PLEASE HELP! WE ARE THE SMELLY FAMILY! WHAT CAN I DO??

[debka]

My mum just said that my house, me, DH and DDs have a distinctive and not-entirely-pleasant smell. DD1 is 3 and my mum is worried that she will be The Smelly Girl in school :(

I am horrified at this. I had no idea.

DDs are small and I am a SAHM. I probably don't clean enough- probably a good going over once every 3 weeks a fortnight. Clothes all washed frequently. Girls bathed daily, I shower every other day.

DH, however, is another matter. He has a wash and cleans his teeth every day, but only showers about once a month, if that. Underwear changed daily, t-shirt probably twice a week. I don't notice him smelling, but apparently he does :( I will talk to him about it but I doubt he will do anything. If I get the house and linen etc in tip top sparkly condition will he infect it all with smelliness? :(

Please, any ideas, advice, encouragement very welcome.

True valium

Can I please not imagine the pant skiddies.....

I agree ihaveafeature - there is a very distinctive odour to damp clothes and clothes that have been put away ever so slightly damp.

My mum was married to a leaker, he always had piss stains in his pants, and the skids were horrendous. She used to use a nail brush to clean them. I hate to think about the state of the OP;s husbands pants. How embarrassing being told you are the stinky family.

My nose is going through a veritable medley of imagined smells....

Sweaty bollox just gave way to that vile put away damp smell....

Well yes, but at least the OP is being very proactive and good humoured and very tolerant! about things :)

The Op is not the smelly one though, its the husband!

A ^Leaker? Dear God.

Yes I know but she is being very good humoured about getting things sweet smelling again!

Thats easy kick the husband out!

I'm putting debka forward for Cannonisation.

Seconded!

OP take to stealing his clothes when he's in bed and putting them in the washing machine before he has the chance to object. By the time he's realised you've changed his routine, he'll be used to it.

Also I hate to ask this but is he a guffer? If so look at his diet and improve it if you can. Beer/onions/lack of veg/lots of stodge a chuffer make!

And WASH THE DARN DOG!

Fab, you are not so very helpful. The Op has laid bare her life virtually. shut up now please.

I wonder if debka just doesn't have a very sensitive sense of smell. Dh doesn't and I do, I'll be "what is stinking the house out" and he can't smell it!!!

Has it's uses, he does all the vomit and stinky toilet cleaning

Hope your dh gets into the habit of daily showers, dh isn't keen as he gets cold but I just nag and nag and nag if he doesn't stay smelling fresh!

I doubt he smells that bad to be honest or debka would be able to smell him,I'm sure.No one would sleep with someone who's truly festering.We all smell a bit sometimes.

Countess I think sadly it's very easy to become immune to smells. We are supposed to be something like 5 times less able to smell our own smell because of familiarity. (can't remember where I read that) So debka's dh could stink and she wouldn't notice.

Debka it sounds like you are doing a great job tackling this. I am a huge fan of airing my house - even when I don't notice it's getting a bit fusty it is so noticeably different after having the windows open for a bit. I love the smell of good old fresh air.

Putting a bit of essential oil on lightbulbs and radiators is supposed to make rooms smell nice too, and is inexpensive.

Fabby. Do you have some kind of cheesy bollock fetish?

If not, will you just shut the fuck up.

The OP has asked for help and you shitty comments aren't helping I Imagine.

OP, well done on taking on board the advice given.

I've certainly picked up some handy housekeeping hints from this thread and I'm sure others have too. OP I think you are handling the situation and the advice very well (ignore Fabby, she's a right cuntybollocks and generally unhelpful).
I'm sure once you get your DH showering more regularly the problem will sort itself. Could you indulge in something a bit special on the toiletries front as an incentive? I might be a bit odd, but I actually look forward to my next shower if I'm treating myself to the expensive shower gel.

Helpful clothes drying tip and mouldy house helper: A dehumidifier. Ours is a life saver. Drys the clothes, warms the room, gets rid of the mouldy smell. I don't think they cost much to run.

here

Hi debka

My mum has dogs and she bought a vax carpet washer. It really does help if you have pets.

Also, you can get rid of mould by spraying it with diluted bleach, which is what most mould sprays contain anyway.

I would also recommend getting rid of the deep fat fryer if you have one - the smell lingers for ages.

Also, getting a tumble dryer and using those nice smelly dryer sheets. I use mine for bedding and towels mainly. For other washing, I put a heater in my airing cupboard, along with some rails and dry clothes on hangers, in there. Better than having them dry in the living room (and might help the damp problem).

I would put the dc duvets and pillows in the washing machine and would bin yours tbh and get new ones. I replace my duvet twice a year, because I live nowhere near a launderette and cannot fit it in the washing machine at home.

Best of luck

I would think debka would hopefully take Fabby's comments as lightheartedly as she has previous similar comments, mine included.

I also pointed out that I bet debka doesn't suck his cheesy cock pages back so let's not all tear fabby a new one eh, she might be blunt but she's right.

Can we try not to get personal. The op really doesn't need it.

Don't worry, I know what fabby is like, I am Rising Above in a saint-like manner

I shook and vacced yesterday, (actually DH did ), gave the bathroom a bleach and Aired Thoroughly. My sis came round and said it smelt considerably better, so progress seems to be being made.

Think I'll be having a look at the launderette for laundering the duvet this week.