Hi! This story is kind of weird. I had a guest for two weeks, and since this person was staying at home I started to notice some awful smell in the guest room. Our guest left but even now, two months later, the smell still there. I washed all bed blankets, sheets, curtains. I had vacuum many times with all kind of non-odor substances. Also I had applied several times air purifier sprays. I took the mattress out for 4 days. I have done everything I could imagine but it seems that this odor is impossible to eliminate. I need help with this issue because is driving me crazy. All your ideas and suggestions are more than welcome. Thanks!
The very first thought I had before reading all of your posting was mold or mildew, but the obvious answer will be in locating the source of the odor and eliminating it. If your house has a basement or crawl space, start there and make sure that some animal hasn't coincidentally picked a spot near that room as its final resting place. If it truly is a result of something your visitor did, then you can try a thorough cleaning of the room followed by professional steam cleaning of the carpet; liberal application of something like Zero Odor spray; sprinkling baking soda and letting it sit for a day before vacuuming.
Failing those measures, I would pull up the carpet, and if necessary the padding under it to look for black patches of mold or other stains indicating a source of odor.
Could you discribe the odor? Musty, Pehaps like a wet dish rag? Sweet? Perhaps more of a smell of a dead rodent? Is the room on 2nd floor, or first. Is there a attic above or basement/crawl space below? Was there any spills of any liquid while this person stayed at your home? Is the odor worse during the day, or at night? When the room is cool or warm?
You could purchase a black light like we used as kids for posters to make them glow. Darken the room or do this at night. Turn on the light and move it around the room. Many molds as well as urine will glow quite brightly.
Also check to see if you purchased any plastic runners for the carpet. We had in our office a foul odor and could not figure out what it was. It turned out to be the plastic mat we placed by the door to pick up dust from the outside. We removed the mat, odor gone. Perhaps an oversized bulb in a light fixture with cover. The heat can cause the plastic to melt and create an odor. Although LaMarlowe has some good ideas, I would stay away from powders and chemicals that usually only mask the problem not remove it. But could be right on with dead critter such as a mouse in a wall.
Posts: 951 | Location: New Jersey | Registered: 31 January 2006
Thanks for your answer. The odor is kind of sweet and the room is in the second floor. No atics are above and it seems there were no spills during the guest stay. I will do the black light inspection!
Thanks Joanna
quote:
Originally posted by The Home Care Club LLC: Could you discribe the odor? Musty, Pehaps like a wet dish rag? Sweet? Perhaps more of a smell of a dead rodent? Is the room on 2nd floor, or first. Is there a attic above or basement/crawl space below? Was there any spills of any liquid while this person stayed at your home? Is the odor worse during the day, or at night? When the room is cool or warm?
You could purchase a black light like we used as kids for posters to make them glow. Darken the room or do this at night. Turn on the light and move it around the room. Many molds as well as urine will glow quite brightly.
Also check to see if you purchased any plastic runners for the carpet. We had in our office a foul odor and could not figure out what it was. It turned out to be the plastic mat we placed by the door to pick up dust from the outside. We removed the mat, odor gone. Perhaps an oversized bulb in a light fixture with cover. The heat can cause the plastic to melt and create an odor. Although LaMarlowe has some good ideas, I would stay away from powders and chemicals that usually only mask the problem not remove it. But could be right on with dead critter such as a mouse in a wall.
