VentilationFilter: My apartment's cramped little bathroom has a small window and no exhaust fan. It's getting cold here in Michigan and I'd rather not open the window to ventilate. Any brilliant ideas short of bashing holes in the wall and ceiling to install a real
exhaust fan?
posted by Xalf
on Oct 13, 2005 -
9 answers
Is there a way to disassociate a memory with a smell? My house burned down in a forest fire when I was a child and now every time I smell smoke from a forest fire, I have an anxiety reaction.
[more inside]
posted by slimslowslider
on Oct 2, 2005 -
13 answers
Is there a greek goddess of olfaction? Or at least some sort of ancient figure associated with perfumes or odors or the nose? (Perhaps with an affiliated myth or story to go along with the association?)
[more inside]
posted by mowglisambo
on Sep 15, 2005 -
7 answers
olfactory filter: I just got over a nasty flu and seem to have recovered an acute sense of smell. I haven't been able to smell stuff in years, and it is starting to freak me out. Everything online discusses loss and neurological problems... have I lost my mind? Regained it?
posted by sgarst
on Aug 30, 2005 -
7 answers
Some rubber-like materials in clothing accessories are emitting strong solvent-like odors. What is it, how can I get rid of it?
[more inside]
posted by Extopalopaketle
on Aug 15, 2005 -
4 answers
I looked at an apartment that seems really great (big, cheap, etc) except for a particular and not quite pleasant bouquet varying in strength and odor from mothballs to 'old house', to just plain stale. Should I be worried? How worried?
[more inside]
posted by ThePants
on Jul 12, 2005 -
9 answers
A friend recently passed away in his sleep and it was several days before he was found. The smell in his apartment was unbearable and permeated everything fabric and upholstered. Most of his furnishings were less than a year old and in barely used condition, including a brand new sofa and love seat. Is there any way to rid them of the smell? So far we’ve tried Odorban and currently have them covered in a thick layer of baking soda. Any other suggestions, or is this a futile effort?
posted by kyrie416
on Jun 27, 2005 -
14 answers
There's a funny smell in our hallway. It smells like fish. Mainly fish, almost coppery, but definitely fish-like. Our hallway is not much wider than the door, and 4 or 5 feet long. There is an entrance to the attic, a radiator, a rug, and our phone in there. It's not the rug. It's not the radiator. It's not the attic. It's not the phone.
[more inside]
posted by ralphyk
on May 29, 2005 -
15 answers
One of my roommates put a pot of chicken on the stove and went downstairs to make some phone calls and answer email and while we were drinking beer on the porch we heard a strange, high-pitched, shrieking whine.
[more inside]
posted by fandango_matt
on May 26, 2005 -
17 answers
I've got a 2003 Mazda Protege5...which, over the past 3 weeks or so, has developed a noticeable fuel odor in the cabin.
[more inside]
posted by tpl1212
on May 18, 2005 -
8 answers
In the last week or two, I have undergone a transition from pleasant-smelling to ripe and rank. Why?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 7, 2005 -
12 answers
its my understanding that stuff generally feels smells tastes or looks good because it benefits our survival. Fats and sugars have energy. Sex continues the species. Good interior design makes you feel safe - etc etc.
So why do flowers 'smell good'?
posted by Tryptophan-5ht
on Jan 30, 2005 -
21 answers
I need to get opinions on perfume, specifically from men, but women's experiences will help as well. (MI)
[more inside]
posted by Ugh
on Dec 23, 2004 -
51 answers
FabricSoftenerFilter. Will using fabric softener reduce the tendency of my clothes to pick up particulate matter from secondhand smoke? I usually avoid the stuff since I'm told the extra chemicals aren't necessarily good for you, but neither is tobacco. Any tips on the relative effectiveness of fabric softener/dryer sheets/vinegar/a piece of aluminum foil appreciated.
posted by grouse
on Dec 4, 2004 -
4 answers
I am a smoker who works at home. Now that the cold weather is here there isn't much air circulation and I stink the place up good. Have you had any success eliminating tobacco odors short of buying an expensive air purifier?
posted by Cryptical Envelopment
on Dec 3, 2004 -
21 answers
ApartmentFunkFilter? I live in Seattle, in a 90+ year old apartment building. It's a great place except that, like most older buildings I've lived in, it's got kind of ... a funk. I don't really know how to describe it, other than the air smells kinda stale, especially when you first walk in. It's getting a little too cold to simply leave the windows open and box fans help to move the air around but don't really do that much to help with the staleness. Plus, the droning of box fans is kind of annoying. Also, we have two cats (and all that that implies...)
