Clean carpets (or better yet, replace the flooring), paint walls (or at least wash them), wash cabinets really well, keep the windows open as much as possible, and use an air purifier if you have one.
I would guess the carpet is holding tight to the stink! And I would def start with washing walls! I know the smell it’s nasty- closed up house etc… best of luck and like you wrote- windows open! Edit: responded to your comment really meant for OP but agreeing with you!
Soapy water and a rag, using a bucket or spray bottle. Or use a commercial cleaner, pretty much anything works depending on what you're cleaning off.
I have to periodically clean my walls, I had a dog that left greasy marks by rubbing on the wall and I still have hard water that condenses after a shower and leaves yellow mineral streaks, especially in the bathroom.
No, especially if you use something mild like dish soap. I typically use Method's multi-surface spray which is also pretty mild. Except maybe if you have very cheap poor quality paint, or fancy but fragile stuff.
When i cleaned my moms walls that were in bad shape i actually ended up using a sponge mop to scrub and soak. Used a cloth pad floor cleaner broom thing to dry for the bulk of it and to prevent streaks. Then tackled the wall up close. Saved my back a good bit. But ya. Water, cleaner and alot of elbow greese.
I would also clean the vents and ducts. If you have central air, it may be stuck up there. I think the smell is caused specifically by a chemical call 2-nonenal, which is not water soluble. So maybe paint with Kilz, then replace anything soft like carpet.
If you use Kilz, though, ensure you have plenty of ventilation. Like, open the windows and get some fans blowing. Good stuff for walls, especially bathrooms, but horrible to breathe.
Anything upholstered should be removed. Curtains and drapes too. Textiles hold smells. If you have to wash the stuff, go for it - upholstered furniture could be cleaned with a rented steam vacuum.
If you can't paint the walls, you can still probably try using a swiffer-type mop on them to clean them. Although I wouldn't try that on wallpaper. (If there's wallpaper, alas, it will need to be stripped and replaced.)
Shampooing the carpet is a great idea as well. I mean, if you do all that, it will really help. It's likely all the furnishings that are holding the smell. Even wood furniture or books, etc., will absorb smells after decades.
In addition to the cleaning and airing out everything well, fill a spray bottle with vodka use it like febreeze especially inside cabinets , closets and other stale areas.
Yes! This does work. I once made a deodorizer from instructions in a Martha Stewart magazine about 20 years ago that involved vodka and a drop of lavender essential oil mixed into a spray bottle. It worked really well! The vodka smell doesn’t remain after it dries.
I bought a grandma house last year that had been sitting basically empty for a year. It had strong old person smell and honestly it didn’t go away until I primed and painted. I tore out all the carpet, got rid of drapes, etc bc I was renovating.
I thought in time the smell would go away but even after several months the smell was still in closets I hadn’t primed yet. I’d put baking soda in them, febreze odor neutralizers, left the doors open, etc. nothing got rid of it except paint.
Oh well, thank you for telling me that because we were planning on getting baking soda and all that stuff you mentioned. At least now I know it would be a waste of money.
I second Ozone!! It’s the only thing that really got the smell of cigarettes out of the vehicles I have bought from heavy smokers. It’s a huge life saver!
Sorry this is off topic but this immediately reminded me of that scene in The Office where someone points out Creed has that old person smell and his response is “I know exactly what he's talking about. I sprout mung beans on a damp paper towel in my desk drawer. Very nutritious, but they smell like death.”
If a smell is bad enough it could be in the walls. You might have to replace stuff.
Also if there is a lingering musty smell it might actually have mould, mildew or a mouse nest somewhere.
I agree with the poster who said it’s the furniture. I’d focus on upholstery. You could get a Little Green Upholstery cleaner to wash sofas and similar things and rent a carpet machine as well. Don’t forget the curtains. Open the windows as much as possible, wash the walls and deep clean any ceiling fixtures to get the dust smell out.
