How do I get rid of a stuffy house smell?
Oakley
14 years ago
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Oakley
14 years agoRelated Discussions
how do i get melted plastic smell out of my home?!
Comments (3)You have my sympathy- I've done that twice! (Finally got a kettle with a whistle after that.) First, it helps to move the offending melted thing and affected burner (as much as is removable) outside. Even if it's cooled off, it can still be the source of much stink. Also, you're going to need more airflow than just opening windows. (Especially if it's not so warm out yet where you are!) Try to not open all of them so much as strategic ones that make air flow in a direction. For instance, I have windows on three walls of the kitchen... if I open the windows that face each other, I get a good cross-wind that takes smoke out with it. If I open the middle window, the air just swirls around inside the kitchen. (Alternatively, to get the whole 1st floor I open just the middle window and then all the windows in the living room down the hall.) If you have a set-up anything like this try to find a combination that makes a breeze you can feel. Next, you'll find fans really helpful, even if you have to borrow/rent them. Point at least one out a window to exhaust what's in the house. Keep fans in any opposite windows blowing in, to keep the cross-flow exchange of air going strong. Run the bathroom fan if you've got one, even. Finally, if there's a corner of the house not infected with smell yet, close it off! Tack up a heavy blanket if there are no doors, and towel under doors if you need to. Try to keep the smell confined to the kitchen so you can go to sleep without being sick tonight. This method has cleared the worst of it out of my house after a few hours, and it was totally dissipated by the next day. (We shut the fans and most windows over night, for heat.) It may take some time... just keep as much ventalation as possible for as long as it takes. And if it's seriously making you sick or dizzy, get out of the house for a while! (This applies to pets, too!) If it's still really bad later and you have the option, don't sleep there. Depending on what exactly burned, the fumes can be harmful if you breathe too much of them. Best of luck!...See Morehow do I get rid of smoky smell in book?
Comments (4)If it's regular paper and not coated and the book is not valuable, you can try fanning the pages and giving them a light spraying with Febreeze, then stand the book on its end with the pages fanned open to dry for several days. I did this with a couple of books and noticed a change to the better in about a week. The smell kept getting less and less noticeable over time, and was all but gone in a couple of months (by that time, I had to bury my nose in the book to smell the smoke). If the smell is really heavy, you may have to repeat the treatment....See MoreHow to get rid of old house smell- 1976 house
Comments (18)I just saw your problem while looking for something else. Two years ago we bought a beauty MCM house in central Florida. It was redone poorly by a 'House Flipper'. The house was inspected by a supposedly well known company. As soon as move in, I could smell an off smell. A new metal roof had been put on over the old shingle roof.... At the time due to a family member dying the option of having the house taken back by seller and getting money back and getting reimbursement from Home Inspection was offered by a local lawyer after he had another company inspect the house. Unfortunately that was just the wrong time to do that- the timing was just too much. The roof had a small leak one week after moving in which the roofer supposedly repaired. About 6 months ago the roof leaked again- around 3 sides of the chimney by the original leak. I had a different roofer come out. He called the county inspection dept who came out and were very disgusted that one of their people had passed the roofing inspection. The original roofer was notified and was extremely mad that the second roofer would have the 'audacity' to call county out. Long story short- the old roof leaked and the 'House Flipper/roofer tried to cover up the old wet roof without removing it and places on new roof not done properly. That old damaged wood from prior wet caused a musky/slightly moldy? smell. County made roofer do repairs correctly. I thank the second roofer who came out and started the ball rolling and did not try to scam me. I know who NOT/DO USE on next house ... Maybe you have wood that was/is wet somewhere??...See MoreHow do you get rid of polyurethane smell?
Comments (53)I'm sorry, I have not had a chance to get any charcoal. The smell is still there. Not as strong as it was a few weeks ago and after a month it is tolerable, but everyone who comes into my new room asks "what is that smell?" This is INSANE how much worse the smell is after this supposed VOC compliant crap. There is no way in hell this is better for you. for the first 3 weeks I could not even stand being in the room as I would get a headache after breathing this in for 20 minutes. I loved the old smell of the old stuff and it would be gone within a week. This smell is going on over a month and It is still lingering. I think we need to find another brand or get everyone to complain to these varnish companies to bring back the old formulas. Why did they even change it? How in the heck did they ever test this and Say "Yeah this is better!! You would have to have absolutely no sense of smell to think this stuff is good for anyone to breath or use. Do they really think by changing the smell or recipe of varnish we are saving the planet? It is ridiculous!! I'm so sorry I wish I had the answer for you. I just left my windows open a crack for days until it was tolerable. Also you could use a damp rid bag and hope that will absorb some of the smell. It is strong at first but I know at least these hanging bags smell better than the varnish!! You can get these at Lowes or HomeDepot in the cleaning isle....See Morekkay_md
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