Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

Suffolk_lass

We occasionally get a similar sounding smell in our bathroom and have concluded it is the drains. When it does, I do this at bed-time.

I put a squirt of bleach down each plughole and refill the toilet cistern with half a bottle of a cheap thin bleach (by taking the lid off and pouring it in after flushing, then repeating with the other half) so that everything has bleach overnight. It smells much fresher, removes stains and removes any build up of limescale in the cistern.

Can you describe the other smell? I could smell mice yesterday in my kitchen...

A_Frayed_Knot

You are so lucky to have found heating contractors that have managed to quote and turn up.  For weeks now we have been trying to get a quote for replacing boiler and connecting 2 rads, to no avail, no one has got back to us, and we are fed up chasing for quotes.

With the amount of water I hear you have been having, its no wonder things have been getting soaked, did you perhaps have the kitchen/bathroom window open as well? sometimes I find that the strange smell, on occasion, I have is coming from my drains in the sink, so bleach is a good remedy, although I use regular, possibly not on a 2 x daily.

You will feel so much better once the workmen have finished and you can admire your new rads.  Lucky you.

A_Frayed_Knot

 Great minds think alike SL, looks like we crossed posted, I just chattered a little longer.  

ajmoney

The kitchen smell I can only describe as oily but unsure why I say that. I will try bleach tonight down the drains and see if it happens. I am also going to see if I can get someone to help me redo the sealant in both rooms. I bought it just before lockdown but I have this stupid thing about getting things wrong so rather than attempting and having to do it again I have done nothing, it might help. My toilet is boxed in so I can't access the cistern and even though I was shown how to access it in the last house I don't remember. 
I had got in touch with 2 other companies before lockdown, one never got back to even come and quote (the one that came recommended from a contractor I trust), one took measurements but I have chased for a quote and he didn't get back to me. The company I used came to measure, got back with a quote a few days later and while I don't have anything to compare it against it is far under what I had in my head so rather than waste more time I booked them in. I have been lucky, ex is struggling to get someone who will work on an issue in his place.

ajmoney

All heating stuff done.  I popped out for a bit and when I got back I still got the smell in the kitchen but now it could be contributed by the workmen too.  While it won't make any difference I have cleaned the outside of all the cupboards and worktops and have also wiped down all the switches etc that the workmen have touched.  I have lit candles and put them in all the rooms to get rid of any smells from today.  After dinner and washing up I am going to dry everything and put it away and then clean the cupboard under the sink (doors currently open as I suspect this might be a problem area) to check for any signs and then mop the floor.  When I go to bed I am going to put bleach down all my plugholes and see what I can sense in the morning.

ajmoney

I haven't noticed and stagnant water or drain smells this morning so thanks for the bleach suggestion.  I do still have this horrid oily(?) smell in my kitchen, I didn't expect the cleaning to make a difference yesterday but at least a clean kitchen is one less thing I feel I need to do.  I am unsure how to find out what it is but I do feel it is coming from around the sink area so if I can get someone to help me I will pull the washing machine out to make sure all is ok behind it.  I will also look at moving the bargeboard from under that unit, it might not be in this bit of the room but I trust my instincts.

I am going out for lunch with my friend and her baby, it will be good to have some company and to get away from the house as it is really getting me down.  I have already done a load of washing and it is on the line, I also want to dust and vacuum the living/dining room before I go out as there is dust everywhere from yesterday's workmen and these rooms seem worse than the bedrooms which I will tackle when I get back or tomorrow.  When I get home I really need to invest some time in me although I am unsure what that will be yet, probably a walk or cycle, I would like a hard swim but it would be a true solo swim and I am not sure about that. 

Suffolk_lass

Re your boxed in toilet, if you look carefully there might be a panel with screws (or plastic covers on them) in the corners of one. The plastic covers can be eased off with a screw-driver or knife tip then you simply unscrew the panel to get access. It is usually the top panel because the top lifts off 99% of cisterns and things can go wrong. The boxing in might be a much bigger shelf so look at that - it might be a panel within.

Re sealing, you come with a universal spreader (your finger, as long as you don't have great long nails). It is really easy (I learned before Christmas on our motorhome) and will save you loads if you have a go.
Indoors you don't really need to worry about which sealant you use. We use bathroom sealant - it comes in a tube. Speaking of tubes - you could look at a you-tube video on how to re-seal. You need a sealant gun - they have a release lever to stop them dispensing and a screw is good to just stop the tip oozing. If the tube and gun are too much, look out for a tube you can squeeze. If it needs you to cut a tip off, my advice is cut a little bit closer to the tip than the mark, so it dispenses more slowly.
The steps are,

• pull out what you can, using the edge of a screw-driver if you are me (don't use the chemical stuff as it makes it all gooey and a nightmare) - you are likely to find it comes out in stretchy strips
• Wipe it all down with methylated spirit on kitchen roll (available from DIY sheds or some pharmacies) - especially if there is black mould (there often is)
• Using a sealant gun, apply new sealant to the seam
• Dip your finger in a small bowl of washing up liquid and water then spread the sealant - with the washing up liquid solution it is quite forgiving and if you missed a bit with the sealant gun, you can squish some in as it collects on your finger
• Use paper with a bit of the washing up solution to collect any surplus
• Let it dry and you are done. You can always re-do it if it isn't perfect.

Suffolk_lass

You could look at the drains outside the kitchen sink and see if there is any evidence of a block or overflow. Caustic soda and then Jeyes liquid are the best things for outside

ajmoney

Suffolk_lass said:

You could look at the drains outside the kitchen sink and see if there is any evidence of a block or overflow. Caustic soda and then Jeyes liquid are the best things for outside

I don't have any drains outside of the house, I think they have all been built into the void space underneath my bungalow.  I firstnoticed the smell yesterday morning and the engineers were under there yesterday, they mentioned an electrical issue which I have someone coming out to look at so if they had noticed anything I think they would have said.  Mr AJM is coming round later to see if he can help me find the source, it is really getting me down and on top of the anxious time I seem to be going through this is not helping.  Nevermind, I have cleaned my bedrooms even though I was going to leave them until later and about to start on the living/dining room which will just leave the bathroom.  I am suspicious I can smell something there too but I don't know if I am just imagining it now.

savingholmes

 I  hope Mr AJM can help you find the source of the trouble. Our kitchen sink got completely blocked recently and we had to pour a load of lye down it to clear it but it doesn't sound like you have that problem. Hope it sorts for you soon.