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Original poster

What is this smell

32 replies

SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:03

I noticed a smell in an upstairs bedroom yesterday when we’d been out for the day and the house had been empty. My partner had been putting the children to bed in the room and when I came upstairs it smelt so bad that I told him to go and have a shower as I thought it was him! It’s a really strong sweet BO smell. I aired the house this morning and the smell appeared to disappear, however we’ve just got home after being out all afternoon/evening and the smell is back.

does anyone know what it could be? The room is clean and tidy, and I’ve hunted around for stinky clothes/shoes/nappies/food items/dishes and I can’t find anything

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Mossstitch · 02/05/2023 23:30

Could one of the children spilt milk.......that is an awful smell after a few days if not cleaned up straight away.

Aquamarine1029 · 02/05/2023 23:27

Oh dear, it seems you have a leak. That's very, very serious. You need to find the source ASAP.

MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 02/05/2023 23:12

Definitely concentrate on the patch of damp carpet and the source.
Not sure whether I'd prefer it to becoming from above or below!

Rip it up. Do share the body count! I mean erm, the floorboard damage.

scoobydoo1971 · 02/05/2023 23:05

As someone who just pulled the bedroom floor boards, you may have a pest problem like I did. Found droppings, nests and a hole in wall under floor boards from old plumbing works that haven't been sealed up. In my case a few of the neighbours 'pets' (mice, her house is awful and falling apart and she is too lazy/ mad to sort it) migrated to mine. Look for any holes in the walls and fill with wire wool (rodents hate chewing it). Baking soda and peppermint oil are supposed to help with the smell.

CarpetSlipper · 02/05/2023 22:57

Sounds like the identifying the source of the water may give some clues.
If not, do the neighbours smoke weed? I once had some neighbours who did and it made my house stink (terraced house). Alternatively, have you painted the room in the last year? Paint can be contaminated with bacteria and smell like cat piss! This happened to me and it only smelled when the weather warmed up which was months after painting.

HeidiUpTheMountain · 02/05/2023 22:55

If you have unexplained water don’t rest till you find the source - it will be very dangerous, disruptive and expensive if it results in a fallen ceiling or worse. If you have a tank in the loft which might be the culprit, make sure it’s properly checked over.

mrsbyers · 02/05/2023 22:55

Wet underlay really stinks

CC4712 · 02/05/2023 22:52

Could 1 of the toddlers urinated on the carpet?

Stardust75 · 02/05/2023 22:51

Could one of your children had a sleep walking pee somewhere? I had a similar mystery smell incident when my son was a toddler, found a toy truck with rancid wee in the room......lovely!

Leicestershiremum · 02/05/2023 22:51

SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:32

Definitely no dead mouse. (Thank god!)

I have discovered some damp carpet. Could that be the cause? I have no idea where it’s come from as we’ve been out all weekend

How old is the house? Might be damp against the wall behind the wardrobe due to lack of ventilation, which can be worse in an older house and it could seep into the carpet. Or could it be a leaking pipe under the floor boards?

Thepooroldwolfisdead · 02/05/2023 22:51

It will be something plastic and old. A washing basket, a light fitting, a plastic storage basket etc. For some reason certain plastics smell like BO when they get old. I thought for ages that it was the washing and then I realised it was actually the basket itself. Sniff your way around the room and eventually you will track it down.

Original poster
SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:50

Ericabro · 02/05/2023 22:48

if you have a water tank in the loft it could be overflowing or a pipe for water to come out of on the outside wall maybe look up at the celing x

That’s a quite likely source. The tank is in the loft above the bedroom.

OP posts:
Original poster
SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:49

No bison. I did spot a creature that resembled Mr Tumnus but he didn’t smell so I left him be

OP posts:
Ericabro · 02/05/2023 22:48

if you have a water tank in the loft it could be overflowing or a pipe for water to come out of on the outside wall maybe look up at the celing x

HerodAntipasti · 02/05/2023 22:47

Is there a bison hiding in the wardrobe?

Original poster
SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:40

No Cat (unless a sneaky one has decided to move in and I’ve not noticed yet)

No Weed (children are preschoolers and I’m like a bloodhound with my nose so would have recognised that straight away)

I don’t think it’s the lights. I’ve had a dodgy light before that smelt and it’s different to that.

I’ve also let DP off the hook now as he’s been at work all day so definitely couldn’t have caused it.

I’m leaning towards the damp carpet being the source….

now to solve the mystery of how/why it’s damp!

OP posts:
MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 02/05/2023 22:39

SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:32

Definitely no dead mouse. (Thank god!)

I have discovered some damp carpet. Could that be the cause? I have no idea where it’s come from as we’ve been out all weekend

Is there a cat flap? A Tom decided to mark his territory in my house 😡 but I'd assume you'd know as cat piss stinks!

MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 02/05/2023 22:37

NeatCompactSleeper · 02/05/2023 22:11

Light bulb?

I bought a new bedroom lamp once and the whole room smelled like rancid prawns for ages.

This. If a light fitting goes dodgy, it smells like fish, plastic fish. Rotting fish.

IamSuperTired · 02/05/2023 22:35

My husband smells like this sometimes :) or his clothes do. It's horrid. It seems to come in little phases. Smell not been around for about 6 months now, but I know it'll be back at some point. It makes me feel v ill. But yes, it's a sweet sweaty smell and I hate it. I've never mentioned it to him (well, I've tried subtle comments ... ) and have yet to figure out what causes it! But I have definitely pin pointed that he is the culprit!

WinterCarlisle · 02/05/2023 22:35

Have you got any cut daffodils or lilies in the house? I think they can sometimes give off a weird smell

TheSpottedZebra · 02/05/2023 22:34

Sorry, partner not husband

Whatkindofuckeryisthis · 02/05/2023 22:33

SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:32

Definitely no dead mouse. (Thank god!)

I have discovered some damp carpet. Could that be the cause? I have no idea where it’s come from as we’ve been out all weekend

Cat piss?!

TheSpottedZebra · 02/05/2023 22:33

Weed?
Your husbands, or your children's if teens?

Original poster
SomethingSmells · 02/05/2023 22:32

Definitely no dead mouse. (Thank god!)

I have discovered some damp carpet. Could that be the cause? I have no idea where it’s come from as we’ve been out all weekend

OP posts:
TitoMojito · 02/05/2023 22:14

PieMashLiquor · 02/05/2023 22:07

Only because I may or may not have once wedged a cheese sandwich down the side of my mattress and forgot about it

Okay but why though? You can't just leave us with no context hahaha