Tips To Remove The Mold Smell From Your Basement
June 7, 2011
If you can smell a musty odor in the basement, it has got to be mold. This is particularly sensed after there has been water percolation in the area due to flood, rain or even inflow of water. Mold is actually a fungus that grows in moist, wet and humid areas like the basement or bathrooms. They can causea lot of health problems; the musty smell can interfere with breathing and cause a lot of allergies. There are a lot of methods to remove the mold smell from the basement.
1. Open the basement door and windows for a few hours so that the overpowering smell can fizzle out.
2. Dead, decaying animals and plants can also lead to highly repulsive odor and filth. Mice and rats are pests that hide and eventually die in basements. Their rotting bodies can fill the air with disgusting odor that can last for days. So, as a part of the cleanup process, you have to wear rubber gloves, remove the bodies and dispose them in a garbage bag and dispose it away.
3. To remove mold from the basement, you can mix one half of bleach in one gallon of water. Oxygen bleach is safer than chlorine bleach and can kill mildew, mold and other forms of fungus. Fill the spray bottle with the mixture and soak the mold. This mixture can remain on the mold for fifteen minutes before you wipe the surface well with a wet cloth.
4. Sprinkle baking soda on basements. This product is a natural deodorizer and can remove mold odors that are trapped in the dirt without the need to use harsh chemicals. You can reapply the baking soda whenever you want.
5. Take a few bowls and fill them with charcoal briquettes. The charcoal has the property to absorb mold odor from the air.
6. You can also fill bowls with white vinegar and keep them inside the basement.
7. You can also use deodorizer granules; sprinkle them on the basement floors. These granules can be recycled, reused and are non-toxic in nature.
8. Use a few onions and cut them in half on plates. Set these plates inside the basement in different areas. Let the onions remain in the basement for 12 to 24 hours. These onions will remove the offensive, mold odors.
9. Molds and mildews tend to be in places that have poor ventilation. So get a good flow of breeze in by opening the windows and doors; so that the smell is carried away on the outside. You can also turn on a big fan or many fans to promote air circulation. The chemical cleansers that you use will work much more effectively in this manner. Another benefit of ventilation is sunlight which can be very good for removing mold and mildew smell. If you use keep the shades and blinds open for quite a few days, it can be very good not only for the room but also for your skin and overall health.
10. One of the best cleansings agents is a disinfectant like Lysol that can not only kill mold and mildew but also remove the smell. You just have to dilute the product and spray them in areas that are affected as well as potentially affected. You have to wear rubber gloves and protective mask while doing this, because mold spores can cause diseases and respiratory problems. You can sprinkle baking soda in the areas that are prone to mildew growth and let it remain there for a day. This will take care of too much smell. There are some products that will conceal the odor, making the air pleasant but may not kill the mold. Such air fresheners like Febreeze can be used at the end of the mold treatment.
