San Bernardino Flood Damage Cleanup

Every moment you go down to the basement you inhale the air and it is filled with that offensive musty smell. You are not the only one. Basements everywhere have that same smell residing in them too. If the aroma is something you would rather not have, there are ways to destroy it. This is likely a terrific idea anyway as the musty odor is a signal that mold and mildew are lurking around somewhere in the basement and presents a possible medical hazard.

Open windows all throughout the basement. This will permit aeration all over the basement and will help dissipate the musty aroma. If there are furnishings there and carpeting is there remove any carpet pad and buy new, you should steam clean the carpeting very well and dry them fully, using fans to circulate the air for speedier dehydrating. Put furniture outside and cleanse them there. Leave them to dry out and air out in the sun. Make certain that if if your clothes dryer is located in the basement that it is appropriately vented to the exterior of the house so that it doesn't create humidity in the basement.

Put together a blend of chlorine and water with nearly one cup of chlorine to 1 gallon of water. Mop up any cement flooring and all the walls of the basement. Let the chlorine stay for about fifteen minutes then wash the walls and dry them as well. This will destroy any mold or mildew that began to proliferate therefore eradicating the musty scent.

If these simple fixes aren't working and the musty odor returns you should check for the cause. Examine the the exterior of the abode. Be certain that the gutters are working properly and are not overflowing onto the surface around the foundation. Be sure the area around the base inclines downward and away directing water to move away from the abode. This helps prevent water from collecting and seeping into the earth around the substructure resulting in hydrostatic pressure. This pressure makes cracks and gaps form in the base which lets moisture into the basement. The moisture leads to the musty odor.

Be certain that the windows in the basement are in good repair and are well caulked. This is one other means to keep wetness out, preventing the unpleasant musty scent from moving in.

If you have splits, openings, or signs of wetness on the walls be certain to waterproof the walls. Fix any splits and gaps. Use hydraulic cement to fix breaks and gaps. Apply a cement sealant that is waterproof to the walls and cement floors of the basement. This should kill any moisture from accumulating in the basement and thus also kill that musty scent.

If the difficulty still remains after you have done everything discussed above, it is time to think about buying a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier takes out the moisture from the air. This will keep any humidity at a minimum in the basement. This will preclude the musty odor 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 development in the basement.