Friends smelly house - how do I tell her?

[MoodyJudy]

Should I?

Or is it a case of live and let live?

Have any of you found a subtle way to say something like this?

Smelly how?

Just never smells fresh - pet food bowls left in kitchen floor for days unwashed - smelly shoes in porch way

Perhaps you need to poo at Paul's house?

Seriously she probably is completely unaware. I have told people in the past (kindly) that there is rather a nasty niff - had they noticed AND helped them sort out the nasty niff. Don't mention it unless you are willing to roll your sleeves up and help.

Live and let live

If she's a good friend I'd be really factual and say something like "I know you won't be able to smell it as our noses get used to it,but I'm sure you'd rather I told you that its a bit whiffy in here".I reckon she'd want to know in what way (well I would) and you can explain nicely,laugh a bit about it,and say I hope you'd tell me.......

Or just make a joke - wrinkle up your nose and make a joke about things being a bit ripe.

Erm,actually maybe tact isn't my best point,but I'd rather someone was more up front and laughing in off than embarrassed and hinting at it.

Oh no. Is it me? We've got an incontinent cat and I spend hours scrubbing and spraying and asking people if it smells

Actually,thinking on,I reckon if someone just dropped hints and skirted around it I'd think they were being snidey and probably go on the defensive.

Do you reckon she would mind her house being a bit smelly (doesn't sound too bad - should smell mine when the dogs wet and we've had cauliflower for tea ) or do you think she doesn't know/doesn't care? If that's the case I'd leave it and take her warts and all and keep her friendship if she's a good 'un.

If you do say something, you must insist that you've only just noticed. So walk in and immediately say " ohhh there's ever such a funny smell in here today, smells like your husbands smelly trainer!"

In other words, keep it light and non personal or don't say it.

I'd buy her scented candles on her birthday, Christmas etc and bemoan the weather ("damn this weather it's a bit cold - I can't open the windows at home to give everywhere a good airing and I hate it when the house smells fusty, don't you?"). I don't think I would risk saying something outright

I fear my house smelling - like that cabbagey aroma that you get in some people's houses (mostly older people's houses and I am not being ageist - perhaps their olfactory senses are age impaired)

Cassettetape - you can lob bicarb of soda on milk stains and they go away.

Older people do lose their sense of smell, we had a gas leak last week and out of all of us, me and the kids could smell it but DH and his mum couldn't at all.

People who smoke or have catarrh can't smell much either.

My aunt once told my mum the house smelled of damp and she got very huff. It did smell, but she was used to it. I was brought in to confirm.
It's a hard thing to do, but needs to be done. Good luck :)

I wouldnt tell her. Shes your friend despite her poor hygiene not because of it. As long as you dont have to live there! omg actually it sounds like my house are pet bowls and shoes bad then?

It's often damp houses that hold the smell.

Don't tell her. She may know and not care.

My car reeks of dog. I accept that because it's my car for taking my wet dog for a walk. If a passenger passed comment it wouldn't bother me desperately but I'd think less of them. I usually apologise as they get in the car tbh but if they made a complaint I suspect I'd offer them the chance to walk

My sister in laws house PONKED of dogs so I bought her a scented candle for every birthday and Christmas

mines I also have pet bowls and smelly shoes around. Also a smelly dog and the place is a bit damp.I have learned, however,on other threads, that air fresheners are the work of the devil,and Yankee Candles dangerous around birds (therefore can't be too good for kids,surely?).Other threads suggest plug in air fresheners are a fire risk.

I'm kind of reckoning if I know any MNetters they'll be outed very soon because they'll be coming around and making vague comments about the aroma.....

I will chase them out with the loo brush.

I agree that if you mention it you should act like it's a novel new thing, you just noticed the smell.

But I wouldn't mention it. It's a petfood bowl, trainer sort of smell, it's not like something is decomposing under her floorboards is it?

I wouldn't mention it.

I'd want to know! I'm paranoid before people pop over and open windows etc just in case. Can't be doing with nasty smells and would absolutely have to know!

I wouldn't mention it to her either.

Honestly I've known some people with some stinky houses...and I've never said a word.