How Do You Get Nasty Odor Out of House?

Updated on January 11, 2010
L.T. asks from Allen, TX
24 answers

Hi mommas!

Tuesday and Wednesday my dog got sick in the middle of the night with diarrhea and went on the carpet upstairs. I cleaned it with resolve. Now my entire house still smells like the diarrhea I cleaned up. I'm not sure if I should keep cleaning the spots on the carpet or if it's just the odor my dog is carrying around with him...he doesn't have anything on him...I checked him out. I guess I could try bathing him. I still don't understand why my entire house now has that nasty odor. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks!

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J.L.

answers from Dallas on

Baking soda should get it out. Just sprinkle some on damp carpet, rub it in and then clean it with a wet rag. Maybee frabreeze, but I don't know if that'll permanently work.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

My husband is a master cleaner. We all call him Mr. Clean. He even has the bald head! No joke! Private message me and I will give you his contact info. He will be happy to talk with you about some different remedies! Good Luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Dallas on

I would say try the vinegar & baking soda first. So inexpensive and easy. I would let the baking soda sit overnight.

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K.A.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with the baking soda. Stuff soaks through the carpet into the pad. I would sprinkle the area very generously with baking soda, rub it in, then apply another layer. Leave it several hours to soak up moisture and stuff and then vacuum the area well. Then repeat. The baking soda will give the odor causing agents something to adhere to so you can draw it out of the carpet and the pad. We have used the baking soda based carpet cleaner lots of times.

Another suggestion from ehow is as follows:
Instructions
Things You'll Need:

* Tide Dry Detergeant
* a scrub brush
* a sponge
* a bucket of warm, near hot, water

1.
Step 1

Fill a bucket with warm, almost hot, water. Dip your sponge in the water and press it into the stained area/s, until they are well saturated.
2.
Step 2

Sprinkle "Tide" dry detergeant over the stained area. This will require different amounts of detergeant depending on the size of the stain. I sprinkle a small layer over it, in a zig zag formation. Massage the "Tide" into the stained area with your (hand held) scrub brush.
3.
Step 3

Leave this on the stain for 10 minutes.
4.
Step 4

Wet your sponge and rub it over the area. It is best to soak up as much detergeant as possible, but leaving a very small amount behind, is not going to do any damage. This should remove your stain. It also works for red wine stains, and I have discovered that this secret is better than any stain remover that I have ever purchased.

2 moms found this helpful
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S.R.

answers from Dallas on

gone through this more times than i can count with all the rescueing that i've done...i found that baking soda drizzled over the carpet helps a lot, after you have let the baking soda sit and then vaccum it up, sprinkle baby power over the carpet then use your broom to sweap it into the carpet. has always worked wonders for me. you can use baby powder throughout the house as well to freshin it.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Dallas on

You could clean the soiled area with vinegar. It disinfects and deodorizes.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.G.

answers from Dallas on

Keep in mind that the liquids were able to seep deep into the carpet and likely into the pad. Cleaning the top of the carpet gives the appearance that it is clean, but there is "stuff" lurking underneath. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar water (make the solution strong enough that you can get a whiff of vinegar when you spray) and spray the spot until you believe the water has penetrated the pad (not recommended for daily cleaning, but you have to get to the source of the odor). Let it sit for half an hour or so then put down a clean towel and walk on it. Your weight will squeeze the liquid out of the carpet into the towel. Repeat until all excess liquid has been absorbed into the towel. It will take this spot several days to dry completely as the pad will be wet. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.E.

answers from Dallas on

Here's another vote for Nature's Miracle. No pet owner should be without it. Petco and Petsmart carry it and it is great1

1 mom found this helpful
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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

Try mixing vinegar and Oxy. Sprinkle a little oxy on the spots then pour some vinegar on them. Wait about 5-10 minutes then shampoo or vacuum up. Hope this helps

1 mom found this helpful
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B.M.

answers from Dallas on

we had to get a steam cleaner for our carpet first (takes out the smell & stain in the carpet) and then when back over it with febreeze....

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Dallas on

I have a dog that thinks my office is a latrine. Oxyclean and a shamwow are great. I mix the oxyclean and pour it on so it even soaks the pad and then the shamwow will draw all that out. then put clean water on it and soak it up. All odor and stain gone!

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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Apply a solution of white vinegar (2 tbsp vinegar to 1 quart of water). Blot with clean cloth. After dry, sprinkle baking soda to help deoderize the area. Be cautious of using too many chemicals on the carpet. Good Luck!

H. Meece
www.WorkAtHomeUnited.com/H.
###-###-####

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Dallas on

The odor could just be lingering in the air but most likely you still have a problem in the carpet. If there is any fecal matter left in the carpet you will continue to smell it. The feces are actually food to different microbes that are going to be living off of the feces. In turn these microbes are going to leave behind their own waste, which perpetuates the odor problem. The only right way to take care of the problem is really to hire a professional that can evaluate the true extent of the problem.

