Basements always have some type of smell no matter how much you clean them. You might have tried using candles, sprays, or other deodorizers to eliminate these odors. The problem is that these are only temporary fixes. One way to eliminate odor is to use an air freshener for basements. These air fresheners are great for eliminating basement odors such as musty, rotten, and mildew odors. If you hope to get rid of must and mildew in your basement, try the best air freshener for basements.
Pro Tip: If you want to completely eliminate odor in your basement, use the best air freshener for basement odor in combination with the best air purifier for basement odor. The air purifier will clean the air particles to reduce odor while the air freshener will deodorize.
We suggest you also check out the best basement air purifier for mold & mildew.
Best Air Freshener for Basement Odor
BEST VALUE
- Bronchitis/cold relief
- Breathe easier
- Get more restful sleep
- Cool Mist
- Affordable Price
MOST FRAGRANCE OPTIONS
- Bronchitis/cold relief
- Fights dry skin & wrinkles
- Good for Insomnia
- Cool Mist
- 360 degree humidification
Best at Reducing Germs
- Add your favorite essential oils
- Reduce viruses and bacteria
- Great for chest congestion
- Sleep better
- Cough/bronchitis relief
The Hamilton Beach Odor Eliminator is the best air freshener odor eliminator for a basement. This is a plug-in basement deodorizer that is perfect for getting rid of foul odors in the basement by using carbon filter traps that can help to neutralize the odors in your home. This air plug-mount can work in any plug such as your bathroom, kitchen, or basement.
The Hamilton Beach basement deodorizer is easy to use and fits any standard 110-volt outlet. It has replaceable filters and has an indicator that lets you know when it is time to change it. The filter only needs to be changed every 3 months.
Inside the Hamilton Beach basement, a deodorizer is a fan that is quiet, and it pulls in air and takes out the basement odors such as mold or mildew, and sends fresh air back into the room so that your room can smell fresh and clean.
One great thing about this product is that not only does it have an easy-to-use on and off switch, but it has optional scented cartridges so that you can pick your favorite scents to have in your home.
The Hamilton Beach Air freshener is 5.24 inches wide, 6.46 inches tall, and 1.15 lbs.
One issue with this air freshener air purifier is its ability to eliminate smoke and tobacco odor. The air freshener does not have enough activated charcoal to eliminate smoke odor. Additionally, because the purifier is so small, it does not operate effectively for long periods of time. After a few weeks its effectiveness tends to decline.
Pros of the Hamilton Beach Basement Odor Absorber
- Easy to plug in
- Different scent options
- Uses a 110 Volt Outlet, standard.
- Cleans the air, making it fresh.
- Easy to use
- Carbon Filter traps
- Manufacturer Warranty
Cons of the Hamilton Beach Basement Odor Absorber
- Filter needs replaced too often
- When plugged in, it has a sound like a fan.
- The light is too bright for a nightlight.
- Only gives a faint scent.
- Works only in a very small room.
- Does not eliminate smoke or smoke odor
Customer Reviews
According to Amazon.com, the Hamilton Beach True Air Plug-Mount Odor Eliminator has a 3.9 out of 5-stars review with customers saying that this air freshener helps to get rid of odors that are found in basements such as mildew or any other type of wet smell. Other customers mentioned that this product was the perfect size for their basement and that it made the basement smell fresh like a freshly cleaned load of laundry
The Air Wick Plug in Scented Oil Starter Kit has different scents that can be used and diffused into your home to make it basement odor free. This is a great basement odor absorber. The air freshener will work for up to 270 days and continues to give out a fragrance so that your home is always smelling great. It works as a great basement deodorizer.
This air freshener has 6 refill packs and you get two warmers so that you can place these in any part of your home to keep it smelling fresh, especially in the basement where it tends to be musty and wet.
This Air Wick is great to use in any room and as the oil heats up, it will release a fragrance that moves around the room. You can even choose up to 5 different fragrance settings so that house can always smell different, depending on the day.
The Air Wick Plug-in basement odor absorber can be used anywhere that there is a standard plugin and with this starter set, you can blend fragrances in your home that can last up to 45 days with continuous running. Not only does it smell good, it also has a nice design that can fit with any home décor.
When compared to the Hamilton Beach Air freshener, this device does not actually filter the air. It will make the air smell better, but will not scrub particles from the air.
One of the major drawbacks of the Air Wick plug-in air freshener is the length of time in which it is effective. When being used constantly, the Air Wick will only last a few days. The advertisement states that it will last 270 days, but this is not the case when being used non-stop.
The Air Wick is 5.25 inches tall, .07 ounces, and comes with a white and grey design.
