Odd smell in new house :(

[Mr-White]

Maybe the previous tenants smoked so the landlord repainted and changed the carpets ?

You'll get used to the smell as it slowly fades away, mean time you could just use loads of Glade Plug ins and Febreze

MW

 

[VFM Addict]

No doubts in my mind that the place suffered a burst pipe or some serious flooding prior to renovation. The smell when only partially dried out is very similar to emulsion or old tobacco smells. Airing the place will only very, very slowly allow it to dry as a lot of the damp is probably trapped under the carpets.

I would suggest that you hire a decent sized industrial dehumidifier, about the size of two pc towers side by side. Close all the windows and run it in each room for a couple of days. I'll bet you'll drag out several washing bowls full of water.

 

[bitslice]

Try turning the heating up full for a day or so, if chemicals are being released this will speed up the process.

 

[singist]

Another vote for Onion cut in half and maybe candles.

 

[Nitefly]

Light a match? That's my mother's solution to all bad smells.

RIP - If only she knew that smell was gas

 

[AdladUK]

Cheers guys for all the useful info. Definitely some things to think about here.

I'm going to try and go down the natural route next week by leaving all the windows open for 7 days straight. If that doesn't work I'll look into either baking soda or onions to absorb the smell. If possible I would like to avoid products like Febreze as I think a lot of that is marketing hype, but hey if nothing else works that may be my only option

 

[Lysander]

Where is the house? Is it in London? As I'm very good at instinctively detecting paranormal phenomena I'm more than happy to come and tell you if there's anything untoward there.

 

[VFM Addict]

TBH you won't dry out significant damp even leaving the windows open for 7 days this time of year. That's what dehumidifiers are for. Have you tried a DIY, builders or decorators forum for advice?

 

[AdladUK]

I should add I don't think the previous tenant was a smoker. I viewed the property pre-renovation and if it had been a smoker's house, trust me, I would have picked up on it instantly and declined to go further.

So I think the mild smoke smell is perhaps coming from the decorator's activities?

 

[AdladUK]

TBH you won't dry out significant damp even leaving the windows open for 7 days this time of year. That's what dehumidifiers are for. Have you tried a DIY, builders or decorators forum for advice?

If indeed there is significant damp hiring a dehumidifier is a good idea and I guess something I'll have to do.

I didn't think of going on decorator forums, but again that's a good idea, thanks

 

[AdladUK]

Where is the house? Is it in London? As I'm very good at instinctively detecting paranormal phenomena I'm more than happy to come and tell you if there's anything untoward there.

I assure you the fact I'm now living in the place will scare out any "paranormal phenomena"

 

[unwashed potato!]

buy some sugar soap, a bucket and a sponge. clean all the walls, ceilings and any other hard surface with it.

buy a load of plants especially cheap ones like spider plants.

get some scented candles and light them.

leave coffee pots open in the kitchen if you like the smell of coffee

the house i moved into in may smelled and it still does ever so slightly in the hallway but it's much better now that i don't notice it after a few seconds of being inside.

you may find that the new carpets are cheapy ones that give off a horrible smell. get down to them and see if they smell