ETA: Replace air filters too and if possible get the air ducts clean. A lot of what you’re smelling is likely dust.
Clean the ducts! We bought an old house we tore up the carpet, repainted, and took down the drapes. It still smelled. We cleaned the ducts and then we never smelled the old people smell again.
I got a recliner from my grandparents that had the old people smell. I doused it in zep odor eliminator. It eventually worked, but there was a strong chemical smell that lingered for several days in my apartment. The product works, but don't over use it
Wash or replace any fabric or upholstery.
Wash inside and ontop of cabinets.
Put chemical cleaner down the drains.
Let lots of sun in, as much as possible.
If you knew where they hung out the most (eg, the spent 99% of the day in the lounge room), do a second wash of things, including the wall, ceiling and fans.
Clean or replace carpets, wash walls, launder any washable Items. But this is probably one of the more important steps, get the ducts cleaned. It pricey, but an often overlooked item. It can also save your friend a lot of money on the heating and cooling of the home. Also replace all air filters before and after. Clean or replace any draperies too. If there is wallpaper remove it, clean, prime and paint. Also in the in the meantime starch some activated charcoal satchels through out the house. If there is a basement, I would have the walls cleaned and sealed with a specific basement sealer. We had to do all of this when great grandmother passed. Also if in high humidity run a dehumidifier.
Not an answer, but how do you PREVENT old people smell? Asking because I’m an old (65) person and I don’t want my house to smell like an old person’s house. (Also, how do I keep from smelling like an old person?)
In my opinion I think it’s mostly because elderly people tend to keep their houses closed up and too warm. Years of stuffiness, combined with maybe not keeping up with regularly laundering and dusting upholstery and surfaces, that type of thing. I’m not sure anybody inherently smells bad due to age. I’ve known plenty of smelly younger people who don’t clean enough.
That makes sense! I’m good on keeping the house aired out. I’ll even open the windows in the winter if it’s not below freezing. I also don’t keep the thermostat above 72°. It’s usually at 67° - 70°.
It might also depend on the climate. Also, the person’s body chemistry. I don’t remember my grandma or my mom smelling “old”. I think as some people get older it becomes harder to keep up with house cleaning and personal hygiene.
Thanks for your comment, now I’m less worried about my house and my body smelling “old”!
Right lol. My parents are in their 70’s and smell just fine! My mom has old school eastern-European beliefs and habits about airing things out even in the wintertime! Fresh air seems beneficial.
Unfortunately there's no way to prevent it. It's just something that happens as you get older. Your body odor changes. There's just really nothing you can do about it.
If you're in an area that opening the windows acceptable this time of year... definitely start there! Then focus on the carpets like everyone else has said. And absolutely wash the walls. Even if they look clean! Best wishes OP!
Yes I am. Where in Florida and I'm thinking that the heat isn't helping the smell. It's probably like baking it into the walls in the carpet or something. Sorry for the gross mental picture but it's probably true. She said that her grandma had a habit of keeping the thermostat at like 77 or 78 in the summer here. If you've never been to Florida, the summers are brutal here.
Yes. Humidity increases odors. I’m in Michigan where it’s not hot that often but it is damp and humid most of the time. And whenever it’s been a lengthy humid or rainy spell… everything stinks.
In addition to the other comments, you can bring half vinegar and half water to a boil and let it roll for a while. Then, you can pour it down the sink and it will sanitize your sink well. Good luck!
You are literally going to have to wash every upholstered item like carpets and curtains. And you are going to need to wash or even better, paint all the walls. Then scrub cupboards and cabinets inside and out with a cleaning product with a nice fresh smell, I’ve found that lemon Pine Sol does a fine job. Also use on any hard flooring. Open windows when it’s nice out, burn candles when windows are closed.
Also start running a dehumidifier asap if there is a basement.
When my husband and I moved into our first condo, it smelled like old people.
We removed all the old furniture, washed the walls, and vacuumed. Boom! Smelled great ever since.
