My house smells HORRIBLE, help?

Question

My water heater up and died yesterday, it had been leaking since the night before last, and maintenance came in and removed the heater, replaced it, and soaked up all of the water.

*BUT* I guess the water sat there long enough that its begun to mildew. What can I do to get rid of this smell? Its giving me a headache and is making me feel sick. I've called and they are going to clean my carpets tomorrow afternoon (god knows when).

What can I do to get rid of this smell, and prevent any molds from growing? I work from home and its offending for my clients to come here and smell that. I also baby sit my six month old niece and I KNOW that can't be healthy for her.

Help?

Answer 1

Bleach any area that you can. Febreze will help kill the smell. Febreze candles are awesome. I just had a similar problem, air conditioner had issues and leaked and the people that lived here before us had cats. My house smelled like a litter box, so disgusting. We cleaned the carpet, used febreze on it, bleached the base boards that had mildew on them and burned a febreze candle. It smell great now. Thank God!!! I hated coming home and having my house smell like cat sh*t.

Baking soda works great, I put it on my carpets about once a month and let it sit for about 30 min and then I vacuum. Helps keep my house from smelling like my dogs. I love them, but I also like my house to smell good.

Answer 2

You will have to have professional come to get rid of any mold, but in the meantime, try Febreeze.  Also, set small bowls of ground coffe in the corners of the rooms.  It helps absorb smell.

Answer 3

Use Lysol spray.  It will at least kill some of the odor causing bacteria.  Fabreze won't

Lysol has a clean linen spray that doesn't have a strong Lysol smell.  It wouls be more pleasing to your clients and your niece.

Answer 4

I had the same problem... it was nasty! I used my carpet shampooer, so there would be soap and enzymes in there to get the smell out. Just hope the people that come tomorrow can get it out! I also found a carpet cleaner that is a powder- you sprinkle it on and vacuum it up! (I got it at a pet store!) I've heard that baking soda works the same on carpet though, but I don't know.  

Answer 5

When they clean the carpets it will help.  Also, buy, rent, or borrow a dehumidifier.  Run this all the time.  Use 2.  Keep a fan going.  Go to a friends house for the night or at least get out and watch a movie.  Keep the room closed with the dehumidifier while you are gone.  This is the only way to get the water out of your floor, walls, etc.  You will see how much water is being removed because you will have to dump the tank on the dehumidifier fairly often (probably every couple hours at first).

In the short run, I'm sorry.  Spray some lysol.  

Answer 6

Is the moisture under the flooring? If so then get a professional to remove the flooring so they can deal with the mold.

For whatever surfaces you can reach, try vinegar or bleach. If you have a de-humidifier, don't turn it off.  Open all the windows.  Clean carpets will be awsome!  

Incense,candles etc seem to burn the smell right out of the air while being absorbed by all surfaces.