What To Do When Something Smells

For Your Sellers: What to Do When Something Smells
By Suzanne Ziegler

RISMEDIA, July 2, 2010–(MCT)–Question: We recently spent the winter away. When we returned, our home had a repulsive odor. We have tried sprays, air fresheners and bought a dehumidifier, but nothing seems to help. We have looked everywhere and cannot find the cause. What can we do?

Answer: This is a puzzle that could have a simple answer, or it could require a complex investigation. Possibilities to look for include:

—A dead animal in a wall or other building cavity.

—Sewer gas entering the home through a floor drain or sewer trap that has dried out.

—Fouled paint or old cleaning supplies in a leaky container.

—A mop and pail left with water in the pail.

—Standing water in a washing machine.

Because the odor seems to be uniform throughout the house, the furnace fan and duct system — or something near them — could harbor the source. Check to see whether the odor is stronger anywhere when the furnace fan is not running.

These are just a few possibilities to consider as you try to solve the problem, according to Richard Stone, an extension educator in housing technology with the University of Minnesota. If you have thoroughly searched for the odor source and find nothing, he said, you should probably call a professional.

Several companies specialize in identifying odors, or you might want to bring in a professional who specializes in indoor environmental quality.

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Q: We have two miniature dachshunds that have urinated many times on our beautiful, custom dining-room rug, which now has a bad odor. We have tried Nature’s Miracle, Bissell Pro Heat carpet cleaner, and baking soda with vacuuming. Nothing has worked. What else can we do?

A: It’s time to call in the pros.

Enzyme products work pretty well on synthetic rugs but don’t do anything for wool, according to Mark Keljik, owner of Keljik’s Oriental Rugs in Minneapolis.

Wool rugs that are professionally cleaned need to be soaked under water, so the hairs are completely saturated, he said. At Keljik’s, the rug is soaked in water, then compressed with rollers. Clean water is exchanged for the dirty, then the rug is shampooed under water and hung up, where it is rinsed until the water runs clear.

“It works 99 percent of the time,” Keljik said.

But it can be expensive to clean a wool rug: $280 for an 8 by 10 and $380 for a 9 by 12. The company usually keeps the rug for about two weeks to complete the process.

There are many other companies in the Twin Cities that clean wool rugs.

(c) 2010, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.