Removing the smell of the last owners of the house

[LePetitMaman]

I know that's not a great title. I just don't know what else to call it.

(It's the similar smell that you get in charity shops, sort of mothbally, and my friend owns a nursing home - it's that smell.)

We are looking to buy a house and the previous owners smell is in there. It's really really strong and you can't live with it. From looking online and researching, it appears it stems from a chemical our skin produces as we reach a certain age, and that's what then permeates everything. There must be more to it than just being "old" so to speak as my nan is nearly 90 and her house doesn't smell at all. However some other relatives in their 80s, have the exact same smell in their house, probably even stronger than the house we're looking at.

Has anyone successfully got rid of this smell without ripping everything out of the house? We'd be replacing a lot of stuff, but it would be nice not to have to replace everything. Online research suggests airing the property isn't enough. Does anyone have direct experience of removing this smell?

Hang in there! It feels depressing but promise it will go away and the pain will be worth it. While it was all happening one thing that helped was a "sanctuary space" I could run away to. That was the bathroom for me. Lots of bubble baths, one thing that smelled nice 😂. Never took so many baths in my life.

Its not unreasonable for OP to try and describe "old people smell", its a specific chemical compound called 2-nonenal. It transfers from skin to all the surroundings and its a very lingering smell.

I'd say your only option op is to

• bin ALL carpets and underlays
• bin all curtains
• wash/scrub all the walls & ceilings
• repaint everywhere including woodwork and ceilings.
• while refurbing air the property as much as possible

You will probably find it takes 2-3 months to completely clear.

So my guess is that this the smell that accompanies hoises which are older and haven't been as well maintained in recent years, rather than an "older people's" smell per se. This can be for multiple reasons. Carpets smell over time as they breakdown and if soft furnishings haven't been washed and changed they too get a funky smell over time. Rooms with full sun on them tend to be the worst as the sun breaks fibres down. Add into the mix, less likely to be aired as people get more infirm, owners that don't manage frequent deep cleans, pets not being cleaned up properly afterwards then houses build up smells over time.

We have taken on a number of houses that probably fall into this category, probate or care home moves, general poor maintenance (not age related), pets etc and the only thing you can do is either buy a different house if it is so off-putting to you, or suck it up and plan to replace everything over time. A fresh lick of paint helps enormously and deep carpet cleans etc. But if there is any chance of historic urine smells trapped into carpets then the smell will have seeped through to the underlay and no amount of airing or cleaning will get rid of it.

It is up to you @LePetitMaman if that is what you want to take on. If not, then this house probably isn't for you.

Yes, I agree with this. It is an odour associated with aging.

I say this as a 63 year old, who is paranoid about it. It doesn’t happen to all - my MIL’s home never smelled of it and she died in her 90s - but my dad’s home did , after mum died, and I think it was not helped by the absence of my mum’s more feminine fragrances.

A skincare line company based in Japan called Mirai Clinical offers a new line of soaps that harness the odor-neutralizing power of persimmon, which experts confirmed to be the key ingredient in eliminating nonenal smell.
The company’s soap products have persimmon extracts that contain abundant quantities of tannin, a chemical found in persimmon and other plants, fruits, vegetables, and other foods that have antioxidant properties. The antioxidants in tannins prevent the formation of musty odors on the skin’s surface.

On top of these products, certain lifestyle improvements can tremendously help reduce nonenal odor. Here are some ways to do it:

• Drink plenty of water
• Wear breathable clothing, such as garments made of cotton
• Take a shower daily
• Get enough sleep
• Eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as Broccoli, sweet potatoes, and squash
• Change bed linens often
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol

The soap is £16 in the USA - I would think that if tannin is the magic answer pouring some cooled tea over yourself in the shower would have the same effect.

Can you get a deep cleaner in? Might be cheaper than binning the carpet?
By a deep cleaner, I mean a crime scene type professional?
Try a dehumidifier. It might just be damp somewhere
simple solution enzyme cleaner might help

I’d never heard of nonenal. That’s both interesting and hugely depressing!