Freshening up the basement air

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Lucky us.... we are hosting my son's 50th birthday party on Saturday afternoon. DIL and a friend of hers are doing the cooking and bringing everything except paper supplies, and we are providing the wine, she's getting beer and non-alcoholic drinks. About 40 people are attending, so I've rented some extra chairs. All is under control.....

BUT.... the weatherman is forecasting a "nor-Easter" for Saturday afternoon! So we can't go out into the lovely patio and yard. Good thing is that we have a large finished basement, dry and partially furnished. I never go down there, there's a utility room that is closed off that Jim uses for wine storage and workbench.

All good, I think we'll be fine for space. But the basement smells stale. Never has been wet, just stuffy. How can I freshened it up? (Know that this question comes from a Californian who has never lived in a house with a basement before!)

I'll go down and vacuum and dust, but that's all there is to do. Any advice?

Featured Answer

Rudebekia

6 years ago

Even if it is not damp running a dehumidifier can freshen the air.

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Comments (18)

ldstarr
6 years ago
If is truly does not have a dampness issue, consider leaving the door between the basement and the rest of your home open and running a fan to move the air around. If you have a window that operates, and the weather is appropriate, leave it open for a few hours. The best set-up will draw the air from your home thru the basement and out the window. Beware of this idea if your have any mold/mildew in the basement as stirring the air with the mold/mildew present is a recipe for trouble.

Hope the party is a success.
sushipup1 thanked ldstarr
sushipup1
Original Author
6 years ago
It's nice and dry. No windows, but I can do the door open and a fan. I hate candles, so don't want to burn any of those. Thanks.
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ont_gal
6 years ago
open any windows,doors,whatever to get an air flow.Do you have central air? turn it on for a bit and just move the air around-it will clear.
sushipup1 thanked ont_gal
eld6161
6 years ago
I agree with Emory.
sushipup1 thanked eld6161
Michael
6 years ago
OdoBan solids and a slow running fan will freshen it.
sushipup1 thanked Michael
dedtired
6 years ago
Yes . A dehumidifier will do it. If possible, set it up so there is a hose running to a drain. If there is no drain, just empty the pan every so often. Too bad about the weather. There are so any parties and fairs this time of year. A big storm on the weekend is a disaster.
sushipup1 thanked dedtired
Michael
6 years ago
An air exchange is easy to accomplish. All that's required is incoming and outgoing air.

If your basement is cooled or heated, open the supply side air ducts and turn on the HVAC fan only. Open the door to basement and place a fan at the door to draw stale air from basement while refreshing it with filtered air.
sushipup1 thanked Michael
Michael
6 years ago
An air exchange is easy to accomplish. All that's required is incoming and outgoing air.

If your basement is cooled or heated, open the supply side air ducts and turn on the HVAC fan only. Open the door to basement and place a fan at the door to draw stale air from basement while refreshing it with filtered air.
sushipup1 thanked Michael
blubird
6 years ago
Agree with the dehumidifier suggestion.
pkramer60
6 years ago
Head to the home store and grab a dehumidifier. You may never had water down there but you are below ground and it is picking up humidity. So run the machine and keep the doors open. A spray of febreeze can help too.
tjkeen
6 years ago
To eliminate cooking odors vinegar in a spray bottle works well. I think bowls of vinegar placed around the room eliminate odors. That and the other suggestions above should help. I am allergic to many chemicals including febreeze so I use vinegar.
nicole___
6 years ago
Do not...add other smells. If you air it out as the above suggestions advise then it will just be fresh air your smelling. Natural cinnamon or clove scents if you have to....
joyfulguy
6 years ago
Good advice offered above regarding the air issue.

Lacking windows, how will you be for light? Maybe plan to add some lamps or other supplementary light sources to make the place look more welcoming, since you won't (or may not be) in the highly lighted outdoors as was expected.

ole joyful
josephene_gw
6 years ago
How much time before party?

might try moth balls for a few days then remove them

A big bag of cedar chips.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
6 years ago
The party was on the 13th!

But mothballs! Really??
sushipup1
Original Author
6 years ago
Wound up that only the kids were down there, maybe 5 or 6 kids up to age 13. So I really didn't care very much. Because of the rain, we had fewer people make it, but not much. All went well. Thanks for the advice.
dedtired
6 years ago
Glad the party was a success. That was a heck of a rainstorm! And now we are roasting.

Freshening up the basement air

Rudebekia

Comments (18)

ldstarr

sushipup1
Original Author

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Freshening up the basement air

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