Old dusty house and smells?

MoonMama wrote: DH and I inherited his great grandma's house about a year ago (which left some of the family less then happy but that is another issue). We love this house its beautiful and DH has wonderful memories of this house growing up. Its beautiful and the land is wonderful just needs some fixing up. We loved and adored this women but to be honest she was a pack rat and lived alone in this great big house in the mountains for years. So she accumulated a ton of junk to me honest. Some of the rooms in the house were full of junk for year and year some probably 15 plus years.
Anyway for the past year DH and I (with a lot of help from my family ) have been trying to go through everything, clean up the place and fix it up. Well really DH and my parents since finding out I was pregnant. But we plan to live there and sell our current house when this one is finished.
The house is pretty much clear and empty now. Anyway due to sitting for so long and the dust etc. most of the rooms smell dusty and musty KWIM? We tired airing it out and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. We've tried all kinds of stuff. Anyone know of any ways to get the house to smell better and clean the air? I'm scared it will make us sick besides the fact is just plain stinks!

ashtonsmama replied: Febreeze?

That's my answer to everything! Good luck!

MoonMama replied:
Problem with that is I am deathly allergic to Febreeze.

ashtonsmama replied:
Are you serious? How sad! That stuff is my life.

MoonMama replied:
Yep. Ended up in the hospital for 2 days. Of all the things to be allergic too.

mckayleesmom replied: Maybe open up a bunch of baking soda containers and setting them around....Maybe some OUST fans

luvmykids replied: Maybe some air purifiers, the kind you plug in?

ashtonsmama replied:
Bummer!

MoonMama replied:
You know I didn't even think of baking soda. DUH! Thanks.

paradisemommy replied: candles candles candles

amymom replied: An ionization air purifier will work wonders. My DH used to sell them, but doesn't any more. I know that Sharper image sells similar ones and here is a link to a place that I found through google.

ionization

Do some research, there are lots out there, but get a good one.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I think it's called a Baby Rainbow...

it's a bubble container you plug in, it's got water in it and you can add some scented oils too... it filters the air, removes dust, smells etc... works AWESOME.

When we have colds... i put Eucalyptus scented oil in it and run it at night...we all sleep better for it.

MoonMama replied: thanks everyone. Anne Marie thanks for the link I definitely think I am going to look into some of those.

Today was my first day at the house since finding out I was PG and after the painting, cleaning and what not its not as bad as DH was making it out to be. I placed a ton of boxes of baking soda everywhere. Had DH OUST the place well before I got there today. And we ran some Hepa (sp) filters and what not today. I also lit a bunch of sented candles then whet shopping for some house stuff <---excited. It seemed a LOT better when I got back, but I'm still worried that maybe we are just masking things. KWIM? But we'll see and I'm going to look into some ionization air purifiers and see what happens. But DH is so dead set on moving in this weekend.

CantWait replied: Fresh coat of paint on all the walls also will do the trick....Good luck.

holley79 replied: If there is old carpeting inthe house it will make the house musty because of all the dust in the carpeting.

CantWait replied:
Good Point, time for a steam cleaning also.

holley79 replied:
Depending on how old, I would say if possible replace it.

We need new carpeting bad.

MoonMama replied:
All head wood floors. It seems a lot better in the house today.

mom2my2cuties replied:
I take it from this you don't like hard wood flooring???


I think when you have a new baby around you will find it as a lifesaver

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I would personally love to tear up the carpet upstairs and refinish the hardwood floors. But Aaron and I have decided that we will be moving probably in the next year and can't justify that expense. I agree with every other suggestion. Especially the paint on the walls. That really seems to do the trick.

boyohboyohboy replied: I dont have wood floors, but isnt there some products, some sort of oil for cleaning and shining up old hard wood? I would think that should help with the floors, and painting the walls should help with the smell. could the smell becoming from an attic or something left behind? has all the furniture and everything been taken out?
maybe it just takes time, if it took 15 yrs to get there it might need aired out for a long time..