My House Stinks!!!
Ever since Wilma hit...

Our house smells like old dog and mildew from water damage. I turned on the heat for an hour to kill the mold or mildew or what ever is up in our vents. It was so bad that everytime our AC came on I would have a sneezing fit. AND my dog who is beginning to get that old dog smell. Because she is old, and has cancer. It is making our house stink.
What do I do?

I have washed my walls and carpets. I have deoderized and I just don't know what to do...
Washing the carpets helps maybe for a day or two...is there a way to get that smell out of the house, with out ripping up the carpet?
Or do I just tough it out until my poor baby crosses the bridge?

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog.

Try setting out a few dishes of activated charcoal, especially close to your dogs bedding. Even slide a dish under a chair or sofa, the charcoal will absorb stinky-ness quite well. Change it every couple weeks.

Mamma_Willowe wrote:
My House Stinks!!!
Ever since Wilma hit...

Our house smells like old dog and mildew from water damage. I turned on the heat for an hour to kill the mold or mildew or what ever is up in our vents. It was so bad that everytime our AC came on I would have a sneezing fit......

Perhaps having your AC and heating ducts cleaned will help? And, honestly, if your carpets did get wet at one time, the only way to truly eliminate the smell permanently would be to replace the carpet and padding when you can.

Thanks guys I will try the charcoal GOOD idea.
Thelma this is a rented apartment and we are moving in June. I was just hoping there was something we could do until it was time to move.
Our walls have water damage and our floors and carpets in some areas got a soaking. We wet vacced it soon as we could but the power was off for about 10 days after, and all we could do at the time was use towels to soak it up.
Then hubby bought me a carpet cleaner, but it just doesn't seem to do the job. Even some of our Carpet padding is crunchy under foot. Ewwwwwww...I hate that! We ask management actually after Katrina to fix it because our walls and floors got soaked then too, but we didn't loose power and I could soak it up right away. However they went Condo and the new people didn't do anything about it. We did show them on the SEVERAL inspections that took place during that time. And even after Wilma I have called them about once a month on the mold issue. They showed up with a bottle of bleach spray day before yesterday and they re-stuccoed the opposite side of our building. NOT THE Leaky side, at least in our case...
Here is my dilemma at the mo...
My husbands boss is coming to our house for the first time, for dinner next Wed evening and I am trying to figure out how to make it pleasant while he is here at least. I am going to clean the carpets again wash the dog bedding and do the Charcoal thing...where do I get that by the way? Pet shop, pet smart kind of place? And I will rewash the walls. Heck I would paint the place if I had the time, I think that would help some and cover up those ugly water stains. I just want to be able to give the nickle tour and not be humiliated.

Sounds like an awful situation, so glad to hear you can move in a few months.

Petsmart is a good place to get the charcoal, as soon as you can set it out in bowls and plates all over the place, let it work its magic. Â*Then before the boss comes just hide all the bowls until after he leaves!

Simple white vinegar will help temporarily with the smells, too. Â*Just do it early in the day, wipe everything down with a weak vinegar solution and then mist the carpet and fabrics, let it dry. You won't smell the vinegar after it dries, remember to use a LIGHT solution, like 1/2 cup to 2 quarts of water.

Hope your dinner is prosperous!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mamma, I didn't realize you were in a rental when I posted before. I'd take all the steps discussed previously, and the day of the dinner, open your doors/windows, and run fans for as long as you can. There's no temporary sustitute for fresh air.

He cancelled!!! Who hoo!! Hee hee
Thanks Thelma!! I planned on opening the house up too. That does help for a few hours.
Hugs to all for your help!
Gotta go bake cookies!