Aside from the risk of structural damage, people who spend time in an unfinished basement face a number of health risks. It invites bacteria to thrive if it isn’t waterproofed and is constantly damp, which can lead to a variety of respiratory illnesses.
If you don’t clean your basement thoroughly, dust mites and other pests such as roaches, mice, and termites will thrive. Each one could result in a veritable petri dish of diseases, so it’s best to deal with the issue as soon as possible.