Vinegar for airborne smells?

So, we got almost 6 inches of rain the other day. Our dirt basement is in the process of drying out. We've got a damp basement smell right as you come in the door and around the basement door itself.
Magic zymes doesn't work, I hate Febreeze and I'm annoyed with the smell. I just read that simmering vinegar on the stove will clear up the smell and you don't notice the vinegar after a few minutes. (nose blind, I guess)
Had anyone tried this? Rather than spraying the house with vodka. Which I'd rather drink instead.

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma

You can try, but until it's dry, nothing will work. But you should keep silica gel or something like that down there to keep things dryer.

EmptyNest said:

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma .

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Spices. Good idea. The basement never really dries out as we're on a huge hunk of granite here and the floor is dirt. Water just seeps in. The sump pump could not keep up.

simmer apples and cinnamon and nutmeg (cloves if you like the smell) or cider (which you can serve) ... even just apple peels will do. Smells like you're baking pie. trust me! Some on the stove, some cider in a crockpot in the common area. yumm
you hate all febreeze ... I have heard good things about the pumpkin ...
Probably not in the mood to bake but a pumpkin pie, same spices, is so appealing.
Fires in the fireplace will help I think.

I also put apple slices and pinecones in the fireplace but you don't want wet cones and probably don't have some dry?

seashanty said:

I also put apple slices and pinecones in the fireplace but you don't want wet cones and probably don't have some dry?.

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Not wood fireplaces. Gas. Otherwise, yeah, s fire would help!

Double up and make some hot apple cider for the guests.

I know I would enjoy a cup about now. Hasn't gotten out of the low 60's here at all today. Went from mid 80's to this. Bam!

Copperhead said:

Double up and make some hot apple cider for the guests.

I know I would enjoy a cup about now. Hasn't gotten out of the low 60's here at all today. Went from mid 80's to this. Bam!.

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Copperhead said:

Double up and make some hot apple cider for the guests.

I know I would enjoy a cup about now. Hasn't gotten out of the low 60's here at all today. Went from mid 80's to this. Bam!

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Cider. Yum! I can put that out in the crock pot. Or airpot.
Funny, I bought a quart in NY and my brother kept looking at it like it was poison - why is it all cloudy, why isn't it clear, what's in it? I'm sure it's still in the fridge. It'll be hard cider by the time I get back there.

seashanty said:

I also put apple slices and pinecones in the fireplace but you don't want wet cones and probably don't have some dry?.

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Do you have an Xmas tree shop up there? They sell cinnamon pine cones that you can set in a basket near the door. Or cinnamon broom...appropriate for the season. You could buy a simmering pot wit mulling spices that you can keep plugged in all day if you don't want to go through a lot of cider. http://www.amazon.com/Aromatherapy-Accessory-Electric-Simmering-EARTH/dp/B009N9H7GE

Silverspoon said:

seashanty said:

I also put apple slices and pinecones in the fireplace but you don't want wet cones and probably don't have some dry?.

Click to expand...

Do you have an Xmas tree shop up there? They sell cinnamon pine cones that you can set in a basket near the door. Or cinnamon broom...appropriate for the season. You could buy a simmering pot wit mulling spices that you can keep plugged in all day if you don't want to go through a lot of cider. http://www.amazon.com/Aromatherapy-Accessory-Electric-Simmering-EARTH/dp/B009N9H7GE
.

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I have one of those heated wax thingies that melts the wax smelly things. (Yeah, whatever it is called.) But, it's in with the Christmas stuff. I can try just opening the wax smelly thingy and leaving it out on the counter by the door.
I just sprayed my linen spray all over the hallway, now it smells like suntan lotion everywhere. Better than wet basement.

people coming in from the wet will likely not notice it the way you are noticing it ... if nothing else, make a fresh pot of coffee and cocoa

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma .

Click to expand...

Spices. Good idea. The basement never really dries out as we're on a huge hunk of granite here and the floor is dirt. Water just seeps in. The sump pump could not keep up.
.

