Household Smells and Stains Resist Every Cleaning Product Tried
Many homeowners are struggling with difficult cleaning tasks, ranging from stubborn mold in showers to lingering odors (like cannabis) and mysterious stains on linoleum. They're seeking advice and solutions for these persistent problems.
SOURCES (60)
“My parents moved in with my family temporarily. They have an old stale smell to their house they left and now my house smells like it when I walk in. How do I get my house to smell good?? I don’t love using artificial fragrance…”
“I see people talking about weed smells on here everyday. For the weed smokers and the people annoyed by weed smoke, all you need is white vinegar. Dilute it and put it in a spray bottle and use it like air freshener. The smell of vinegar dissipates quickly and takes the weed smell with it. This is also a great remedy for pet smells. I put vinegar in my carpet cleaner instead of the $50 chemical cleaner the instructions tell me to buy. You can also set bowls of it around your apartment and even b”
“we have been living in this apartment for past 2 years, its a pretty nice space with lots of air and light coming through and we absolutely love it! we cook a lot, on a daily basis, use candles or essential oils to help deodorise the space once cooking is completed or if anyone is planning a visit. in general, using both of these helps the apartment smell nice. the challenge however has been that, we have found any or every lingering smell in the apartment especially from the kitchen to end up i”
“How do I get rid of the odor that is still present that was most likely caused by this ball I found from the AC/heater vent ? Even after weeks later and the reachable areas have been cleaned out to the best of my ability , the smell is still bothersome. As a side note, I have super sensitive smell to the point it affects my breathing. submitted by /u/Own_Match6362 [link] [comments]”
“Me and my roommates just moved into a new apartment a couple weeks ago and we have an awful smell in the kitchen. I haven’t smelled anything like this before, and I’m not sure where it’s coming from; there’s no visible mold in the kitchen or behind appliances. We checked in the water heater room and there’s no mold coming from there, either. We’ve already cleaned the floors & walls with bleach and it still hasn’t gone away. The maintenance team literally just told us to go buy bath n body wo”
This video reminded me that I have to clean my couch. Thanks!😅
“I need an advise. I washed my carpet and now it is 2 days still like wet (damp) and it stinks very bad. Yesterday I put window AC unit with DRY mode and I think not too much luck. Do you guys have any idea what I can do to make it dry? No way to remove carpet to make it dry. Somebody says just put some baking soda and vacuum it after 24 hours or so. But I don’t want to make it worse. submitted by /u/ilkinoid92 [link] [comments]”
“Child peed all over bathroom floor thats comprised of linoleum vinyl plank (LVP). The bathroom stinks even after two cleanings. how do we get the odor to go away? submitted by /u/thenewuser88 [link] [comments]”
“Generally cleaning your call will get rid of the smell or at least change it to be more tolerable. If the mats are the source, vacuum qnd scrub them with carpet\upholstry cleaner and soak em in oxyclean and laundry soda for 1-6h depending on how bad they are. Rinse with fresh water. Hang to dry. Vacuum and air blast the floor, treat with carpet\upholstry cleaner. Bonus if you are able to get underneath the front car seats. Same with the head rests and seat cushions. Check the condenser and rinse”
“Always better to remove the source of a smell as much as possible before trying to mask or “kill” it.”
“This, I did a full deep clean gutting the interior down to the sound deadening and then used the ozone generator before using an hvac cleaning spray and putting on good seat covers and floor mats, smells good now”
“Keep in mind that you are not going to clean the air to get rid of the smell. You need to clean the source that is producing it. Clean the seats thoroughly, the carpet, the plastic, and the inside of the glass. That should get you there.”
“You haven't mentioned doing the cheapest which is cleaning all the visible interior spaces. Helps if you have a mobile steamer to hit the cloth seats or carpet floors if it has them. Leaving a bowl of baking soda out for 24 hrs inside helps neutralize odors. Try cleaning it first.”
“If it’s not really a specific smell, a deep clean will help. Fabric and rug areas can hold onto a lot of stuff. Even headliners. HVAC should be cleaned also. Post any specific questions you might have.”
“This^ my sister bought a purse online and it was not disclosed that it was from a smokers house. We put the purse in a tote with the ozone generator and it removed like 99% of the smell.”
