Worker in a yellow protective suit in a muddy crawlspace. Used to illustrate this step; it is not a photo of a job connected to this site.
Quick storage audit
Spend an afternoon on this before blaming the house.
- Are any cardboard boxes sitting directly on the concrete floor?
- Are boxes or bins pushed tight against the foundation walls?
- Do the bottoms of any boxes feel soft, look stained or smell stronger than the tops?
- Are there piles of old newspapers, magazines or paperback books?
- Are clothes, bedding or upholstered furniture stored in plastic bags with no air?
- Is anything stored beside the water heater, furnace or floor drain?
- Has anything been down there untouched for more than five years?
Why storage smells even in a dry basement
Paper and cardboard are made from plant fiber and absorb moisture from the air readily. A box on a concrete floor picks up moisture from the slab, which is cooler and damper than the room. Over a few humid summers, the bottom of the box softens and spots of mildew appear on the inside, often invisible until you open it.
Packed storage also blocks air. A wall lined floor to ceiling with boxes creates a pocket of still, cool air against the foundation where humidity runs higher than anywhere else in the room. Even a well-run dehumidifier in the middle of the basement may not dry that pocket.
Fabric holds odor for a long time. A basement where winter coats, spare bedding and an old sofa have sat for years can smell musty from those items alone, and they will keep reintroducing the smell after the room is cleaned.
Better storage habits
| Item type | Better approach | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Cardboard boxes | Swap for lidded plastic bins | Plastic does not absorb moisture or feed growth |
| Anything on the floor | Use metal or plastic shelving with the lowest shelf a few inches up | Keeps items off the cool slab and out of minor water events |
| Items along walls | Leave a gap of several inches from foundation walls | Lets air move and lets you see the wall |
| Clothes and bedding | Wash before storing; use breathable bags in a dry spot | Removes residue that mildew can feed on |
| Books and papers | Store important documents upstairs | Paper is hard to deodorize once musty |
What to do with items that already smell
- IfPlastic, metal or glass items smell mustyWash with soap and water, dry completely, and store them in a better spot.
- IfWashable fabrics smell mustyLaunder, dry fully in a dryer or in sun, and smell again before putting them back.
- IfCardboard boxes are stained or softMove contents into new containers and recycle or discard the boxes.
- IfBooks or papers have visible mold spotsDiscard if replaceable; for valuable items, ask a document conservator before cleaning.
General information for Lakewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.