Sometimes when I walk into the house, I smell an odor and can't really tell what it is. I believe the smell is coming from the floor below the padding and carpet. Any suggestions to try and remove that order? I had new carpet and padding installed in the living room about a year and a half a go. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!
By Margene
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I usually spread a liberal amount of baking soda and let it sit overnight and then vacuum in the morning. Several bus with the vacuum cleaner will be necessary to get all the baking soda out of the carpet. Hope this helps!
You may have a leak or other moisture problem. I would take up some of the carpet to see what is going on.
You don't say exactly what the odor smells like...like there is a specific wet basement smell....like old socks and garbage
There is a chemical smell that can come from new carpet even after a year...if the carpet gets wet or is tread upon enough that it releases the smell. This is usually a sharp smell...cross between new car and aerosol spray.
There is also the dead thing smell (REALLY, REALLY BAD) and the smell of urine (dog, cat, human), smells like a porta potty).
If it is just the carpet, the baking soda someone suggested may work.
If it is urine, you need to pull up the carpets and treat the floor below. All of my friends and I agree that if you follow this recipe exactly it works on WOOD AND CONCRETE floors.... AND IT ALSO WORKS TO REMOVE MOLD AND MILDEW FROM CONCRETE IR PLASTER WALLS--DO NOT USE ON DRY WALL (IT CAN RUIN DRYWALL)
You just have to follow the process as written.
First gather all your ingredients:
1 small bottle of Clove bud oil (found at GNC or some grocery pharmacy counters--you have to ask for it)
1 box of Borax- (cheapest in my area at Dollar General)
1 Box of baking soda (NOT POWDER)
1 jug distilled water (tap water will do, but distilled is better--fewer chemicals)
THEN:
Measure out 1 pint (2 measuring cup cups = 1 pint) of the water into 1 quart plastic spray bottle--either buy a new one or if you are using one from Windex or some such product WASH VERY WELL BEFORE USING WITH HOT WATER--DO NOT LEAVE ANY OF THAT SOLUTION IN THE BOTTLE. Swish bottle around to mix,
Spray the affected area with the water/clove mix. Let it sit for 4 minutes then wipe up with a clean, dry, white rag.
Now spray the area again with the solution above, let it sit for 15 minutes and wipe with a clean, dry white rag.
One last time, spray the affected area, let it sit this time for 45 minutes, wipe up with a clean, dry white rag.
NOW...
In a large glass bowl--mix 3/4 cup Borax with 1/2 cup Baking soda. Stir and using a spoon or a DRY gloved hand--sprinkle this all over the affected pace.
Then spray enough of the water/Clover oil mix on the dry mix until it looks like white icing (DO NOT EAT).
Take a piece of saran (or generic) clear cellophane wrap big enough to cover the area, and cover the "icing" mix completely with the wrap. This will prevent it from drying out.
MAKE SURE PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN ARE KEPT OUT OF THE ROOM...DO NOT LET ANYONE HUMAN OR OTHERWISE INGEST THIS MIX!
Let it sit covered for 4 hours, pull up the Saran wrap, and wipe up the mixture with a clean, dry, white rag. The stain and the smell should be gone.
FOR WOOD FLOORS ONLY--RUN A FAN IN THE ROOM SO THE AIR IS BLOWING ON THE SPACE FOR 6-8 HOURS.
If for some reason it does not work, repeat the process the next day AFTER THE SPACE HAS DRIED COMPLETELY.
If your issue is something dead--you will need to trace back where it has died--sadly we get birds and squirrels in our chimney that get trapped and die--this can be a challenge (our fireplace does not work so it is not a fire hazard, but if yours does, it can be. You may need a professional chimney person to take care of this issue.
Wishing you all the best to identify and rid your home of the smell! Let us know what you find.
P.S. Don't laugh...but if you have a husband or kids...check for sandwiches or other food items under chairs, couches, etc. It happens :(
You might try spraying the carpet with white vinegar and a spray bottle fI'm a dollar store. It should help with odor and the vinegar smell is lost when it evaporates. Not too damp because you don't want to create another problem. We use a TaoTronics Aromatherapy Mister /Diffuser with Essentisl Oils to create a good smell in the house.
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