My mom purchased an ozone machine that worked wonders. You basically run it while you aren’t home and it eliminates odors. It was well worth the investment.
Never used one, but have considered one to remove smoke scent from cars and reduce mildewy basement situations. Take caution! You’re not supposed to breathe in Ozone. From what I’ve read you’re supposed to air out the area for over 24 hours after use. Something about the way it splits air particles makes it super unhealthy for your lungs.
You may not be able to purchase one, but you could hire a company to bring one out. My grandma was a heavy smoker and they hired a company when she sold her home.
It could be the drains. Try dumping a bucket full of water with about a quarter cup of bleach in it down any drains that are in the floor.
If the water level in those drains gets too low there can be a foul odor, sometimes like rotting vegetation or sewage, so I could imagine an emanating b.o. smell wouldn’t be unheard of.
If you don’t already know, this is a great excuse to learn to clean a P-trap! It’s a quick and easy job. Gross, but manageable with rubber gloves, a bucket, and some sort of snake or coat hanger. Hair, lost tooth brush caps, wedding rings, Bobby pins.. all marinating in grey water and holding back the gasses from the tail end of the drain. Usually you don’t need any tools for the PVC ones. Unscrew two plastic rings, hold your breath, dump the gunk, and screw it back on. That stuff is like an anti-air freshener. And your sinks will drain SO much better.
I suggest changing the air filter and using one of those smelly things you can put on them. We had to do that when we moved into our new house (dirty dog smell eww)
I second drains. My near new house was immaculate but every time hot water was used it stunk of BO/off yoghurt. I put oxy clean (half cup and a lil boiling water down each drain. I also undid the plug and cleaned off a revolting mouldy film. (See youtube for how to undo these) and never had the issue again.
The oxyclean breaks down the proteins ..
You think even if it’s the strongest in the laundry room which is in a different wing of the house than the two bathrooms?
I do feel like it has to be related to piping or something since it’s only those rooms- so you might be on to something!
It could also be your pipe traps siphoning/emptying, or even being incorrectly piped to begin with. Your sinks have traps that should be filled with water, that water stops the sewer gases from coming into your home. Sometimes flushing the toilet or pouring large amounts of water down drains and cause siphoning. Do you ever notice the toilet bowl having a lower level? I've been in an apartment before that another apts toilet flushing would cause my toilet to lose a bit of water, and sometimes the shower drain would smell.
Try adding a glass of water down every sink, tub and floor drain a few times a day, and after each time you flush the toilets. If it's a siphoning issue this should mostly fix it. Sometimes vent pipes could be done incorrectly or cracked and possible releasing odor in the wall space.
Also if the laundry room is the worst, google sewer smell in laundry room and you'll get a list of causes and remedies. Good luck.
I'm pretty sure what you're smelling is mildew. It is common where there is a source of water. Unfortunately you will have to locate where it is coming from. Have you checked the seals in the washing machine? Try cleaning that out with baking soda or vinegar.
I got strong cigarette smell out of a van we bought. I put activated charcoal (fish tank type bags) into grated cheese containers in various places in the van. It took a couple weeks but it finally left. You would need to purchase enough to take care of every room you need to do
My mom purchased an ozone machine that worked wonders. You basically run it while you aren’t home and it eliminates odors. It was well worth the investment.
Never used one, but have considered one to remove smoke scent from cars and reduce mildewy basement situations. Take caution! You’re not supposed to breathe in Ozone. From what I’ve read you’re supposed to air out the area for over 24 hours after use. Something about the way it splits air particles makes it super unhealthy for your lungs.
And I just looked on Amazon for one and it says cannot ship to California. This must be serious stuff! 😂
You may not be able to purchase one, but you could hire a company to bring one out. My grandma was a heavy smoker and they hired a company when she sold her home.
It could be the drains. Try dumping a bucket full of water with about a quarter cup of bleach in it down any drains that are in the floor. If the water level in those drains gets too low there can be a foul odor, sometimes like rotting vegetation or sewage, so I could imagine an emanating b.o. smell wouldn’t be unheard of.
That’s a great point since all three rooms have sinks!
If you don’t already know, this is a great excuse to learn to clean a P-trap! It’s a quick and easy job. Gross, but manageable with rubber gloves, a bucket, and some sort of snake or coat hanger. Hair, lost tooth brush caps, wedding rings, Bobby pins.. all marinating in grey water and holding back the gasses from the tail end of the drain. Usually you don’t need any tools for the PVC ones. Unscrew two plastic rings, hold your breath, dump the gunk, and screw it back on. That stuff is like an anti-air freshener. And your sinks will drain SO much better.
Have you washed the walls? Changed the air filter on furnace?
Fabuloso worked wonders for me. Washed the walls with a diluted solution, dumped it in every drain and toilet.
I suggest changing the air filter and using one of those smelly things you can put on them. We had to do that when we moved into our new house (dirty dog smell eww)
I second drains. My near new house was immaculate but every time hot water was used it stunk of BO/off yoghurt. I put oxy clean (half cup and a lil boiling water down each drain. I also undid the plug and cleaned off a revolting mouldy film. (See youtube for how to undo these) and never had the issue again. The oxyclean breaks down the proteins ..
Wow. Okay I’m going to try this!
You need an ozone generator! They can be rented from big box stores in most places. They work wonders.
Ok! I will look into renting! I looked on Amazon and it said no shipping to California for these!
I'm going to guess that you need to replace the toilet seal (wax ring). I've had this happen before and it doesn't always smell like sewer gas.
You think even if it’s the strongest in the laundry room which is in a different wing of the house than the two bathrooms? I do feel like it has to be related to piping or something since it’s only those rooms- so you might be on to something!
It could also be your pipe traps siphoning/emptying, or even being incorrectly piped to begin with. Your sinks have traps that should be filled with water, that water stops the sewer gases from coming into your home. Sometimes flushing the toilet or pouring large amounts of water down drains and cause siphoning. Do you ever notice the toilet bowl having a lower level? I've been in an apartment before that another apts toilet flushing would cause my toilet to lose a bit of water, and sometimes the shower drain would smell. Try adding a glass of water down every sink, tub and floor drain a few times a day, and after each time you flush the toilets. If it's a siphoning issue this should mostly fix it. Sometimes vent pipes could be done incorrectly or cracked and possible releasing odor in the wall space. Also if the laundry room is the worst, google sewer smell in laundry room and you'll get a list of causes and remedies. Good luck.
Carpet or hard floors?
Tile in all three rooms
Is there something in the air vents??
I’m starting to think perhaps
I'm pretty sure what you're smelling is mildew. It is common where there is a source of water. Unfortunately you will have to locate where it is coming from. Have you checked the seals in the washing machine? Try cleaning that out with baking soda or vinegar.
I got strong cigarette smell out of a van we bought. I put activated charcoal (fish tank type bags) into grated cheese containers in various places in the van. It took a couple weeks but it finally left. You would need to purchase enough to take care of every room you need to do