarbonate of soda the bicarb is a deoderiser as it the cat litter but it is also porous and will soak up excess moisture for you.replace it each time you feel its done having and effect  

Answer 6

Set open bags of charcoal in the corners and use a dehumidifier.

If the mold smell continues-you have mold-washing the area with bleach may be required.

Answer 7

Mold Comes From Moisture.ie: Concrete is Porous.I am Assuming a Concrete Basement.Moisture is Wicking through the Concrete and Possibly Growing on the Concrete Surface it Self or in the Concrete-Microscopically.

Recommend: Spray the Surface of the All Concrete with Bleach to Kill the Mold !

Do A Little At a time! Don' t Get To Much fumes Going!

Do This Monthly To Stay Ahead of the Game.

Regular Clorox Bleach that you buy at the Grocery Store Will Work Great!

***Recommend: Use a Painting Respirator When Doing this and ***Remember Ventilate the Space Well While Doing This !!!

***Recommend: only Do this When you can Ventilate the Space Good Enough So that Residual Smell of Bleach Doesn't Overpower you.

Remember To Wear Safety " Goggles " When Spraying Bleach From a Spray Bottle.

Do a Little at a time !!! Do " NOt" have Children in the Basement When you are Doing this and do not Do This Alone Just in Case you Pass out or something.

" Be Safe---Use the Buddy System."  Have a Friend Around.

Answer 8

Use dehumidifier.