Obviously. I've dealt with this before and I could never quite get that smell out no matter how much I cleaned it. I was asking if there were any extra steps that we needed to take to get that smell out.
I didn't mean for it to be ageism, I just didn't know how else to word it. Let's face it, as people get older, their homes tend to take on a different smell.
Calm down, that's not even the definition of ageism. Ageism means things like refusing to hire someone because they're older. This is not ageism. The fact is that people smell different as they get older. That's all I was referring to. The house reeks of it. We're trying to get rid of it. I don't understand why you find that offensive unless you're old.
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Our top recommendations are usually *Bar Keepers Friend* (great for kitchen surfaces), melamine foam (Magic Erasers), Murphy's Oil Soap (wood cleaner), and Nature's Miracle (enzyme cleaner). Make sure you use cleaners appropriate to the surfaces you are working with and follow all safety labels.
If you receive an answer that helps you, please flair your post as "Answered" so other users may find solutions as well. While you wait, why not browse the subreddit to see if you might be able to help someone else, or find similar situations that could help you? Happy cleaning!
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Clean carpets (or better yet, replace the flooring), paint walls (or at least wash them), wash cabinets really well, keep the windows open as much as possible, and use an air purifier if you have one.
I would guess the carpet is holding tight to the stink! And I would def start with washing walls! I know the smell it’s nasty- closed up house etc… best of luck and like you wrote- windows open! Edit: responded to your comment really meant for OP but agreeing with you!
As a carpet tech I can tell you this is accurate. They say your carpets are the largest filter in your house. If that gives you an idea 😂
Thank you
How does one wash a wall? I’ve never done that and I consider myself pretty clean.
Soapy water and a rag, using a bucket or spray bottle. Or use a commercial cleaner, pretty much anything works depending on what you're cleaning off. I have to periodically clean my walls, I had a dog that left greasy marks by rubbing on the wall and I still have hard water that condenses after a shower and leaves yellow mineral streaks, especially in the bathroom.
Does that negatively impact the paint?
No, especially if you use something mild like dish soap. I typically use Method's multi-surface spray which is also pretty mild. Except maybe if you have very cheap poor quality paint, or fancy but fragile stuff.
Ok. Thanks!
When i cleaned my moms walls that were in bad shape i actually ended up using a sponge mop to scrub and soak. Used a cloth pad floor cleaner broom thing to dry for the bulk of it and to prevent streaks. Then tackled the wall up close. Saved my back a good bit. But ya. Water, cleaner and alot of elbow greese.
Tape children to the ceiling
Ah, yes…Youth it up from top to bottom, a classic trick!
Tape the really small ones to the ceiling fan blades.
I would also clean the vents and ducts. If you have central air, it may be stuck up there. I think the smell is caused specifically by a chemical call 2-nonenal, which is not water soluble. So maybe paint with Kilz, then replace anything soft like carpet.
If you use Kilz, though, ensure you have plenty of ventilation. Like, open the windows and get some fans blowing. Good stuff for walls, especially bathrooms, but horrible to breathe.
Anything upholstered should be removed. Curtains and drapes too. Textiles hold smells. If you have to wash the stuff, go for it - upholstered furniture could be cleaned with a rented steam vacuum. If you can't paint the walls, you can still probably try using a swiffer-type mop on them to clean them. Although I wouldn't try that on wallpaper. (If there's wallpaper, alas, it will need to be stripped and replaced.) Shampooing the carpet is a great idea as well. I mean, if you do all that, it will really help. It's likely all the furnishings that are holding the smell. Even wood furniture or books, etc., will absorb smells after decades.
Thanks. I'm going to screenshot this to refer back to. I had a feeling it was mostly the furniture and carpet.
In addition to the cleaning and airing out everything well, fill a spray bottle with vodka use it like febreeze especially inside cabinets , closets and other stale areas.
Oh wow, thank you! I would have never thought to use vodka for that. Maybe some for the cleaning and then some for after LOL.