I'm curious if the
ionic air purifiers thingies, which seem way overpriced, actually work. Of if there's another (preferably cheaper) way to get cleaner air in my apartment. Is something like the
Hamilton Beach TrueAir what I want?
posted by jimray
on Nov 28, 2004 -
11 answers
We're having a houseguest for a few days. Said houseguest has a digestive problem that results in WAY-stinky bathroom visits, which embarrass her, so she relies on an aerosol air freshener after every visit. Is there a spray that we can provide that's especially effective?
posted by MrMoonPie
on Nov 15, 2004 -
28 answers
I have a friend who stinks. He has horrible breath (he's a chain-smoker), and his clothes and body reek. I'm not sure what to do. It's so bad that many people have commented that it's hard to be around him. But other than the smell, he's a great guy. He's also lonely, and can't get a date. His life would be so much better if he had better hygiene. So what do I do about this? Tell him face-to-face? Send an anonymous email? Do nothing? If I do bring it up, how do I do it sensitively? Added to the problems, he's very poor. He can't even afford a phone. My guess is that part of the problem is that he's trying to save money on laundry. Still, soap is cheap. I'm trying to obey the Golden Rule, but it's hard. If I was the smelly one, I would want to be told, I guess. But I would be SO humiliated! He's in his early 40s. Really smart and literate.
posted by anonymous
on Nov 6, 2004 -
18 answers
How do you get the smell and stain of gasoline out of clothes?
posted by ChasFile
on Sep 28, 2004 -
3 answers
Skiunk vs car filter...
Ack! Ran over a skunk last night. What's your best tips for getting rid of the um...skunky aroma that's on my car (and now in my garage)....
posted by damnitkage
on Sep 24, 2004 -
7 answers
Fridge disaster filter A pint of milk left without my knowledge in my fridge went seriously off. So I could clean the fridge without throwing up I put a saucer of mouthwash in there to deodorise it a bit (bad idea - yes, I am domestically clueless). The result even after defrosting, cleaning with bicarb and putting activated charcoal in there (tips derived from Google) still stinks - I think the door seals are holding a lot of the smell. I cleaned them carefully but no joy. The fridge is still quite a new one, I don't want to junk it - what can I try next?
posted by Flitcraft
on Sep 18, 2004 -
14 answers
How can I get rid of the odour that my sandals leave on my feet? They have a vinyl lining which creates an awful smell when contacted by sweat.
This isn't a problem with any other footwear, and I've had a number of other people complain about this happening to them, so "wash your feet" would not be an appreciated response.
posted by DrJohnEvans
on Sep 12, 2004 -
13 answers
My watchband is starting to stink. This happens to all of my watches. I've tried many, many things including soaking them in bleach (I usually only wear metal-banded watches. Largely because they last longer before stinking). Nothing has managed to stop the stinking. I like this watch. What can I do?
posted by willpie
on Aug 25, 2004 -
11 answers
How do I get rid of the musty smell in an old guitar that's spent a lot of time in a damp basement? (It's a pre-Beatle Hofner bass with f-holes.)
posted by Faze
on Aug 5, 2004 -
5 answers
PotpourriFilter. As anyone who shares a house with felines soon becomes aware, with cats comes a certain...odor. (Or, as we refer to it in my family, "eau de chat.") Besides the obvious sanitary measures, I'm draining my life savings by investing in deodorizers (which are rarely effective for more than two or three days). Does anyone out there have recommendations for killer potpourri or other scent options,
not including candles?
posted by thomas j wise
on Jul 23, 2004 -
18 answers
Unwanted scent removal: I stepped in dog crap this morning on the way out to the car. I scraped off what I could, and hosed off the rest, but of course the scent is lingering, and driving me crazy in my cube. Does anyone know any easy, work-friendly ways to get rid of doggie-doo odor, or at least something I can do when I get home so it doesn't bug me again tomorrow?
posted by jammer
on Jul 13, 2004 -
8 answers
We have a stinky dog, and now we have a large stinky rug. Can we unstink the rug? It is about 12' x 10', wool, worn, and it sits atop a fitted carpet (the landlord's) in a bid to stop the latter getting stinky as well. The rug has seen several, uhm, accidents; and the products in supermarket aisle seem to promise so much and deliver so little. It would be a shame to get rid of the rug, seeing how it ties the room together, etc.
posted by carter
on Jun 29, 2004 -
11 answers
