Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [smell]

For questions related to resolving a smell or odor.

Smell questions should be related to smells with a known source. Locating the source of an unknown smell is considered off topic per this meta discussion.

243 questions
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2 answers

How do I find and dispose of the dead animal that's presumably in my ceiling?

We're trying to track the origin of a very putrid smell in our condominium. We have a loft type home, which means two floors with a drywall ceiling between the first and second floor. I first noticed a subtle odor in the kitchen, which is not an…
Tim Post
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25
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6 answers

How can I find the source of a mysterious bad smell?

We have recently moved home, and all is fine appart from a mystery smell which I'm unable to track down. It's driving me crazy (actually, my wife thinks I am crazy as she can't smell it). I'm hoping someone on here could offer some tips on how to…
UpTheCreek
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11
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8 answers

How to fix stinky bathroom sink?

It smells like really musty water, but the water itself does not smell or taste bad at all. Only happens when I run the water, so it doesn't make the room smell, just when you fill something up or wash your hands. I tried drain-o and it didn't do…
Matt
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10
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2 answers

How can I get the 2-part epoxy smell out of concrete?

Six months ago or more, my friend used a 2-part epoxy (no longer have the packaging, but it's a double-syringe with clear liquids, purchased at Home Hardware) on something, and some of it (one or both liquids) got on our basement floor, which is…
Kev
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10
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12 answers

Why might our washing machine cause our clothes to smell damp when dry?

Recently we've noticed that our clothes smell damp once dried. It doesn't matter if we tumble-dry them, hang them outside or hang them indoors. This leads me to believe it's our washing machine. We don't leave clothes in the washing machine long…
Neil Barnwell
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9
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2 answers

What is the best way to remove cigarette smoke smell from a house?

We're buying a house from previous owners that were smokers. The house still smells of smoke even with no furniture or upholstery in it. We plan to replace all the carpet with wood flooring. We're hoping that will do the trick. But our realtor…
Ben
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8
votes
5 answers

Water from bathroom faucet smells like rotten eggs

The sink is in the powder room on the main floor of our house. When I turn the water on it is fine for a few seconds then it smells horribly for about 3-4 more seconds then it is back to normal. It is the only water in the house that smells, so it's…
Robert
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7
votes
7 answers

Inside of Washing Machine smells horrible. How to fix?

I bought a used Washing Machine (Miele W828) that looked to be in perfect condition. It actually works perfectly. However, the inside of the Machine smells horrible, like mildew. This smell gets really strong right after a wash. I've read online…
ProgrammerGirl
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7
votes
4 answers

Why is my two month old dishwasher exuding a terrible smell?

In July I purchased a new Whirlpool Gold Series dishwasher model WDF750SAYW1. The machine has done a great job cleaning dishes, but it recently has begun to emit a terrible smell. The odor is not that of plates waiting to be washed. The smell is…
ahsteele
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7
votes
5 answers

How can I make my sink smell better?

My sink has a tendency to smell awful. A few times I've poored a lemon juice & baking soda mixture down it, but it only reduces the smell for a few days. What are some longer term solutions to this problem? The smell isn't taking over the kitchen,…
Sam Harwell
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6
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3 answers

Stink in Washroom - Possibilities?

I had a previous question about my toilet leaking in my washroom. For some strange reason, the washroom has a strong, persistent stink despite everything we do to remove it. What are the possibilities to investigate? Could it be mold? We've…
ashes999
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6
votes
3 answers

Propane stove/oven soot/carbon smell

I have a brand new oven/stove that runs on propane. Everytime I try to use the oven it ends up making the kitchen smell like that black soot carbon. I also can see inside the oven tall flames on either side of the bottom. I don't know if the flame…
Alisha
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6
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1 answer

How do I find and eliminate a sickly sweet smell in my apartment with no obvious source?

Ever since the start of winter my studio apartment has been smelling quite bad. The smell is sweet and astringent, almost like rancid ice cream or sweet vomit. The apartment is only one room and a bathroom, and thorough investigations (i.e.…
vlsd
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6
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3 answers

Why is water heater making the water smell like sulfur?

I have an electric water heater that gives the water a sulfur smell. It is only from the hot water. I have heard that changing the anode in the unit can help. If this is the case, what material should the anode be made of? Is there another…
Rick
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6
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2 answers

Control smell coming in from neighboring Dry cleaner

I work in an office that is in a strip mall. Two units away is a dry cleaner. Some days our office is saturated with the perfume smells from their cleaning agents. I don't know what weather conditions determine if the smell comes in or not, but…
ferryboat George
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