Trying to get rid of smell!

Wellyd

Odd name for a thread I know but anyway!

I just moved house last week and there's a very strong smell in the house. It's a smell of food. The previous tenants were of a different ethnicity and it's a very odd smell of spices/curry. I have the windows and doors open all day everyday. I've bought scented candles and febreeze and still nothing. I took down all the curtains and washed them and it's still here. We're due our first visitors in the next day or two and needless to say they'll pass comment on it.

Any tips or advice most welcome!

sea_monkey

bread soaked in vinegar in any cupboards, bins etc.

check the oven fan filter too.
might even need to clean the ceiling

degsie

White vinegar is supposed to be good for getting rid of curry smells. Spray it on EVERYTHING and while it might stink for a while it will nullify the curry smell and the vinegar smell will itself disappear in time.

Wellyd

degsie wrote: »

White vinegar is supposed to be good for getting rid of curry smells. Spray it on EVERYTHING and while it might stink for a while it will nullify the curry smell and the vinegar smell will itself disappear in time.

Does it have to be specifically white vinegar?

jos28

Bread soda is fantastic for absorbing smells. I'd leave bowls of it lying around.

ComputerKing

Bowls of baking soda lying around the place also try washing the walls down with sugar soap if this doesn't work cook some vanilla extract in the oven at about 160 for an hour.

Edit: if ye have carpets sprinkle baking soda on them leave in over night and the hoover off.

dmc17

Wellyd wrote: »

Odd name for a thread I know but anyway!

I just moved house last week and there's a very strong smell in the house. It's a smell of food. The previous tenants were of a different ethnicity and it's a very odd smell of spices/curry. I have the windows and doors open all day everyday. I've bought scented candles and febreeze and still nothing. I took down all the curtains and washed them and it's still here. We're due our first visitors in the next day or two and needless to say they'll pass comment on it.

Any tips or advice most welcome!

Do up a nice lamb vindaloo for your visitors

cerastes

ComputerKing wrote: »

Bowls of baking soda lying around the place also try washing the walls down with sugar soap if this doesn't work cook some vanilla extract in the oven at about 160 for an hour.

Edit: if ye have carpets sprinkle baking soda on them leave in over night and the hoover off.

Woudlnt you have to mix something in with the bread soda? like water?
Not sure how the OP didnt notice this when they viewed, but
I recommend the sugar soap, just go easy on surfaces as it will clean off a bit of paint, try it with a cloth or sponge opposed to a scouring pad, but for difficult to remove stains or grease, use the scouring pad part, its great for removing grease, always use it before painting to give a clean down.
Go easy if you have to wipe the ceiling, in fact Id try scrub everything else first as rubbing at the ceiling too much or too hard might deteriorate the surface and the OP might get blamed for damage. Personally ID have tried to negotiate a discount for cleaning a place thorughly, but its likely too late fro that now.

Bread soda is good for cleaning fridges, pots and pans etc, pretty much anything but, I thinks its better for that and sugar soap for the walls.

Ive heard slicing a lemon or citrus fruit open and left in the fridge helps with odours, and simmering a cut citrus like orange in a pan of water will help spread an orangy citrus smell about.

I could not find vanilla pods myself, just wanted to get a natural nice smell around, but we bake our own bread from time to time, but it doesnt last that long.