“I bought an older car (trying to get completely debt free) and it has “a smell”. It’s not mildew, not smoke, not pet smell, but rather just old, sat for a bit smell. What’s the most budget friendly (I’m a single income mom of 3) non toxic method of neutralizing it? submitted by /u/TheCottonBriar [link] [comments]”
“No, cat pee is on its whole separate level of hell. If you've extracted it with cleaner then it's probably just deep into the fabric and foam. Try a chlorine dioxide bomb. The car will smell like someone spilled a bottle of bleach in the car for a couple weeks, but park it in the sun with the windows cracked open a bit and it'll dissipate. If that doesn't do it then you're going to have to replace some fabric. I'm not a pro at this, but that's the approach I'd try”
“I live in a duplex building that has a basement. I keep my apartment very clean. I am having an issue with my downstairs smelling how the basement smells. It is slightly damp down there but when I get up in the morning it has a strong wet smell especially when my ac unit kicks on. (I change my filter regularly and check it frequently to make sure it is not wet). I have some of those plug in scent things and I keep my ceiling fan on and run a box fan downstairs (I like it to be cold and I live in”
“I'm going to assume you run enough passes with the wet vacuum that you are getting mostly clear at this point. The next step is to use an enzyme cleaner, they are often marketed as pet stain/urine stain cleaners at the retail level. Since you are in the UK or that region have no idea what brands are available. Liberally douse the area, really soak it and let it work for an hour if possible then you can wet vacuum it up.”
“Spilled some ribena on the car boot carpet, tried wet vacuum with solution, still smells!! How to get rid of the stink submitted by /u/FastStrategy679 [link] [comments]”
“Spilled some ribena on the car boot carpet, tried wet vacuum with solution, still smells!! How to get rid of the stink submitted by /u/FastStrategy679 [link] [comments]”
“i guess this isn’t your typical post on here.. but i smoke weed faithfully indoors, i own my place, i do what i want. what cleaning are yall doing on a daily/weekly basis that helps with the smell and keeping the place clean from smoke? air purifiers in every room, mopping everyday, wiping walls every other day, as well as fan blades and window blinds but what else? what are yall putting in a pot to simmer to help the whole house smell good? submitted by /u/Amazing-Lime-8664 [link] &”
“Walking into the door and I’m hit with the smell of weed. It’s not noticeable after some time but I’m desperate to get that last bit out. Baking soda, ozium spray once a day, air purifier, and ozium gel can. Edit: Townhouse, two other units on each side, one was vacant until last week Edit: Going to wash down the walls with TSP, and the blinds. Setting out some vinegar until I get my hands on an ozone machine. submitted by /u/Beautiful-Price-466 [link] [comments]”
“I’ve already tried several types of mold remover sprays, bleach, and detergent, but it still won’t come off. Has anyone dealt with something like this before? Is there a specific product or method that actually works? Or does the grout need to be removed and replaced? submitted by /u/WeeklyAd1932 [link] [comments]”
“I have tried cleaning and brushing of the Barong with mild detergent it got lessen but the stain of mold still remains. Any tips on how i could get this remove. submitted by /u/GentsCoffee [link] [comments]”
“Hello guys! I recently moved into an old house that has very old and worn down wall-to-wall carpet flooring, it’s a rental so I can’t easily remove it, so I have to deal with this problem: I rented a carpet cleaner, the one that sprays water with special liquid, and sucks it back. Before that it smelled like a dusty old house, now it smells like urine or something. I tried to use an odor neutralizer (it’s called HG Alle Nare Geurtjes Weg in the Netherlands), and two bottles down I feel like I ha”
“There used to be a huge hard buildup of yellow/white stuff. I’ve managed to chip away at the worst of it and all that remains is what’s pictured. It’s so stubborn I feel like nothings happening no matter how hard I try. I’m aware new grout is needed, the missing grout was revealed after I managed to remove the massive buildup in that corner. I have tried multiple rounds of soaking with CLR for 10 minutes and then scraping with a plastic scraper and scrubbing with a firm plastic grout brush. I ev”
“Tried just about everything except vinegar because I hate the smell. Will vinegar be the magic miracle or will I be left with a stinky interior and no results submitted by /u/Big-Advice-4009 [link] [comments]”
“Hi! I have just moved into a home that has been left sitting and relatively un-lived in for about 5 years. Because of this, dust had settled on EVERYTHING, and there is a strong smell of it everywhere no matter what I do. I am slowly getting the house up to standard, but the smell just doesn't seem to shift. It is mostly wood flooring with upstairs being carpeted in 3 rooms. Any advice on removing/minimising the smell and tips of getting rid of and keeping away dust would be super helpful. T”
