How to get rid of the strong smelling from my newly purchased used house?

Question

I just bought a 12-year old used house. The previous owner obviously did not do a good job to keep the house neat. There is a very strong smelling all-over the house. I am going to change the dirty carpet, hope this can make it better. Does somebody know a good way to control/eliminate this lingering smell? Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Getting rid of the carpet and washing down all the surfaces should do it.

Answer 2

For starters open the windows for a few days and let the house air out as much as possible.. If you are tearing out the carpet wear face protection since you don't know what's in there.. ! Wash the walls with TSP available at any hardware store, it's Trisodium phosphate... That will prep/clean the walls to paint.. Use a good sealant primer like KILZ or BIN and a good quality paint... Baking soda works- buy a warehouse size container 12 lbs for under $5 and sprinkle on the floor let it sit and it should eliminate odors... Vacuum... Good luck..

Answer 3

Do you know what the smell is from? It might be from pets, it could also indicate a mold problem. You should investigate your basement or crawlspace and look for wet spots, and also check the bathrooms for leaking pipes in the walls. Otherwise:

First, you should remove all old carpeting and throw it away.

Next, scrub all floors with a mixture of 50% bleach 50% warm/hot water. Be sure to get in all the corners and along baseboards.

Next, mop the floors with plain hot water, make sure you get all the floors clearly mopped and let them dry completely. After doing this, you could use a regular scented floor cleaner, like pine sol or something if you want to.

Paint all the walls, all the trim, ceilings, etc.

Put down your new carpeting.

Answer 4

I agree with most of the answers. Changing the carpets, new paint etc. Like one answer suggested I would check for mold or mildew, both will have a long lasting odor. When you get done with cleaning and replacing carpet etc. Place charcoal around in the house. I have a basement and put charcoal in aluminum pans you can get at the grocery store. My husband is a nurse at a local hospital on the Intensive Care unit and they hang fabric softener sheets in the rooms. I started putting fabric softener sheets in my house for air fresheners.

Answer 5

when they take out your carpet, sprinkle arm and hammer all over the under floor, and vaccuum it up before they lay the new carpet, the longer you can leave the baking soda down the better. also, pour bleach in all of your sinks, so that it stays in the traps. wipe all surfaces with a disinfectant. Try to do all this in between changing the carpet, because you can do a better job, cleaning, not worring about getting the carpet dirty. disinfect and bleach, everything.

Answer 6

Clean the walls, ceiling, floors, bathrooms, floors (non carpeted), and windows with a 30% vinegar solution. That will help to neutralize any odors.

Changing the carpet and carpet padding will also help. Be sure to vacuum the wood floor when the carpet and padding is off and before the new stuff goes on.

Answer 7

I had the same thing happen to me. We bought a gorgeous house and it STANK!!!! Tearing up the carpet will help, but what really helped us was painting. Also, I cleaned the house extremely well and used scented candles. Leave the windows open if you can to air the place out. Also, use air freshners. Good luck to you!

Answer 8

Carpet and fresh paint on the walls. Or if they are paneling or other wood (walls) clean them with Murphy's Oil Soap. Then just a general good cleaning on all the surfaces in the house. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Remove or clean all surfaces...ALL surfaces. This includes floors, baseboards, coving, walls - everything. Clean with a simple mild soapy water. Replacing carpet will help, but make sure to wash the floor underneath before replacing.

Open windows and spray Febreze everywhere.

Answer 10

Change all carpets, window coverings and wash down all other surfaces including inside and outside of cabinets, all appliances, toilet fixtures, floors. Wipe down door frames and repaint walls and frames.

It'll be like a new house.