Table of Contents
Pet Odor: The Problem
The whole house is permeated by a strong “wet dog” odor, which is very clearly strongest in the basement. Presumably it is coming from the carpet down there, but we can't rule out the drop ceiling tiles or the paint.
The previous owners hired Paul's Carpet Cleaning to perform a professional cleaning, which they did on July 9th 2021. This was done shortly before our first viewing of the home, and there was a single dehumidifier left in the basement afterwards. The odor persisted and remained just as strong on August 13th, when we took possession of the house.
Pet Odor: First Attempted Solution
Opening windows helped significantly to air out the rest of the house, but the smell remained strong in the basement. The basement windows were left open from August 13th to August 26th in the hopes that fresh air would help. This was during an especially dry period of summer.
The smell remained strong on August 15th, so using a garden sprayer we liberally applied OdorXit to the whole carpet. The next day after the carpet had dried the smell was dramatically reduced, but still present. We applied a second dose of OdorXit using the same method, focusing particularly on the stairs where the odor seems strongest. We also left a fan running to aid in the drying process.
The carpet dried fully, and the smell is much improved, but remains present.
Pet Odor: Current
After we began closing the windows on August 26th, the smell seems to be reasserting itself. It is notable when first entering the house, though we do get used to it fairly quickly. It seems strongest on the stairs, and is not present at all in the downstairs bedroom.
