The basement
A musty odor may indicate mildew growth. If there is a musty odor in the carpet, it may mean that the carpet has been damaged because of moisture. Try applying one of the powder carpet fresheners that can be vacuumed. If the musty odor is due to damaged carpet, you may want to replace the carpet and reduce the amount of moisture accumulating in the basement. A dehumidified can be purchased to reduce moisture in the air. If the moisture is caused by concrete that sweats, you may want to have the concrete sealed or select another type of floor covering. Opening the windows and doors can help ventilate the room and maintain a fresh, clean atmosphere.

The garage
Because garages often have oil, decomposing grease is a source of an odor. Clean your garage on a regular basis. To remove musty odors on cement or tiled floors and walls, use « cup liquid household bleach to one gallon of water. Be careful not to track mixture into house. It may discolor floor materials. Rinse with clear water and wipe dry. Keep windows open until walls and floors are thoroughly dried. Be careful to not track the cleaning solution into the house because bleach will discolor carpet.