Can't get rid of odour in house

Melisandre121

I recently moved into a new small apartment. It's lovely but there's a strange odour I don't like when I walk in. It smells a bit like really old air freshener, as if it's lingered in the air but it doesnt smell nice.

I've mopped up, cleaned, opened Windows and lit candles but can't seem to get rid of the smell.

Any tips?

sky6

If it's a kind of sweetish smell you may have a dead rodent somewhere probably in the Attic.

filbert the fox

Melisandre121 wrote: »

I recently moved into a new small apartment. It's lovely but there's a strange odour I don't like when I walk in. It smells a bit like really old air freshener, as if it's lingered in the air but it doesnt smell nice.

I've mopped up, cleaned, opened Windows and lit candles but can't seem to get rid of the smell.

Any tips?

Check the outlets of the sinks. The smell of this water is pretty bad if you have a leak.

xabi

Bowl of freshly ground coffee works brilliantly. You need to find the source though.

Roadhawk

If all fails try a coat of paint on the walls. A lot of the time smells from cooking etc can stick to the walls. Sounds a bit mad but works.

Esel

Carpet?

Roadhawk

Esel wrote: »

Carpet?

Woodies have a carpet cleaner you can rent for a few bob. Well worth it.

Roadhawk

Roadhawk wrote: »

Woodies have a carpet cleaner you can rent for a few bob. Well worth it.

http://www.woodiesdiy.com/product/rug-doctor-48-hour-rental/16565/3.11.4

filbert the fox

Melisandre121 wrote: »

I recently moved into a new small apartment. It's lovely but there's a strange odour I don't like when I walk in. It smells a bit like really old air freshener, as if it's lingered in the air but it doesnt smell nice.

I've mopped up, cleaned, opened Windows and lit candles but can't seem to get rid of the smell.

Any tips?

You could remove the dead body from the linen cupboard - works a treat in these situations!

paddylonglegs

Look up baking soda cleaning. Spreading on carpets for half hour and hoovering up gets rid of smells. Same with soft furniture etc

air

An ozone generator is another option.

se conman

Start with the basics. Locate the smell.
Open all windows and internal doors to air the property for several hours, the longer the better.
Then close all windows and doors and get out of the property for an hour or two to recalibrate your nose.
When you come back, quickly enter each room, closing the door behind you and you should be able to determine which room(s) the odour is truly present in.
When you which room, open the windows only of that room and ventilate it keeping the door closed. Again , recalibrate your nose and then begin your search.
Get up close to everything,
Cooker extract hood
Drains , sink, shower , bath
Into cupboards
Behind, under fridge
Vents
Furniture
No amount of cleaning or air fresheners will get rid of a smell if the cause of the smell is still present

sky6

I came across a similar problem years ago with the BIL. After he moved into his new house. Terrible smell which no one could explain.
Long story but turned out a fox had crawled into the underfloor before the Step was poured and obviously couldn't get out. I was only when the Flies where coming out from the floor the sourced was discovered.

PK27

Is it strongest in the kitchen? Common problem is not having a water trap on washing machine/ dishwasher.
Pull them out and if the hose on the machines is just stuffed into the waste pipe, then the sewer smell will come up. Lean in near the pipe and have a sniff, not pleasant but best way to find out.
If it is the problem, you need washing machine traps put onto the appliance wastes.

greep

Melisandre121 wrote: »

I recently moved into a new small apartment. It's lovely but there's a strange odour I don't like when I walk in. It smells a bit like really old air freshener, as if it's lingered in the air but it doesnt smell nice.

I've mopped up, cleaned, opened Windows and lit candles but can't seem to get rid of the smell.

Any tips?

Ozone generator, as mentioned above.
It neutralizes any type of odour... google it
I got rid of bad odour this way & actually have such a device.

badboyblast

Mate had a dead bird behind his gas fire place when he changed it recently, there was a smell in his living room for ages before hand.

paddylonglegs

Sorry to drag up an old thread.

I have a metal tea caddy which had very strong flavour teabags in it. I threw them out to be replaced with standard tea but the smell left is so strong.

Iv cleaned it down etc but no movement of smell.

Any thoughts on how I could get rid of it?

air

Soak it in bleach for an extended period.

Esel

air wrote: »

Soak it in bleach for an extended period.

And have a worse smell?

I would try cleaning it with a paste of bread soda and water.