Smelly big wool rug, DEEP pile

Can you get a powder called Shake n Vac? If so, shake it on liberally then the next day give it a good ole shake outside and leave it in the air fora while... If not I guess talcum powder may work... Cheers.......Cher

Or try doing the same thing with plain baking soda. We did that in a house we rented where a previous tenant had a cat. In the spare bedroom we left it on the carpet for a couple of days and then vacuumed.

BonnieBlue

Plain baking soda will do the same job. Sprinkle it on let it sit for a while and vacume clean.

good luck with it.

Els

I know exactly the smell you mean! I rush right past the rug department at our local Ikea because of it, holding my nose. It smells as bad as the worst sort of mulch that landscapers use around here. What a PONG!

I've had good luck with Febreeze in getting cat odor out of rugs. It really stinks up the house as the odor is released, so apply it outdoors while airing the rug if you can. I had to rush to open windows when I first tried the stuff.

Helen "Halla" Fleischer, Fantasy & Fiber Artist

Curious. That did not work on cat accident smell for me at all.

Helen "Halla" Fleischer, Fantasy & Fiber Artist

Funny, I really dislike Febreze. I have found those rugs at the thrift shop and they didn't smell that bad, so either it does air out eventually or Febreze works. (I'm convinced that everything that arrives at that thrift shop is sprayed with Febreze as it comes in the door.)

I happen to like the smell of Lysol spray, so my first choice (after baking soda) would be to spray it heavily with Lysol.

The usual de-stinking recommendations may not be easy to do with a rug that large - cover with kitty litter for a few days, stuff or wrap with plain unprinted newsprint paper (probably it's the sulfur that does it), air it outdoors if you can (on a sunny day, of course) - either on a clothes line or draped over the car or some outdoor furniture. I don't know, set it up on tent poles... indoors, cover the table in plastic drop cloth and drape it over the table, wash sections at a time...

Have you considered renting a rug shampoo machine? You could use it on one side and then turn it over and use it on the other side.

=Tamar

Hallo Karl Engel [ No pondering about your parents Choise of names !!!!! Brings out loads of Memories !!] Would you by any chance know what wool it is ?? Goats [ short coarse wool] or sheep ,,, Please do not wash it yet ,, and yes air it more , No vinegar yet ,,, lay it on a flat surface for a day or two face down , and see if any Dust comes out than turn it over and lay it flat face up ,,,, Now give itr a small shake ,,, or beat Softly with a stick .. Buy some nice smelling perfume and spray it on the rug ,,, Camel and goat rugs can smell for a long time ... mirjam

Allaya, you make me laugh, vodka ?!!......for cleaning or airing a rug ?......when you are going to use Vodka, I would make it a party for sure and invite all my friends.....LOL

How are you doing.

Els

Hmm...interesting...I wonder if it's anything like the smell I got when I tried to dye a piece of wool with Kool-Aide in my microwave! Blech...that's a poo-ey rank smell I really don't wish to remember.

There are a couple of things that I might suggest. First off, WHERE exactly are you airing the rug out? I don't know if I'd call it a wive's tale exactly, but in Thailand, we air things like this out outside in direct full sunlight. Scientifically speaking, it sort of makes sense since the UV rays seem to do a good job of breaking down some enzymes and killing bacteria that seem to cause these odors. It's just not the same if you air it out indoors. So if you can spare it outside for a couple of days (I'm pretty sure one sunny day will work), I"d try that.

BUT if that doesn't work, I've had some good luck with vodka and lavender essential oil. I'm not sure how well it would work on something as large as your rug with such a thick pile, though. Mix half vodka, half water and a few drops of essential oil (lavender oil or orange oil usually work pretty well). pour in a spray bottle and spray over the area in question. This usually works with things like sweaters and stuff that smell like cigarettes...hopefully it works on gamey smelling rugs as well! :)

Allaya

Karl Engel wrote:

Allaya!!! Another baby? :o))) When is it due? I've been away too long!

Gemini

Allaya, even though it is a long time ago, I do remember that time as well.

We had a great Irish public health nurse who would come to the house once a month. She told me that morning sickness, is brought on, because you have very low blood sugar in the morning. Her advice was have something to nibble on before you get up, or suck a peppermint. It did help me, give it a try, it can not do any harm.

Take it easy and dare I say it, enjoy. These were the best times of my life....Well, with many other best good time to follow...LOL

Hug

Els

Els, when I was pregnant with Matthew and feeling a bit queasy, my aunt told me that she used to such on peppermint candies. I tried it (this was close to Christmas during the first three months, so we had candycanes around) and it helped a lot to settle my upset stomach down. :o)

Gemini

LOL! Well, Els, I figure if all else fails, you'll have a rip-roaring good time while dealing with a funky smell! hehehehehe

All is well so far, except for an unusual exorcist-style morning sickness event in a public bathrom a couple of days ago. hehehe...I guess I'll look back on this and laugh... ;)

Allaya

GEM!!! When on earth did you come back??? I've been away too. I'm three months along now...and I only found out a few weeks ago. Would you believe that I thought I had a really bad stomach flu? hehehhehehe

I'll let you all know more as soon as I find out. I think it will be another several weeks before I know the gender...

So how the heck are you guys doing, anyway?

Allaya

Thanks for the advice, Els...but this is a very impish baby, this one! It doesn't seem to respond to the "normal" avenues of morning sickness remedies. My OB's nurse told me to drink something cold to help. Shoot, I tried everything else, so I thought why not try this? I drank some cold juice. THIS is what got me going! LOL

Allaya