Until the feces are completely gone, you will continue to have odor problems (which are always going to be the worst up front). I would add to what has previously been said, get some enzymes for pet accidents. One publicly available product is Nature's Miracle which is sold at Pet's Mart, I've had many customers swear by it, although I've never used it myself. What enzymes do is they speed up the breaking down process. With enzymes you let nature act faster to decompose and destroy the fecal matter until it no longer is an issue. That will solve the source of the odor and the problem.

Most of these home remedies previously mentioned are useful:

Vinegar will help to sanitize the area because it is acidic. Acid is how they dye carpet, so it can also set color stains.

Baking soda will absorb odors and if applied directly to the spot, may absorb more of the feces which can be vacuumed out. So it could also help your problem.

I hope you can get rid of the odor quickly. Especially with such cold weather that won't let you get outside much.

Feel free to contact Zerorez if you decide you would like to have a professional look at the problem. ###-###-#### or http://www.zerorezdallas.com

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

There's a product called "Nature's Miracle" that might take away the smell. You can get it at all pet supply stores.

Good luck!

M.

P.S. Over the next 2-5 years, I am building a team of SAHMs earning six figures from their homes with full health insurance for their families. Want more info? Let's get together and chat!

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

My dog has done this a lot over the last few years. One time it was due to an illness and the others I think was do to eating bones. We stopped giving him bones for chewing. We keep him in a kennel and or the laundry room during night time - thank goodness. However, there still was a smell. I steam cleaned the carpets where the kenel was and took the kennel outside to hose it down. I also washed my dog two times. When it happened in the laundry room I washed the floor with soap and water. Then I cleaned it with all purpose cleaner. Cleaned the base boards with murphy's oil. Then washed my dog. I would steam clean your carpet.

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T.M.

answers from Dallas on

Melaleuca's Sol-U-Mel is the only thing I've found that will eliminate those odors. I've tried lots of stuff. You have to get a memebership (like Sam's - except you only have to get it once) to buy it, but it's well worth it. Plus it's safe for your kids, unlike resolve and other carpet cleaners. PM me and I'll show you how to get it.

Be very careful what chemicals you use on the carpet that your 4mo will be on. There was an article in Parenting magazine a month or so ago that talked about the dangers of using chemicals on the carpet when you have little ones that was pretty eye opening.

Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.A.

answers from Dallas on

a generous amount of Fabreeze

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

There is a carpet cleaner named Kids n Pets. It is wonderful. It takes out odors and hard to get out stains. I have only run into one or two things it did not work well on. It is hard to find. WalMart was carrying it but I haven't been able to find it lately. Target does carry it and I think maybe Tom Thumb

Good luck

J.

T.H.

answers from Dallas on

Home Depot carries a carpet cleaning product called capture. It is a dry cleaning product. You have to be the pre-mist and spritz the area until damp then sprinkle the carpet with the dry powder product and lightly brush it into the carpet area. It will pull any further stains out and will absorb any foul odors. In two hours vacuum & you are good. I've used it on all types of spots & it's amazing. Took out the stain and odor of a child who threw up after drinking red punch! If any smell does linger you can repeat or spritz with white vinegar...but I bet you wont have any more problems.

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E.H.

answers from Dallas on

PLease be very careful putting too many different products on your carpet. Carpet is the second most expensive investment for your home (roof is first). You do NOT want to ruin it. TOo many chemicals mixed together can change the pH balance in the carpet and cause color discoloration. Resolve has been tested by the carpet cleaning institute and is one of the worst products for re-soiling that is out there. Use a wet dry vac or carpet steamer if you have one with ONLY hot water and a tad bit of vinegar would be ok for the odor. Febreeze is only a mask and will not make it go away. Your best bet obviously would be to call a professionsl company to come clean and disinfect the carpets. I would be happy to help you with that --- you can reach me via email at ____@____.com or you can call my office and one of my CSR's can help you -- ###-###-####. Good luck and I hope your dog is feeling better!
E. Herman
Cornerstone Chem-Dry
###-###-####
____@____.com
www.co2cleaners.com/cornerstone

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Dallas on

Oreck makes a good pet stain cleaner and deodorizer. You can go to their store and buy it. Also, check with Pets Mart. They have some good pet stain cleaners.

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C.B.

answers from Dallas on

That's unfortunate, it probably seeped through to the pad. A steam cleaning might be in order, but in the meantime, try putting an open bowl of white vinegar nearby overnight. Sometimes that will help absorb the smell.

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Z.Z.

answers from Dallas on

NATURE'S MIRACLE!!! I have 3 LARGE indoor/outdoor dogs who have tested my carpet many times. Nature's miracle takes away all smells so the dog cannot detect and continue to potty in same spot. I always clean the spots well with resolve and then go back over it heavily with Nature's Miracle. We always keep some on hand!

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Melaluca Sol-u-mel is awesome. Not sure where you live but it you live in the Flower Mound area, I'd be happy to give you some to try before you go register to buy some. My uncle sells it and I keep it in stock. Private message me if your interested.

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