“Can someone recommend a rubber flooring solution that doesn’t smell like a tire shop? I recently had to move my garage gym into a spare bedroom and my stall mats stink up the place, even though they’re a couple years old now and have been cleaned and sun baked, so I’m selling them. Probably time for an upgrade anyway, just wanna make sure I don‘t waste my time or money. Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/Ulysses_swansong [link] [comments]”
“Trying to up do my room and in an attempt to get old stains off the wall it just spread further and further. I have never smoked let alone smoked in my room, so we have no idea what it is. We have just been using a damp sponge, which was brand new so it wasn’t any residue on the sponge. Are there any products people know of that can help or should we consider repainting the whole room? submitted by /u/Real_Judge_9308 [link] [comments]”
“Bio bomb. Supposed to be easier on your interior than ozone and seems to work magic. Your car will smell like a pool for a few weeks then nothing. You should steam carpets etc with the minis before doing the treatment as well. Don’t steam the headliner (or at least not directly)”
“Had the same problem. I used distilled water mixed with a small amount of blue dawn dish soap. Then I used Stoner's glass cleaner. Then I used distilled water mixed with rubbing alcohol. I wiped, buffed the reapplied then wiped again then buffed again and did it 2 more times for a toal of 4 times, each with a different cloth. Took awhile, but it worked”
“It's in the backseat flooring and it soaked through the mat, it's been there for about 3-4 days in hot weather. Please help it smells so bad and idek where to start : EDIT: I work in an hour so I threw out the mats , poured a bit of apple cider vinegar (all I have atm) , baking soda, and gave it a good scrub with copper dish scrub. Soaked up what I could with some regular dish scrubs, applied more baking soda, let it sit for a bit, and then scrubbed again. for now, this works. if u have”
“I coached basketball with a guy, new caddy and had smell of stagnent water from HVAC. Had him lift hood and sprayed Lysol from air intake with car sealed up and air on high. Let it run for 10 min or so. He had to do it every month or so, but beat the crap of how it smelled before. Now he drives a Lexus and no problems.”
“Recently, I’ve been noticing that the top level of our house has been having a lingering bad smell. It just smells kind of musty. I don’t know if it’s mold, or something else. Also, it is summertime so it can get unbelievably hot and humid(??) up here. I’ve been changing my sheets frequently, vacuuming, etc. but I feel like the place reeks of sweat/disgustingness. I’m so worried that it’s rubbing off on me and that no matter how much I shower it won’t go away. What are some steps that you recomm”
“This sub has given me such great help. For months I haven’t been able to find the source of the smell in my dishwasher that would start pretty quickly after I did a load. I had taken out the screen and thought I rinsed it. I ran vinegar through it. Nada. The other day I finally took out every removable piece in the machine. They had what seemed like barely any bits or particles on them. But just getting those minuscule things out has worked! No smell. The lesson is that even a barely visible, ti”
“Ozone generator by itself is not going to solve much. A whole lot of scrubbing and extracting of every surface in the vehicle, from the base of the windshield to the tail gate, door panels, seats, under the seats (best to remove the seats and deal with them outside of the car), carpet, plastics, dash, headliner, everything.... is required prior to using Ozone. You also have to replace the cabin air filter. Skimp on any of that.... and ozone will not work. Ozone is only the end action. Tar and Ni”
“Chlorine dioxide gas. It's a tablet you plop into some water or something like that, then you seal the car and walk away for several hours to a full day. It's a step above ozone and it's not potentially dangerous to plastics apparently like ozone is. The car will smell like you spilled a bottle of bleach in the car for a couple weeks, but it goes away and leaves is smelling like nothing. You do have to have the source of the odor cleaned it before hand.”
“Maintenance came by and said it’s not mold and covered it with a board d/t damage from a previous leak and recommended vinegar for the smell. I feel like it still smells and honestly don’t even know how to go about it. First time renting an apartment and it’s already been such a headache. submitted by /u/Classic-Mirror1203 [link] [comments]”
“In this case it was worth the ~70.00usd in cleaners. It was the original fitted carpet on a 40yr old 50th Anniversary Edition Nissan 300ZX. The interior was all original and mint until the rats got inside. Unfortunately the aftermarket options are ~400.00usd and cut too small. I did replace sections of the woolen padding .”
