A couple's first home in Wales came with an unwelcome surprise when they discovered a lingering dog smell despite the absence of carpets or furniture.
Three large dogs had lived in the house, so the new owners turned to Reddit's r/CleaningTips forum for advice before moving in with their skittish cat.
Here's what to know
According to the original poster, the odor had no apparent connection to urine. "The entire place reeks of them," they wrote. "The whole house just smells strongly of dog."
They added: "I believe it has been professionally cleaned already, so I really don't know what the next step should be. My husband deployed air fresheners throughout when he visited this weekend, but I know those will be of limited use.
"Any suggestions would be welcome. … I'm at a loss."
Commenters encouraged the couple to look to the walls, floors, and heating equipment. One suggested wiping the walls and mopping the floors with an enzyme cleaner. Another recommended washing visible marks.
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"Ozone machine," someone else said. "You'll have to evacuate all living things, but it's worth it."
Another user wrote: "The house I bought has baseboard heaters, and WOW were they ever PACKED with dog hair! I can't imagine how much the place reeked every time those heaters kicked on for the previous owners. Anyway, disassembling and cleaning them made a massively significant difference in the smell of the place."
A third commenter echoed this idea, adding: "You will probably need to have your ducts cleaned. Especially the returns."
Other suggestions included deep-cleaning crevices and applying primer before repainting.
Where can I learn more?
Other homeowners have also had to track down lingering smells or repair damage left by pets.
• A U.K. family removed dog-smelling carpet and discovered damp floors beneath it, with repairs unaffordable.
• A first-time homebuyer encountered a "musty or death" smell after switching on the air conditioning.
• A homeowner traced a musty smell to the crawlspace, prompting calls for a structural engineer.
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