Finally tracked down the smell

trailingspouse

We came home from 3 weeks away, to a 'not nice' smell in the house. I guess having the house shut up during the last of the hot weather must have exacerbated things. No-one's smoked in the house for 5 years and the place has been completely redecorated since then - and besides, it isn't a 'smokey' smell. I'd emptied all the bins before we went. And we're a clean living lot!!



It's worst in the living room, and yesterday I set-to and started to completely bottom-out the room. I've removed everything apart from the bigger pieces of furniture, I've taken the cushion covers off (including the actual sofa cushions), and I've cleaned everything from the ceiling down to the floor. I had the windows open most of the day.


But when I came down this morning, the smell is still there - and it appears to be the curtains!! They've only been up for 3 years. The problem is that they're not easily cleaned - they're full room height, three widths in each curtain. It's a two-person job to get them down and put them back up - it's heavy work.



So, my question is - should I bite the bullet, take them down and get them cleaned, or is there a way of doing it in situ? Does febreeze really work? Or steaming? I'm worried that they would shrink (they weren't cheap!).


Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Deleted User]

Get them cleaned. Febreeze just masks the smell for a short while so you'll be forever spraying.

VfM4meplse

Expensive curtains require expensive maintenance - I learned my lesson the hard way and won't be repeating it!

trailingspouse

And why are they smelling?? The sofa doesn't (I've taken the cushions off and washed them anyway), the throws don't (ditto). It's solid wood flooring, so no carpet to worry about. I've checked them for mould - no issues there (and it isn't a damp house).



It's most peculiar.

greyteam1959

Is there any sort of rubber type material anywhere in the curtain linings or tapes ??
That can really honk sometimes.
Be very careful when getting the curtains cleaned.
We had some really expensive curtains dry cleaned & they shrunk quite alarmingly... probably about an inch & a half off the length.

trailingspouse

That's what worrying me!!


No, nothing rubber. Just standard curtains with a lining. It's quite a heavy fabric - and they're heavy anyway, just because of the size of them. I had them made 3 years ago by Dunelm at Home. They still look fab.


I've got the windows open again today, and I have no plans for going out so there's no reason why they can't be open all day. Maybe that will do the trick over time?

naf123

Is there no dead mouse between the curtain lining? or under the floorboards?

poppellerant

I'd be tempted to steam the curtains in situ. Possibly add some drops of essential oil to the water to freshen the curtains up again.

-taff

WHy are they smelling suddenly? If they haven't smelled for three years what's changed now?


Are they damp? As someone said, is there a fieldmouse or something in the lining [seen it happen so totally believable to me]? Has something been spilled on them?

VfM4meplse

naf123 wrote: »

Is there no dead mouse between the curtain lining?

:eek: _pale_

JohnB47

Before you do anything else, I would suggest removing the curtains from the room or even the house. Take them down and put them in the car. If they are the cause of the smell, you'll sense it gone in the room and definitely present in the car.

If not, then the challenge continues.

What sort of underfloor do you have - a void of any kind? Perhaps water ingress and the water is going dank? Are your air bricks too low and water is getting in? Any way to easily lift a corner of carpet and a board to see?

Personally I can't see any reason for curtains to start smelling, all on their own.