How to get rid of odor in house?

[look 171]

I think its dog odor but it does not seem like it. I am working at a client's home. Half the house is taped off with plastic. We are in the process of re-wiring the whole house, but we have to do it in stages because they are living in the other half. The side they are living in has this evil smell that makes the hair in the back of my neck stand up and want to throw up. I came really close it was so bad. I don't know how they can stand it especially in this heat. None of my men want to go in there. Thankfully there are no windows and no doors left on the side of the major work. How does one get rid of the smell? Charcoal? The whole house is getting paint and floors refinish when the job is done. Do you think its food or is it dog food?

[widgeon13]

Does Casey Anthony live there?

Try Fabreze sprayed in all the rooms. It's worth a shot.

[jyl]

I think you are working for Jeffrey Dahmer.

[azasadny]

Dead animal somewhere? A dead mouse can really create a foul odor. Find the source. Get some camphor and put it on a sponge throughout the house after getting the source cleaned up. Don't just cover it up...

[azasadny]

A couple of summers ago I had a dead mouse in the garage (man cave) and it stunk up the garage like someone had stored dead bodies out there. I got rid of the rotting mouse carcass, them mopped the garage floor with bleach and water and all was good again.

[rcecale]

Had an experience similar to Art's back in 92 when I bought my first condo. Brand new unit, first owner. Apparently, and unknown to me, during construction, a family of mice was trapped in the wall near the front door and could get out to eat. They died and about two months after moving in, this horrible smell showed up.

Eventually, the builder came out and located the source of the stench. They cut a hole in the drywall and found the tiny rotting carcasses. WOW, what an odor when they opened the wall!!!

Mice were removed and discarded and then lime was sprinkled over the area to subdue the odor.

A dead and rotting animal would be my guess in your situation as well.

Randy

[VINMAN]

Enzyme fogger and ozone generator

[vash]

look, you are going to think i am insane..but charcoal is the right direction.

my past dog played with a skunk and then ran into my home. i thought i would have to move! or burn the house down.

what i did: i got two slices of bread, put them in my toaster, and simply let them burn. my house filled with smoke, my smoke alarms all went off..i put the tiny bread fire out, and opened all the windows..and put all my fans on..when the smoke dissipated, i could barely smell the skunk.

worth a try?

[RWebb]

How long has it been since your ex left the house?

[Laneco]

Assuming the thing that made the stench (e.g. dead animal) is identified and definately gone, then here are the next steps I would use.

Clean everything you can touch with a mild bleach solution and shampoo the carpets with a product to remove pet odors or a mild vinegar solution. Go easy on the vinegar...

When it's clean, grate apples up and scatter them throughout. You should be able to vacuum or wipe them up after a few days.

If it is still bad, ground coffee is the last solution. If a few days of ground coffee doesn't clear the smell, then you need to accidently burn the house down.

angela

[jyl]

Why do all that, it's not your house - tell the owners to hire someone to come deal with the smell before your guys start on that side of the house - but don't be alone with them when you do, read my first post.

[john70t]

Probably squirrels or chimpmunks in the walls.
Those buggers ate most of my roof/wall insulation because the gutter flashing wasn't installed correctly. 20 years later, the pink fiberglass batts were completely missing and a collection of black strands were left at the bottom.

Knew someone who had a relative pass and laid undiscovered for over a month.
The professional cleanup crew removed all items from the unit, opened the windows, and had open coffee cans throughout.
Spraying carpet with a baking soda solution wouldn't hurt either, but I wouldn't do anything that could cause damage.

+1 jyl. Owner's responsibility.

[jyl]

Have your guys shut off their water? Is this a ''lack of bathing'' problem?

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

Have your guys shut off their water? Is this a ''lack of bathing'' problem?

You are funny.

I am afraid or almost embarrass to say it to these people. How do you say "Hey, your house smell like *****. Can you clean it up before we rip it apart?". Really nice couple in their mid 50s. Kids are gone and they are becoming pack rats. A bit too young to be getting old this soon. I think something may have died in there. I will have to try the coffee trick. The issue is that they have a freaking cat. what if the cat eats the coffee? I may be in deep popo if he does.