“Urine Destroyer by Natures Miracle is what i recently used in a car that was invaded by norway rats. I pulled the seats and pulled the molded cabin carpet from the vehicle and set it up on sawhorses in my back yard. I dumped a gallon of the Urine Destroyer into a tank sprayer and saturated the carpet from both sides. After about 24hrs to let the enzyme work, i used a garden hose to rinse everything down and let dry. The carpet took two treatments, the passenger side floormat (there was a nest be”
“They shouldnt lead to that smell unless there's water entry, do you drive these cars a lot after the wash to get rid of leftover water? Usually ac on is a good idea as it acts like a dehumidifier I would be checking the carpets and under seats for dampness, I had a similar issue in my 90s car and had water pooling under the back seats and seeping into the carpet (which was a more extreme case) but always better to be safe than sorry Also check your spare tire area sometimes water collects do”
“Steam clean the entire interior. And under the seats. Dry it 100%. See what that does.”
“I'm assuming at this point it's from spills and other stuff in the seat cushions or carpet in the back hatch. I've cleaned the AC thoroughly and replaced the cabin air filter with a premium one. Its a 2023 Hyundai Venue, and I'm pretty sure it used to be a rental car. My question is how can I get the smell out of the foam and black carpet lining the hatch, without just replacing everything. I'm actually very sensitive to odors, and driving my car when it's been sitting in”
“How much weed would someone have to smoke to make my apartment reek of it when my windows and doors are all closed and the A/C is on. I wondered why I had such a headache until my husband walked into the living room and said that’s what it was. Opened the balcony door and OMG they must be on their balcony smoking it like crazy. We get a lot of stinky smells from the foreign neighbors cooking but never weed. 😫😫🤢 submitted by /u/Anxious_Gur5352 [link] [comments]”
“Hi! A bit of a hypochondriac, is this all dust or mold and is it ok to run till my complex can clean it or should I get a wall unit till they come in? It does look like the drip pan isn’t dripping out lol (the blurry photo on the front inside crack is all pooled liquid sludge) submitted by /u/No-Cat8027 [link] [comments]”
“been looking into this for a while and narrowed it down to a few options. mostly gel based stuff since sprays seem to just run off before they do anything. anyone have real experience with a mold remover that actually works on grout and tile? submitted by /u/Active-Law4591 [link] [comments]”
“As a PNW’er mold is a way of life and it is highly unlikely this is black mold or something you need to be worried about. It’s nuisance and maybe if you have bad allergies… but that’s about it. Hazmat suit talk is just Reddit being Reddit and people from Arizona talking a substance they’ve never seen.”
“I live in an old man's memory of an old apartment and the AC leaked all over the disgusting carpet then was allowed to bake in the heat of a top floor for 2.5 weeks before landlord finally had some carpet clean it (friend with carpet mop vac with oxy clean). Ripping out the carpet isnt on the table right now and it's my bedroom. He removed the pad underneath it the day it happened but its all up in there. I've been running the air purifier, have aired it out for days at a time when t”
“If it's not just a few small spots, the interior should be taken apart and cleaned. I've been doing this for 10 years, and I would still pass on it. If you really want to tackle it get yourself at least a face mask respirator. Additionally, If the root cause is not addressed, it will come back.”
“Moved into a rental home a few days ago and I can’t get rid of this awful basement-like scent in the living room/hallway/bathroom areas. Prior to us moving in, the house was unoccupied for a month with the AC on 78 (in a subtropical climate). I hoped cooling the place down and ventilating it would help but the scent isnt budging. Landlord is adamant there are no mold/mildew/water leak issues. It’s an old home and I see signs of some humidity issues. How can I get rid of this smell? submitt”
“I’ve tried rinseless wash, pressure washer, and iron remover, but none does a very good job of removing these. Just came back from a weekend away and there were even more spots than when I left, so it’s something settling on the car while it’s parked at my house. submitted by /u/ThighOfTheTiger [link] [comments]”
“Do everything the other commenters are saying and do it quickly. I had still water in puddles in the backseat and I let it sit like an idiot (in my head I was like “oh I’ll leave the sunroof open and it’ll evaporate” and spoiler alert it did not evaporate) and then I got white mold growing on every surface of my car 😭 had to pay to get it professionally deep cleaned at that point”
“Noticed a stench in my car and went to investigate. Noticed the bottom of both of my back seats were wet, and the drivers side mat had mold under it. It’s been raining alot but I haven’t left my windows down to my knowledge. The mold was under the mat specifically. What should I do? submitted by /u/Smooth-moves-317 [link] [comments]”
“I moved into a place where the previous owner smoked indoors, and I have been trying everything to remove the smell. Cleaning the walls and replacing some things helped, but there is still that leftover odor that comes back. Has anyone else dealt with smoke smell that survived multiple cleaning attempts? What ended up making the biggest difference? submitted by /u/Repulsive_Minute_674 [link] [comments]”