lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
I grew up on a farm. When the barn and the house are fairly close together, it's easy for the house to get that "barn-y" smell. Anyway, I remember one day my brother walked in and said, "This place has housitosis".
I recall being embarrassed about the scent lingering on my clothes at school. It is a wonder I was never bullied about it.
Anyhow, just some background to my paranoia! I am, today, totally obsessed and worried about how my house smells. I have 4 stinky guys here and the odor of their active lifestyles is really noticeable to me.
I'm not well enough to keep a pristine house. I keep it neat but it is not clean, clean. I have a 60's era kitchen and the cabinets exude this funny smell - possibly the smell of decades of cooking.
I feel the wooden staircase smells funny, too. I try orange cleaner on it but the odd odor returns quickly.
My husband says I have an extra-sensitive nose. That is probably true. I can't help but be obsessed about this triviality! No one even comes here to visit me, anyway, so why should I care so much about it?? It really is quite silly.
So how come I'm up at 4 am thinking about it? Sigh.
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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I hear ya... I think mine smells a bit "old" too even though it isn't. I can't burn candles due to hubby's sensitive nose. Mine is almost as bad!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96227 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lymeladyinNY
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Member # 10235
posted
Yeah, hubby won't let me use air fresheners or burn candles. He hates it. Sometimes I sneak some Febreze around the house when he's at work - but the fresh smell doesn't last very long.
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Air fresheners and candles not a good idea. Try essential oil burning in diffuser. Use unscented tea candles.
make sure hubby is okay with your oils. I dilute my oils with water in top of diffuser and one drop of dishwashing liquid. Makes for easier cleaning of diffuser.
You whole house can smell like cloves, spearmint, Tea tree, myrrh (good enough for Baby Jesus, good enough for me).
Aroma lasts much longer than candles. Get good oils from health food store. I bought myself an Essential Oils book. I use in detox baths, use on my grandsons boo boos and all my boo boos.
Guess you can find info on the web. I just wanted to get oil educated. I love them.
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6479 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
I like the idea of burning the oils.
I, too, have become more concerned about how my house smells since coming down sick.
I assume it is because I am not able to clean like I use to and because I am more sensitive to smells now.
When I had my beach house on the market, I read about putting vanilla in the oven and heating it up before prospective buyers came to look around.
I recall getting compliments on the way the house smelled.
But, haven't tried that since coming down sick.
I'd rather the house was just clean and organized again.
I have the hskpr/caregiver dust the carpets with baking soda before vacuuming.
I haven't noticed a difference in smell but it does seem like the carpets fluff up more than they do when she doesn't use the baking soda before vacuuming??
When able, I use ..darn can't think of what it is called right now...
some kind of oil and wood conditioner on the wood.
tried the orange wood product you talked about and it was a waste of money around here.
This other works so much better
OK brain is too inflamed to continue...
I'll come back with the name of the oil when able.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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kam
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 3410
posted
PS When I was a kid, I hated going into the bathroom as that is where my mom kept the laundry basket.
My dad's dirty clothes were rank. I recall reading something when I left home about what to do to keep eliminate that smell in the hamper but can't recall what it was now either.
Posts: 15927 | From Became too sick to work or do household chores in 2001. | Registered: Dec 2002
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I try to keep the house clean, and it is, but we have a dog. An English bull dog.
I tell my husband he reminds me of a fat stinky old man. We give him a shower every 3 days but every time i walk in the door.......woooshh.....that stinky old man smell hits me in the face. ewww.
We only have area rugs, leather couch, so I too use baking soda on the rugs.I do love him though. He's my fat stinky old man.
Posts: 140 | From Phoenix AZ | Registered: Jan 2011
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lymeladyinNY
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10235
posted
Essential oils in a diffuser - great idea!
I hear ya - Kam - can we say "barn clothes". Uggh, did they stink! Had to keep on top of those puppies! Think spilled calf formula, milk, and manure. PU!
Darwinsdream, I love it! He's your fat, stinky old man! Makes me think of my hubby (ha, ha!) But he's Italian, not English!
-------------------- I want to be free Posts: 1170 | From Endicott, NY | Registered: Sep 2006
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I sometimes simmer sliced apples and cinnamon sticks on the stove, smells like apple pie baking. I also simmer orange slices and vanilla or lemons. I also open all my windows, even in the dead of winter. I will shut off the heat for about 20 minutes and open the windows wide open.
-------------------- Down on her knees, she wept on the floor. This hopeless life, she wanted no more. Dead in the mind and cold to the bone, She opened her eyes and saw she was alone. ~Seether Posts: 427 | From Rhode Island | Registered: May 2011
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I do that, too, mom2kids! orange peels, cinnamon, and cloves is a favorite of mine. Throw it on the stove and simmer it for a couple of hours, the smell stays in my kitchen for days!
Posts: 156 | From Virginia | Registered: May 2011
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payne
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 26248
posted
when i know some one is coming over i will make popcorn... the smell lingers for hours I love POPCORN... will have some at my funeral. forever one to enjoy
-------------------- TULAREMIA/rabbit fever ? Posts: 1931 | From mid-michigan | Registered: Jun 2010
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posted
OK well it JUST dawned on me that you were using the word "housitosis" as a spinoff on "halitosis" They don't call me brilliant for nothing!
I love all the ideas here!
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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