Hello,

So I recently had a shower leak into a basement wall. The problem was solved, but the water also seeped down the wall and into the dirt at the bottom of the wall inside. What can I spread in the wall to create a barrier for the mildewy smell of the dirt? I was thinking baking soda but fear it will wear out. I need something like lye, but something safe! I'd line it with plastic but I can't get in the wall enough for this. Needs to be something I can spread. Volcanic crushed rocks? Ideas?

First of all, I would never build a basement wall on dirt. That itself will eventually lead to worse problems than mildew and mold, mainly from dry rot and various bugs.
You generally kill mold and mildew with bleach, even though it's liquid. Try a small amount of that, but make sure there is ventilation! I would NOT put any material in the wall.

the water also seeped down the wall and into the dirt at the bottom of the wall inside. Tell me that you didn't build a wall without some kind of a foundation? That's a problem waiting to happen. You have more issues than mold or a bad smell. My advice?
Take the wall down before it falls down, pour a footer and rebuild the wall. That not only takes care of your problem but gives you a wall that will continue standing over the years. Good luck, Tom

The wall is in the middle of the house guys. It's an old house. Was rehabbed. There's a small area where two cement slabs have exposed ground. Should I get cement in there to fill the hole? This is around the main sewer line for the house which goes into the ground in that wall.


Tell me that you didn't build a wall without some kind of a foundation? That's a problem waiting to happen. You have more issues than mold or a bad smell. My advice?
Take the wall down before it falls down, pour a footer and rebuild the wall. That not only takes care of your problem but gives you a wall that will continue standing over the years. Good luck, Tom

There's a small area where two cement slabs have exposed ground.
And this area is where you built your wall? Is there a reason you haven't patched this already? Back to you, Tom

I didn't build this house or this wall folks. It's a rehab of a 100 year old house I bought and they finished the basement. There's some concrete in there but I feel like I can see some spaces that go down into where dirt is. It's where the main sewer pipe is so I have an access panel there. The ground or this pipe stinks. It's ruining my nice finished basement. Any advice?

The ground or this pipe stinks. Then the pipe's leaking sewerage into your home. Locate and repair the leak ASAP. This is not a healthy situation . Good luck, TGom

Ok