The vanity stand which our bathroom sink is based on has been rotting and has mould growing on it, During the day the smell isn't as strong as the house is aired out, But at night when everyone has showered the smell is absoloutely putrid like rotten eggs.
I cannot have the vanity removed untill next year, What can i do in the meantime to lessen the stench and make it more hygeinic?
2006-12-04 15:35:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Clean it with bleach.
Coach
2006-12-04 15:42:50 · answer #1 · answered by Thanks for the Yahoo Jacket 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, you didn't say if you were on a sub-floor or concrete, that can make a difference here. If the smell is that bad you probably have terrible rot so we can't fix that without removing it....but we can do something about the smell for now, I think. They are all right about the bleach, as I used to be in construction and environmental cleanup - my specialty was mold. Be VERY aware that SOME breeds of mold and mildew spores can KILL or mentally maim the young or those sensitive to it, first of all, so you need to get rid of it ASAP!! We did a mildew clean-up in a cancer clinic and had to close it off, tear out all the insulation and install new in order to get all of the spores out. Now, that said...the very strongest solution of chlorine you can get can be had at Sam's, it is twice the strength, industrial strength Clorox. ALWAYS wear gloves as it will eat your skin, keep the room well-aired or wear a mask or, if you can, put a fan in the window pushing the fumes outward. You can use regular clorox but mix it as strong as you can stand it. There is also a cleaner called (is it evergreen or something green) that will kill the spores, also found at Sams and smells really good. I always did both, just in case. Don't dry-wipe, wet wipe only, you don't want the spores in the air. Scrub it top to bottom, including the back side, every single inch you can reach including the underside of the sink, as the spores travel when dry. Let your job dry, scrub it again. Make sure the vanity is completely dry after, even if you have to put a heater or a fan pointed toward it for several hours. NOW....seal it up. I know if you do this it will be a pain later to remove the vanity but if you can't afford it now, you can't afford it. Caulk completely around it, using a waterproof bathroom caulk on every seam, every hole. Then KILZ, even on top of the caulk. Oil-based in this case would be best. It is a primer paint and I used it in construction, environmental clean-up (yes, I'm a woman, a little one at that lol) and after fire damage. Believe it or not, they are the only company that gave me permission to use their names when I asked because I am writing some women alone and how to help yourself guides so it's ok if I say it here. Kilz seals up the smells, helps to retard mildew and prevents water from seeping back into the vanity. Even after a fire, contractors use spray kilz inside walls and onto insulation to get the smell sealed away. Use the brush kind. Two coats at the least. It's not quite white but it will suffice without looking too bad until you can do something else. Try to avoid putting anything under the vanity and keep an eye out for new growth and treat it right away, just scrubbing it will do after it is sealed. Anyway, that's my two cents, I hope it helped...I know how hard it is sometimes to cope or to have to adjust this way, believe me. :)
2006-12-04 16:08:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not so sure it's the vanity stand that is causing the smell. The odor you describe is classical of a bad anode in the water heater. It is a rod that is designed to prevent the water from causing rust in the hot water tank. When it begins to deteriorate, it produces a smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. Since you mention it is worst after folks showered, it could be triggered by the hot water heater.
I assume the vaity stand is made from wood or composites, which would not normally produce the odors you describe. Mould doesn't usually smell that bad, or at least not resemble rotten eggs. Your dime, but I would have the water heater checked first.
Good luck
2006-12-04 15:49:24 · answer #3 · answered by stretch 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try pouring bleach around it and in the cracks. It is the only thing that will kill the mold.
You can buy a little fan to put on top of the toilet lid or the sink to keep it aired out better.
However it is becoming a health issue. I would repair that right away.
2006-12-04 15:38:36 · answer #4 · answered by It's been a while........... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm not so sure the vanity is your problem. the rotten egg smell could be sewer gas. if the vanity is rotting it could be from a leaking p trap. once it is empty this would allow sewer gas to enter the room. just make sure what your actual problem is and then react to that. lol
2006-12-04 17:10:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Miss, i propose that you talk to your fellow house dwellers and sign a pact to stop using the vanity as a toilet.
Have a lovely day!!
2006-12-04 15:54:45 · answer #6 · answered by robb c 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would use bleach... not an expert by any means, but the house I use to live in was flooded during hurrican season awhile back, and we were told to put bleach on it.
And just to let you know if you are renting, if there is any sign of mold, you are allowed to leave and will not get penalized for it.
2006-12-04 15:37:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
use the bleach, can't hurt. BUT, but listen to stretch. He has the right answer
2006-12-04 16:50:42 · answer #8 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