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Help me unravel this mystery before I burn the contents of this room down

315 replies

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 11:39

As the title says, I am feeling like purifying this room through fire after a week of cleaning. washing and replacing stuff has proved unsuccessful to remove the stench a short term lodger left behind.

The room was spring cleaned before his arrival. He was around for 3 weeks. He had massively smelly feet (I said that as the mother of a sporty smelly child that I could barely stand at times, but this is in a different league, more than ten times worse and resistant), after a week around I asked him if he could do something about the smell stench, he apologised (he was lovely and polite otherwise) and said he would get odour eaters to sort it.

It didn’t make a difference so, as I had told him when I rent the room that I would be going in to open the window to ventilate the room every morning, I got the super strength version of Odor Eaters and sprayed all his shoes every morning and left the window open the whole day. This helped the smell not to extend to other rooms as before.

The last of his 3 weeks, he had a cold so stayed at home, therefore I was unable to spray shoes if open the window. He left the room tidy but the stench is still there. It smells as if you have crossed bad smelly feet with buttery toffee and is of such strength you feel like vomiting.

The room was also left covered in some white fluff, very similar to the fluff you may find under the bed if you don’t clean for years, but it was EVERYWHERE, all around the floor, walls, furniture, picture frame and a lot of it has gone into the radiator. I cannot imagine such amount of fluff being produced in three weeks, much less so by a single person no matter how dirty they could be.

I have removed more than bucket load of fluff, vacuum cleaned and washed the walls, floors, furniture and the inside out of the radiator, used a whole can of Odor Eaters, Oust and a full bottle of Ecover as well as leaving the window open every day, one week later the stench is now a smell but is still unbearable.

I have bought a new duvet and pillows. But I am convinced that this situation can be due to either an endocrinology related issue or bacteria, and therefore not safe. Shall I burn all the bed linen? the whole room? I am at the end of my tether, have spent a week cleaning and again every day over the last week and the smell is still there.🤮🤮🤮🤮

OP posts:
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NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 18:01

Oneearringlost · 21/03/2024 17:46

Are you sure the white fluff isn't lagging/insulation from your attic that is being brought down through a small hole in the lodger's room by rodents that have died and are decomposing?
That's what happened to us until we got pest control in.

Nope, my attic insulation is brown and new, the previous one was pink.

OP posts:
GasPanic · 21/03/2024 18:00

Mirabai · 21/03/2024 17:56

If there’s more white fluff this morning then it’s clearly nothing to do with this man. He left a week ago.

Well it's possible he bought some sort of fungus or spores with him and now it is growing.

Generally mould/fungi need moisture to grow so it may be that you can stop it by drying the room out with a dehumidifier.

Edit : google white mould.

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:59

Tagyoureit · 21/03/2024 13:56

Is there anything stuck down the back of the radiator?

Fluff, lots of it, it looked as if the wall behind the radiator has been carpeted (bit of an exaggeration there), I removed it last night, filled two containers of the vacuum cleaner just from it. This room was spring cleaned just a month ago, I had cleaned the radiator then!😵

OP posts:
XFiler · 21/03/2024 17:58

I’d get a specialist end of tenancy cleaner to fumigate and remove the bed

Mirabai · 21/03/2024 17:56

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:54

Sadly, yes. I moved the bed and vacuum cleaned and washed the floor under it on Sunday. There was quite a bit more fluff under it this morning. It might be coming, however, from my efforts to clean and disinfect the radiator last night.

He used to leave his shoes by the radiator, wonder if the smell has travelled up to wall and ceiling. The wall I have already washed, but I cannot reach the ceiling, is a Victorian house after all...

If there’s more white fluff this morning then it’s clearly nothing to do with this man. He left a week ago.

HowDoWeDoThisPlease · 21/03/2024 17:55

This stuff is really good op. Some pet odour neutralisers are converter than others. With enzyme sprays like this sometimes keeping the area damp with product for longer gives it time to work.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Simple-Solution-Extreme-Stain-Remover/dp/B0002I9OA2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=S6SZ8024NH16&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nVj6hcj27bs6n6knVPDLkHulIPFTBTEmnyUjcP-CoQ0K5hSR8g1qgNMtZLGAInNQvL4OXUHlPtygE0VFWuvetykmNtkbd3YLOHH8mG_T4MK48lJz0lkGYtj1aMiiXhvd1W3EPaAhW2CcXyzvX4EK3AWhsI7wmuQJW9ahDIelt6VZKSWfoXVQUt9zBtDsVnZop-P2yctP_XuxGefcWyQtW8Pn_-cLVS6v1EUoKzkUmvU9vunlaBhK4jRqlpZOaPtFR8rDiEa09CmarpeDEbvNqRm7ApBVuficU9RFWVnWLQE.WSaqiSbZXLUcoIV7CN-hLKsDJm5bOKlg73YNgkW4648&dib_tag=se&keywords=Simple+solution+extreme&qid=1711043559&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=simple+solution+extreme%2Cpets%2C70&sr=1-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Also, washing things (careful with carpets as it might stain or remove colour)with a solution of water and biological washing powder or liquid can help remove odour. Rinse really well after obviously.

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:54

WhingeInTheWillows · 21/03/2024 13:44

Is the white fluff actually fluff? Some types of mould have that wispy fluff type look. Has any more of it appeared even after cleaning?

Sadly, yes. I moved the bed and vacuum cleaned and washed the floor under it on Sunday. There was quite a bit more fluff under it this morning. It might be coming, however, from my efforts to clean and disinfect the radiator last night.

He used to leave his shoes by the radiator, wonder if the smell has travelled up to wall and ceiling. The wall I have already washed, but I cannot reach the ceiling, is a Victorian house after all...

