It can be disappointing to finish fixing up your basement and then discover it holds a musty smell that makes it impossible to enjoy being down there. It is possible to take care of it if you know what causes it to happen in the first place. A musty basement is the result of not enough air circulating in the area while there is too much humidity in the atmosphere. The result is mold and bacteria growing.

To start getting rid of a musty smell in the basement try to reduce the amount of humidity down there. You can do this by installing an exhaust fan that will remove the musty air from there. You can also place a dehumidifier down there to remove that air. Air cleaners can help to purify the room and to force fresh air to start circulating. If there are any items such as carpet that have mold growing on them you will have to remove them. Other items to check include paper, cardboard boxes, boards, and wood. For more info see http://www.basementremodelinghelp.com/Remodel_Basement/ on remodel basement

Carpets are the most common place that mold can grow but you may be able to salvage them if you allow them to dry out in the hot sun for several days. If you can afford to replace them though you are better off doing so. Before putting in new carpet or putting the old back in place take the time to mop the floor and wash the walls with soap, water, and bleach to get any mold you can't see.

Another alternative instead of putting carpet back in is to paint the floor in colorful patterns using latex paint. It isn't a good idea to put wallpaper in a basement because the paper can get wet and mold will have a place to grow.