We just moved to a new home, and it has a bad smell, what can we do?

Answer 1

Depending on what the odor is coming from, you can try a varitey of things. Try to find the source, but for simple odors that come from a house being vacant too long-or for odors left behind by others such as smoking, try these things.
For carpets, sprinkle some baking soda on them and let it set for a period of time-if you let it set there long enough (a few hours) it will also get rid of stains. Then vacuum. Try putting some baking soda in small dishes stragtically placed in different places in each room. Mop your floors with vinegar in the water. Wash the walls-wash the glass surfaces with vinegar and water as well. Don't worry-your house won't smell like vinegar-it should smell "clean". Another thing, if you have a cabinet for storing your spices, you might have noticed the nice "aroma" coming from all of them being in there when you open the cabinet. With that in mind, try dabbing some cotten balls with vanilla and set them is dishes around the rooms-or you can use cloves, sage, and the like placed in small dishes.
Clean your bathroom(s) with vinegar and water too. To wash the mirrors-combine vinegar and water.
If it's coming from mold-you need more serious help.
Are you on city water or do you have a septic tank? If it's the latter, check to make sure that it isn't full and backing up. Also, check to make sure you don't have any water leaks. Do you live where there might be field mice or some other critters? If so, make sure none has gotten somewhere and died. I know this may sound gross-but you have to explore the possibilities.

Answer 2

Oh man same here But I moved here 6 years ago. Find where the smell is coming from. Mine was the front door floor and in behind the kitchen sink counter. I had to remove the whole counter and wall. I found black mold. I sprayed it with Lysol and had to replace everything my self. (drywall,floor, and counter) Then the front door floor I used concentrated Lysol and let it soak up for about an hour. then washed that. that took care of the smells. A lot of money and time and sure wasn't fun but my house smells better.
ok just read Belinda P above me here she has got the right answers for cleaning. Only I use Lysol. Vinegar water works to.

Answer 3

What always works, no matter what, is using Downy liquid fabric softener in your wash. And instead of venting to the outside with your dryer, vent indoors. This only takes about a half dozen times before the odor has metamorphisized into a smell that is of freshness and April clean. I mean ,Clean and April fresh.
Go for it.

Answer 4

Two common sources of odor are pet odor and mold. Signs of pet odor caused by pets relieving themselves in the house are stains in wood floors and carpet stains that are best seen on the backside of the carpeting.

Mold shows up as black discoloration on surfaces that are moist frequently such as wood paneling in basements, basement carpeting, leaky walls around showers, etc. Mold can have serious health implications and must be removed; that may require hiring an expert.

Answer 5

moving into a previously lived in home, you will notice the odour of the previous family, it will subside in time. Other smells have to be dealt with according to their nature... removing damp/mould disinfecting... that sort of thing.

Answer 6

If its a musty smell, try charcol briquets on a plate where you notice the smell.

Answer 7

Throw out as much gear as you can then bleach everything with mop and bucket and when you are sure you got rid of as much dirt as you can then paint every surface that can be painted.

Answer 8

Replace carpets.