Click to expand...

I learn new things all the time. Don't think I could have ever thought that someone would have a basement that wasn't concrete. I'm constantly surprised by how they build... in spite of the weather.

Generic said:

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma .

Click to expand...

Spices. Good idea. The basement never really dries out as we're on a huge hunk of granite here and the floor is dirt. Water just seeps in. The sump pump could not keep up.
.

Click to expand...

I learn new things all the time. Don't think I could have ever thought that someone would have a basement that wasn't concrete. I'm constantly surprised by how they build... in spite of the weather.
.

Click to expand...

1888. Some of it is finished - the part where the washer and dryer are. One furnace is on the cement, the other is not. The coal is still rattling around near the old coal chute. I store nothing down there I ever want to take with me.

My basement can smell even with a de humidifier . I like food smells over old bsmt smell, BACON cooking on low for an hour helps.

The cider or apples with cinnamon or put some vanilla in a small bowl. Vanilla absorbs odors and gives off a nice aroma.
Per my daughter: Nothing is worse than an apartment in August with windows closed with a body that has been there for a week. They light a cigar and brew a pot of coffee to make it so they can do the investigation and wait for the wagon. Just sayin'

Morticia said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma .

Click to expand...

Spices. Good idea. The basement never really dries out as we're on a huge hunk of granite here and the floor is dirt. Water just seeps in. The sump pump could not keep up.
.

Click to expand...

I learn new things all the time. Don't think I could have ever thought that someone would have a basement that wasn't concrete. I'm constantly surprised by how they build... in spite of the weather.
.

Click to expand...

1888. Some of it is finished - the part where the washer and dryer are. One furnace is on the cement, the other is not. The coal is still rattling around near the old coal chute. I store nothing down there I ever want to take with me.
.

Click to expand...

Sounds a lot like the basement in our 1870 house, coal and all, except ours has no standing headroom and the washer and dryer are not down there. The foundation walls are "rubblestone" topped by brick.
The cellar of our 1780 house is mostly on ledge, but with some dirt, also with a rubblestone foundation (but without the brick).

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

Generic said:

Morticia said:

EmptyNest said:

We have had almost 6 inches of rain. Unfortunately, while it is still wet I don't think there is anything you can really do except try running some fans to help dry out the floor a bit.
I would boil some mulling spices rather than vinegar Or how about baking something chocolate..that's a good cover up aroma .

Click to expand...

Spices. Good idea. The basement never really dries out as we're on a huge hunk of granite here and the floor is dirt. Water just seeps in. The sump pump could not keep up.
.

Click to expand...

I learn new things all the time. Don't think I could have ever thought that someone would have a basement that wasn't concrete. I'm constantly surprised by how they build... in spite of the weather.
.

Click to expand...

1888. Some of it is finished - the part where the washer and dryer are. One furnace is on the cement, the other is not. The coal is still rattling around near the old coal chute. I store nothing down there I ever want to take with me.
.

Click to expand...

Sounds a lot like the basement in our 1870 house, coal and all, except ours has no standing headroom and the washer and dryer are not down there. The foundation walls are "rubblestone" topped by brick.
The cellar of our 1780 house is mostly on ledge, but with some dirt, also with a rubblestone foundation (but without the brick).
.

Click to expand...

That's pretty much it. Stone and brick and a ledge that makes the headroom go from 7 feet to 3 feet.

gillumhouse said:

The cider or apples with cinnamon or put some vanilla in a small bowl. Vanilla absorbs odors and gives off a nice aroma.
Per my daughter: Nothing is worse than an apartment in August with windows closed with a body that has been there for a week. They light a cigar and brew a pot of coffee to make it so they can do the investigation and wait for the wagon. Just sayin'.

Click to expand...

Open fire good idea. Not sure if ever want to smell coffee again after associating it with a very dead body.

Run dehumidifier, anything else will just be temporary solution