How can I get rid of the musty smell in the basement?

Question

Our home is only 3 years old, the basement isn't finished. A little over a week ago the sump pump stopped working and there was some water, but it didn't flood. Anyway, we got a new sump pump, cleaned up, mopped the floors, put in air fresheners, dried the place out with fans. Now there's a "musty" smell that won't go away. I wouldn't care that much, but we're trying to sell our home and I'm worried that it might be affecting the sale of our home. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sounds like you got something wet that you didn't get dried out good.

Answer 2

find the body and remove it....

just kidding.  I'm not sure if you have carpet in your basement or not, but if you do, steam clean steam clean steam clean...with a mix of lysol, vinegar, bleach (color safe) and water.  If not, just mop with a mix of lysol and vinegar.  Vinegar can usually pull the musty smell out of most anything.  Just remember, a little goes a long way. You don't want to get rid of the musty smell and be stuff with a vinegar smell. If you can, open all the windows and doors to air the place out as you do this. I hope this helps. Good luck

Answer 3

Wipe everything down with bleach water including mopping the floor. Just add a little bleach to a bucket of water.

Answer 4

check for mold and mildew around the sump pump area and soak it around there with water and bleach.  Also, check the corners around the basement, in particular on the bottom where the wall meets the floor.  Try to saturate those spots with bleach and repeat the procedure if the smell still comes back.  Bleach is an excellent mildew killer and if you can get commercial bleach(stronger than store bought ones), that's even better.

Answer 5

damp rid which is activated charcoal works good on damp odors.

Answer 6

KEEP THE WINDOWS OPEN TRY WASH THE FLOOR WITHJAVEX

Answer 7

I have had this problem while solving some water penetration problems in different homes I have owned over the years.  First thing is to make sure some boxes or items that might have gotten wet are removed.  Musty smell comes from mildew and mildew grows on organic items, such as cardboard, clothing, books, carpet, carpet padding and so on.  Remove those items and them go into the basement with a solution of warm water with a cap full of bleach and start spritzing the floors and walls till gone.  Let dry.  The smell should be gone.  Although you have a sump pump and that will remove water coming up into the basement from under the slab, you may still have a moisture problem.  Try adding a DEHUMIDIFIER.  This will lessen the chance that things will in the future get damp and mildew abd give off that smell.  I hope this helps you!  Good luck!