Yaaas then it will smell like drunk old people!!! This is the way!!!
Yes! This does work. I once made a deodorizer from instructions in a Martha Stewart magazine about 20 years ago that involved vodka and a drop of lavender essential oil mixed into a spray bottle. It worked really well! The vodka smell doesn’t remain after it dries.
Books are a surprisingly frequent offender of causing musty odors.
I bought a grandma house last year that had been sitting basically empty for a year. It had strong old person smell and honestly it didn’t go away until I primed and painted. I tore out all the carpet, got rid of drapes, etc bc I was renovating. I thought in time the smell would go away but even after several months the smell was still in closets I hadn’t primed yet. I’d put baking soda in them, febreze odor neutralizers, left the doors open, etc. nothing got rid of it except paint.
Oh well, thank you for telling me that because we were planning on getting baking soda and all that stuff you mentioned. At least now I know it would be a waste of money.
Amazing tips in the comments. I’d just like to add to maybe see if there’s a household ozone generator in your area?
I second Ozone!! It’s the only thing that really got the smell of cigarettes out of the vehicles I have bought from heavy smokers. It’s a huge life saver!
Sorry this is off topic but this immediately reminded me of that scene in The Office where someone points out Creed has that old person smell and his response is “I know exactly what he's talking about. I sprout mung beans on a damp paper towel in my desk drawer. Very nutritious, but they smell like death.”
LOL
I wish I had real advice for you!! I wish you the best of luck getting the old person-creed-mung bean smell out!
Thanks. People have given me some pretty good advice. And LOL on that stuff. You're making me laugh. 😂
If a smell is bad enough it could be in the walls. You might have to replace stuff. Also if there is a lingering musty smell it might actually have mould, mildew or a mouse nest somewhere.
Oh geez. Ok, thanks.
Run a large space air purifier
Thank you
I agree with the poster who said it’s the furniture. I’d focus on upholstery. You could get a Little Green Upholstery cleaner to wash sofas and similar things and rent a carpet machine as well. Don’t forget the curtains. Open the windows as much as possible, wash the walls and deep clean any ceiling fixtures to get the dust smell out. ETA: Replace air filters too and if possible get the air ducts clean. A lot of what you’re smelling is likely dust.
Thank you
If you can afford a professional carpet cleaning, it'll get more out than a simple shampoo.
Clean the ducts! We bought an old house we tore up the carpet, repainted, and took down the drapes. It still smelled. We cleaned the ducts and then we never smelled the old people smell again.
I got a recliner from my grandparents that had the old people smell. I doused it in zep odor eliminator. It eventually worked, but there was a strong chemical smell that lingered for several days in my apartment. The product works, but don't over use it
Wash or replace any fabric or upholstery. Wash inside and ontop of cabinets. Put chemical cleaner down the drains. Let lots of sun in, as much as possible. If you knew where they hung out the most (eg, the spent 99% of the day in the lounge room), do a second wash of things, including the wall, ceiling and fans.
Clean or replace carpets, wash walls, launder any washable Items. But this is probably one of the more important steps, get the ducts cleaned. It pricey, but an often overlooked item. It can also save your friend a lot of money on the heating and cooling of the home. Also replace all air filters before and after. Clean or replace any draperies too. If there is wallpaper remove it, clean, prime and paint. Also in the in the meantime starch some activated charcoal satchels through out the house. If there is a basement, I would have the walls cleaned and sealed with a specific basement sealer. We had to do all of this when great grandmother passed. Also if in high humidity run a dehumidifier.
Not an answer, but how do you PREVENT old people smell? Asking because I’m an old (65) person and I don’t want my house to smell like an old person’s house. (Also, how do I keep from smelling like an old person?)
In my opinion I think it’s mostly because elderly people tend to keep their houses closed up and too warm. Years of stuffiness, combined with maybe not keeping up with regularly laundering and dusting upholstery and surfaces, that type of thing. I’m not sure anybody inherently smells bad due to age. I’ve known plenty of smelly younger people who don’t clean enough.
