How to get fresh air in a basement?

I believe the only way to achieve fresh air in a basement with no windows is to install an "Air Exchanger" which could be a "heat recovery type" but this is not cheap and must be vented to the outside. Simply putting a fan in the basement will not do anything but move the stale air around.

It may help to put a dehumidifier in the basement. It wouldn't bring air in from the outside, but it would increase the air circulation and reduce dampness, if moisture is contributing to the staleness.

with a dehumidifier use buckets of damp rid

You might want to put an ionizer in your basement. Makes the air smell fresh. Also you might need a dehumidifier.

I agree with Alyssa. We put a new dehumidifier in this summer and what a change it has made! No it isn't as cool down there as it once was once we removed the moisture but oh so much better! You would be surprised at the results.

In the meantime you could put fans in the basement, leaving the cellar door open and having the fans point to the staircase. Although we do have windows we can open, we generally only open one or two (its a problem to remove storm windows, make screens etc. and even access all the windows.) that should help some.

I agree, even with some open windows in our basement it still seemed stale until we ran a dehumidifier. We also have a air purifier in one of the rooms that my son lives in.

its been 4 years since this question was asked but better late than never, right?! The question only caught my attention when you said “basement” and “no windows”, because it screamed fire hazard to me. As mentioned it’s been sometime since this question was posted but I stumbled on it and maybe others will also searching for an answer to something in relation to what was asked, so I am adding my answer...while all of the answers above are great short term solutions, I would seriously consider a long term solution in which, I feel for safety, would be the installation of 1 or more egress windows. Not sure how big the house is nor the basement but if a fire were ever to threaten the lives of the residence an escape route/method, such as a window could be life saving.