Pros of the Air Wick Plug-in Scented Oil Starter Kit
- Works continuously on low for up to 45 days (with the refill pack).
- Has 5 different fragrance settings.
- Can be used in a standard 110-volt plug-in.
- Uses natural essential oils instead of other chemicals.
Cons of the Air Wick Plug-in Scented Oil Starter Kit
- Doesn’t keep a scent very long.
- At the lowest setting, the diffuser does not smell for very long.
- Works only in very small rooms.
- Not a quality scent.
Customer Reviews
According to Amazon.com, the Air Wick Plug-in Scented Oil Starter Kit has a 4.1 out of 5-stars review with customers saying that this plug-in was perfect to help get rid of basement smells and helped them to feel healthier in their home. Other customers talked about how the oil starter kit was perfect for keeping the scent going for a long period of time and that they loved that the fragrances were natural and that they were essential oils instead of harsh chemicals.
The Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier & Sanitizer helps to eliminate germs by offering a UV-C sanitizer and deodorizer that will help keep your home fresh and clean from any types of odors. This product can be used in small rooms and runs on a fan that stays at one speed.
The Germ Guardian does not have a filter, so it is easy to run without having to worry about changing a filter. With the UV air sanitizer, the Germ Guardian uses ultraviolet light to filter the germs that are blowing in the air, allowing you to keep your home fresh, even the basement. This product is also great at removing bacteria and viruses.
With the UV-C light, the DNA of germs is eliminated, and the odors are reduced. The Germ Guardian also works in small spaces and anywhere that the product can plug into a standard plug. The Germ Guardian can help to make sure that even the darkest areas of your home are freshly scented, and it can eliminate any type of musty, mildew or other scents that are sometimes associated with basements.
The main issue with the Germ Guardian pluggable air freshener is its noise. This air freshener creates an obnoxious noise when being operated. Additionally, the machine can get extremely hot when being operated for extended periods of time. When this happens, the heat causes a melting odor that will spread throughout your home. The machine is 9.55 inches tall and 5.25 inches wide. It comes with a sleek grey and white design.
Pros of the Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier and Sanitizer
- Easy to set up and use.
- Eliminated odors.
- Kills bacteria and viruses.
- Operates on a standard plug.
- Has no filter and so does not require any type of part replacement.
- 7 inches so it only takes up a small space.
- Includes a 1-year warranty.
Cons of the Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier and Sanitizer
- Makes a loud buzzing noise when plugged in.
- The bulb does not last long.
- Smells seem to be masked but not eliminated.
- Covers the entire outlet so it can only plug in the Air Purifier.
- Needs a very small room to tell the difference.
Customer Reviews
According to Amazon.com, the Germ Guardian Pluggable Air Purifier and Sanitizer has a 3.8 out of 5-stars rating with some customers saying that the Air Purifier was the perfect size and that it is portable when visiting other places. Other customers liked that this product did not contain any parts to be changed such as filters or lights. Some felt that this product was perfect for their basement and that it helped to get rid of the wet smells from their basement.
Buying Guide for the best Air Freshener for Basements
If you want to keep your home, including your basement, fresh from odors such as must or mildew, look for the following attributes when purchasing an air freshener:
- The size of the room it will freshen.
- Type of odors it removes.
- Parts that will need replacement.
- Ease of use.
Basements are an important part of many homes and everyone wants to keep their home smelling fresh and clean. Using an air freshener in your basement is a great way to eliminate odor. Not only are air fresheners effective, they are also affordable in comparison to other large odor reducers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my basement smell better?
If you want to make your basement smell better you should use an air freshener or air purifier. Air fresheners will cover the odor, while an air purifier will absorb the odor. Both of these devices will reduce must and mold smells in the basement.
How do you deodorize a basement?
The best way to deodorize a basement is to use an air freshener and air purifier together. The combination of these two deodorizers will both clean the air in your home while also making it smell great. Air fresheners are great for making your home and basement smell better, while air purifiers are great for absorbing the odor.
What is the musty smell in my basement?
Musty smells in your basement are often a result of mold and mildew. Basements are some of the warmest and most moist locations of the home. The humidity in a basement causes mold growth. Eventually, the mold will begin to smell. Mold and mildew smell musty and rotten.
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Frank is the chief editor and director at Specialty Air, where he oversees testing, research, and editing for all air quality-related articles. Frank is an expert in the air quality space with extensive experience testing, researching, and reviewing air purifiers, air conditioners, air filters, air fresheners, fans, and more. He also has over 4 years of experience with issues surrounding mold remediation, radon mitigation, moisture management, air duct systems, HVAC, and insulation.