OP posts:
DrJoanAllenby · 21/03/2024 17:54

As soon as I noticed the smell I would have asked him to leave. That's just unacceptable.

Remove and chuck carpet, wipe over everything with bleach and get rid of all soft furnishings including mattress and pillows and any rugs.

tolerable · 21/03/2024 17:49

@Begsthequestion injecting with a needle thing syringe.
no idea of likelyhood of any narcotic infused lurking odour issue tho. not my specialist subject.
Ohhhhhhh @NotAgainWilson .Im sure i "invested"in some sort of uv sanitiser wand that claimed kill bacteria.(and odors)
it wasnt a wand.
it was a glow up handheld tube that folded in half...I WANTED a wand. Maybe if "short term"guests regular would be worth a shot ?

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:49

Andthereyougo · 21/03/2024 17:40

Bedding. —- wash in Ariel pods and add white vinegar.
As pp advised, sprinkle bicarb on the mattress. Leave windows open overnight. Cold air will help.

Done. I always use vinegar as a softener so I assume the bedding is safe (now) but although the duvet and pillows do not smell (at least from a distance as I am not putting my nose anywhere near them), I cannot bring myself to let any other person use them in case it is a bacteria that can transfer to another person's skin.

OP posts:
Oneearringlost · 21/03/2024 17:46

Are you sure the white fluff isn't lagging/insulation from your attic that is being brought down through a small hole in the lodger's room by rodents that have died and are decomposing?
That's what happened to us until we got pest control in.

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:46

OlderandwiserMaybe · 21/03/2024 15:47

Hi @NotAgainWilson It does sound like you've tried everything.

Is it possible that the smell is not down to you smelly foot lodger at all?? Is there any possibility that a rat has got under your floorboards and died? (could if even got in via one of your neighbours you may not even be aware of them. They cause a terrible stink

With that smell, I am surprised my dog has not died as yet.

OP posts:
SheSheSheShe · 21/03/2024 17:43

This stuff works.

It's stink for a few days but once the horrid smell of the spray is gone the other smells will be too!

When I moved in my bedroom stunk of smoke and other stuff. 2 rounds of this and it was gone.

Help me unravel this mystery before I burn the contents of this room down
Andthereyougo · 21/03/2024 17:40

Bedding. —- wash in Ariel pods and add white vinegar.
As pp advised, sprinkle bicarb on the mattress. Leave windows open overnight. Cold air will help.

veryangrymot · 21/03/2024 17:39

Slice few lemons and leave in a room for a day with windows and doors shut.
We have a nephew with stinky feet. I insist he keeps his shoes on at all times when he visits.
The stench is 😱

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:39

PoochiesPinkEars · 21/03/2024 13:47

This should pique their professional curiosity then and it can be at the cutting edge of science, could end up with unintended consequences like a new cure for cancer via some weird property or other of this exciting discovery.

Wait!!!
You probably know if this already, but can you send a swab... They are looking for weird things here...

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/public-engagement/swab-send#:~:text=Help%20us%20hunt%20for%20the%20next%20antibiotic!&text=If%20you%20choose%20to%20give,literally%20be%20on%20your%20doorstep.

I'm not even joking. 😁😁😁🤓🤓🤓

The new penicillin! Bred in my very own house! Not the way I would like to go in history but... sigh*

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 21/03/2024 17:38

I bet he had really bad Athletes foot, and that white fluff was skin cells sloughing off. When I had a really bad auto immune reaction to something my feet were flaking so badly I used to have to empty my socks every night for months. Was like a bucket of sand hitting the bin. Yes, it really was that gross!!

Get some Athletes Foot spray, or talc, and dose the main areas.

PuppetQueen · 21/03/2024 17:37

Did you redecorate just before he moved in? There is a paint which is notorious fir being smelly...Valdspar, I think it's called. Could it be that?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40655163

B&Q store

B&Q in payouts over bad paint smells

The DIY chain is to compensate people who experienced bad smells after using Valspar paint.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-40655163

NotAgainWilson · 21/03/2024 17:33

InterestedinEfteling · 21/03/2024 13:38

It just sounds like athlete's foot on steroids. How disgusting. The fluff was probably not fluff it was probably flakey skin off his rotten feet. This would put me off lodgers forever.

Same, if I was not surviving (partially on that income) this would be my absolute last one. The others have been great, great company and very good interesting conversation, this one as well, but good grief... how could he leave the room like that is beyond me.

OP posts:
MikeRafone · 21/03/2024 17:30

go and purchase a bag of onions

cut two onions in half

leave around the room

the onions will help to absorb the smell, they really do
after 2 days through away onions and replace with new fresh onions

you'll notice the onions have absorbed the smell and look different

Uniqueusername2 · 21/03/2024 17:24

Coffee beans ? I heard they absorb smells

Begsthequestion · 21/03/2024 17:24

@tolerable What's jaggin?

Mirabai · 21/03/2024 17:23

Shiveringinthecountry · 21/03/2024 17:09

Vampire? 🤔🧛‍♂️

Yes.

tolerable · 21/03/2024 17:20

Might be way off-had the misfortune of flat share years ago with a (didnt stay secret long)addict. the lint\fluff could be maybe off cottonballs "filter" used for jaggin?... do it smell smell too?

Blackalice · 21/03/2024 17:13

Mama2many73 · 21/03/2024 12:14

According to a pest exterminator 'that ain't a mouse!' Mice are so small they don't decompose and smell so it's either a rat or many mice! Didn't make me feel much better!😔

Trust me, when one of my daughter's pet mice died the smell was horrific and we found her after a day or so so I dread to imagine if any longer. I can still remember the smell 🤢