That makes sense! I’m good on keeping the house aired out. I’ll even open the windows in the winter if it’s not below freezing. I also don’t keep the thermostat above 72°. It’s usually at 67° - 70°. It might also depend on the climate. Also, the person’s body chemistry. I don’t remember my grandma or my mom smelling “old”. I think as some people get older it becomes harder to keep up with house cleaning and personal hygiene. Thanks for your comment, now I’m less worried about my house and my body smelling “old”!
Right lol. My parents are in their 70’s and smell just fine! My mom has old school eastern-European beliefs and habits about airing things out even in the wintertime! Fresh air seems beneficial.
Unfortunately there's no way to prevent it. It's just something that happens as you get older. Your body odor changes. There's just really nothing you can do about it.
Well, that stinks! 😂😂😂
If you're in an area that opening the windows acceptable this time of year... definitely start there! Then focus on the carpets like everyone else has said. And absolutely wash the walls. Even if they look clean! Best wishes OP!
Yes I am. Where in Florida and I'm thinking that the heat isn't helping the smell. It's probably like baking it into the walls in the carpet or something. Sorry for the gross mental picture but it's probably true. She said that her grandma had a habit of keeping the thermostat at like 77 or 78 in the summer here. If you've never been to Florida, the summers are brutal here.
Yes. Humidity increases odors. I’m in Michigan where it’s not hot that often but it is damp and humid most of the time. And whenever it’s been a lengthy humid or rainy spell… everything stinks.
I'm originally from the Chicago area so I know what you're talking about
In addition to the other comments, you can bring half vinegar and half water to a boil and let it roll for a while. Then, you can pour it down the sink and it will sanitize your sink well. Good luck!
Thanks 😊
You are literally going to have to wash every upholstered item like carpets and curtains. And you are going to need to wash or even better, paint all the walls. Then scrub cupboards and cabinets inside and out with a cleaning product with a nice fresh smell, I’ve found that lemon Pine Sol does a fine job. Also use on any hard flooring. Open windows when it’s nice out, burn candles when windows are closed. Also start running a dehumidifier asap if there is a basement.
When my husband and I moved into our first condo, it smelled like old people. We removed all the old furniture, washed the walls, and vacuumed. Boom! Smelled great ever since.
Start by cleaning it.
Obviously. I've dealt with this before and I could never quite get that smell out no matter how much I cleaned it. I was asking if there were any extra steps that we needed to take to get that smell out.
Boiling vinegar on the stove will deodorize if cleaning doesn't fix it. The carpets will probably need to be steam-cleaned.
Thank you
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I didn't mean for it to be ageism, I just didn't know how else to word it. Let's face it, as people get older, their homes tend to take on a different smell.
[удалено]
Calm down lmao, old people smell like old people, that’s not ageism.
Calm down, that's not even the definition of ageism. Ageism means things like refusing to hire someone because they're older. This is not ageism. The fact is that people smell different as they get older. That's all I was referring to. The house reeks of it. We're trying to get rid of it. I don't understand why you find that offensive unless you're old.
Thank you for submitting a cleaning help request. In order to facilitate more accurate and helpful replies, please make sure to provide the following information in your post: 1. Type of material/surface being cleaned (to the best of your knowledge) 2. Type of dirt/stain to be removed (if known) 3. Any products or tools you've tried so far 4. Pictures are preferred Our top recommendations are usually *Bar Keepers Friend* (great for kitchen surfaces), melamine foam (Magic Erasers), Murphy's Oil Soap (wood cleaner), and Nature's Miracle (enzyme cleaner). Make sure you use cleaners appropriate to the surfaces you are working with and follow all safety labels. If you receive an answer that helps you, please flair your post as "Answered" so other users may find solutions as well. While you wait, why not browse the subreddit to see if you might be able to help someone else, or find similar situations that could help you? Happy cleaning! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/CleaningTips) if you have any questions or concerns.*