Hello everyone,
I am also among those who have to deal with a damp basement.
My goal is not to get rid of the moisture in the basement, but rather to get practical advice on how to store various items in a damp basement despite the moisture. I have thought about using sealed plastic bags for clothes or lockable boxes for larger items. What do you think? Does something like this work?
Thank you for your opinions.
pangio-1
I am also among those who have to deal with a damp basement.
My goal is not to get rid of the moisture in the basement, but rather to get practical advice on how to store various items in a damp basement despite the moisture. I have thought about using sealed plastic bags for clothes or lockable boxes for larger items. What do you think? Does something like this work?
Thank you for your opinions.
pangio-1
M
MODERATOR23 Sep 2011 11:46Hello pangio,
You can hardly store anything in a damp basement, except for fruits and vegetables that prefer dark and humid conditions, and of course, wine.
Storing clothing in sealed bags or containers/plastic boxes is practically not feasible, because the moisture in the clothes will condense inside the container depending on the basement temperature, resulting in a musty smell. We have also used airtight plastic containers ourselves; they didn’t work well in the basement. The books did not become unusable but were noticeably affected; bed linens developed a distinct "basement" odor (again, due to condensation).
However, storage options also depend on how damp the basement is; if moisture diffuses through the walls causing high indoor humidity, water may enter the basement and then evaporate...
With "normal" basement dampness, you can influence the indoor climate by proper ventilation. In a basement, this means keeping windows closed in summer so that humid air does not enter, and airing out occasionally in winter when the outdoor air is drier and removes moisture from the basement air.
You can hardly store anything in a damp basement, except for fruits and vegetables that prefer dark and humid conditions, and of course, wine.
Storing clothing in sealed bags or containers/plastic boxes is practically not feasible, because the moisture in the clothes will condense inside the container depending on the basement temperature, resulting in a musty smell. We have also used airtight plastic containers ourselves; they didn’t work well in the basement. The books did not become unusable but were noticeably affected; bed linens developed a distinct "basement" odor (again, due to condensation).
However, storage options also depend on how damp the basement is; if moisture diffuses through the walls causing high indoor humidity, water may enter the basement and then evaporate...
With "normal" basement dampness, you can influence the indoor climate by proper ventilation. In a basement, this means keeping windows closed in summer so that humid air does not enter, and airing out occasionally in winter when the outdoor air is drier and removes moisture from the basement air.
I cannot agree with the previous speaker. I also live in an older house with a damp basement, and I can still store clothes and other items without any problems. The key is to use truly airtight plastic bags and to make sure the textiles are completely dry before sealing them. It’s best to dry them on the heater beforehand. Where there is no air exchange, logically neither odors nor moisture can enter. This is not an issue at all. Otherwise, I would recommend providing ventilation throughout the year to reduce moisture.
M
MODERATOR23 Jun 2012 00:19Hello everyone,
year-round ventilation would be of little use because the climate, especially the room temperature, changes very slowly in the basement. If you ventilate in the summer, the warm, humid air will condense on the cool basement walls and stored items, causing dampness.
Just try out which containers work best for storing different items; we ourselves only store clothing, shoes, and books in the attic, while wine, beer, and sparkling wine are kept in the basement.
year-round ventilation would be of little use because the climate, especially the room temperature, changes very slowly in the basement. If you ventilate in the summer, the warm, humid air will condense on the cool basement walls and stored items, causing dampness.
Just try out which containers work best for storing different items; we ourselves only store clothing, shoes, and books in the attic, while wine, beer, and sparkling wine are kept in the basement.
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