5 Eco-Friendly Ways to Get Rid of That Damp Basement Smell

Written by Chris Nickson
on Jun 29, 2010

To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by
Charles Ramos, Jr.
on Aug 11, 2021

The damp basement smell, which is caused by mold and mildew, is unpleasant and dangerous for your health. You may be able get rid of it without resorting to chemicals, instead using simple items from around the house.

1. Clean It Out

Clean everything out of the basement and put it in the backyard, garage, or other space. It is quite a job, but you’ll get rid of old carpet and cardboard that’s contributing to the damp basement smell. Once the old smelly things are removed, you’ll have bare surfaces you can clean.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar will get rid of most mold and mildew. The scent will clear in just a few minutes. You can pour it on areas with heavy mold buildup, then scrub hard to remove most of the traces.

3. Lemon Juice

Create lemon juice mix with water and jarred or fresh lemon for a strong, sweet cleaning solution. It can not only tackle many forms of mold, but it will also clean unaffected areas and take out the damp basement smell, replacing it with a natural lemon scent.

4. Baking Soda

Spreading baking soda over an affected area will soak up the damp basement smell. Be aware that you’ll still need to clean the area.

5. Soap and Water

Finishing up by cleaning with a good natural soap and water will remove the last remnants of the mold, which will take away the damp basement smell permanently.