Sickening sweet smell in basement. Dead mouse????
Dirk Puslich
I just moved into an old house (build in the 1920s) with a finished
basement (finished about 10 years ago).
About a month ago we noticed a sickly sweet smell around the back
wall. It doesn't smell musty, but it is quite strange and we don't
like it. It seems to almost go away and then come back stronger
sometimes.
The former owner had some mouse poison out so my theory is that one or
more mice might have died in the wall and are causing the funk.
My problem is that I don't know what a dead mouse smells like, so I'm
not sure if that is it. It's hard to describe the smell but there is
definitely a "sweetness" to it, but not a "mmm someone's making pie"
kind of sweet, but one that is somehow unpleasant.
My 2 questions:
1) Is this a dead animal in my wall perhaps?
2) Anyone have any idea how long it will last?
It's driving me nuts so I'm thinking about busting holes in the
drywall this weekend.
Thanks!
dadiOH
> My 2 questions:
>
> 1) Is this a dead animal in my wall perhaps?
Rotting meat does *NOT* smell sweet. You've never smelled same?
--
dadiOH
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Speedy Jim
I would hold off on busting any holes.
Smells like that are hard to pinpoint. Sometimes sewer gas
odors give a sickly sweet or sweet/sour smell (at least to my nose).
That particular odor seems to be less likely on septic systems.
Also, sewer gas odors may come and go depending on wind conditions
which affect the air pressures in the stack.
Have you looked for any floor drains with dried out traps?
Floor drains need to be refilled with water every few months.
Jim
John W. Wells
wrote:
>My problem is that I don't know what a dead mouse smells like, so I'm
>not sure if that is it. It's hard to describe the smell but there is
>definitely a "sweetness" to it, but not a "mmm someone's making pie"
>kind of sweet, but one that is somehow unpleasant.
I once had a mouse expire directly under my built in dishwasher. By
the time I figured out where that smell was coming from and removed
the kick panel he was fuzzy, mold-covered, pool of slime.
Sweet-smelling? Hoo-ha! NO WAY!
I reckon it's something else, Dirk.
--John W. Wells
Joe Bobst
Oddly enought, bedbug infestations are said to have that odor. Do a Google
search for articles relating to this. Other bugs might also do similar. HTH
Joe
Dirk Puslich
insulation. Does anyone know what mouse pee smells like? One poster
on another board said it has a "sweet" odor to it.
jbo...@aol.comtosspam (Joe Bobst) wrote in message news:<20040421174242...@mb-m10.aol.com>...
Doug Miller
>Someone also suggested that it could be mouse urine, possibly in the
>insulation. Does anyone know what mouse pee smells like? One poster
>on another board said it has a "sweet" odor to it.
>
any other kind of pee.
def...@uri.edu
It could be stashed food, or rotting cellulose insulation, or some peculiar
type of mold, too.
Looks like it's time for someone to invent an electronic stench identifier..
Either that, or a scratch&sniff sampler of common offenders....
--Goedjn
Linda
lol oh my...thats an idea.
Wonder if there are strange knockings and noises....kinda like the
Amityville Horror that was a sickly sweet smell IIRC. :-O
Linda
Jim Elbrecht
-snip-
>Looks like it's time for someone to invent an electronic stench identifier..
Voila! http://www.iit.edu/~jrsteach/enose.html and
http://www.nose-network.org/
>Either that, or a scratch&sniff sampler of common offenders....
My LP gas company set me a sample of the additive they were using in
my gas. That was fun. . . 'Honey-- what do you think of this
perfume?' <g>
If this new homeowner has any gas coming into his house-- either LP or
natural- and is not familiar with the smell, he should ask his utility
for a sample. Gas is not to be trifled with. i wouldn't call it a
sweet smell, but there have been several other odors mentioned in this
thread that were described as sweet that I wouldn't call sweet
either.]
Jim
Dirk Puslich
"Musky honey"
Whatever it is if it's not gone in 10 days the drywall is getting busted...
Linda <Ldu...@notvalstar.net> wrote in message news:<40880EA8...@notvalstar.net>...
John W. Wells
wrote:
>I finally found the words to describe the smell:
>
>"Musky honey"
Whoa! Where's your libido, man?! I think Frederick's Of Hollywood
sells that scent--don't touch that wall!
--JWW
zxcvbob
> Hello,
>
> I just moved into an old house (build in the 1920s) with a finished
> basement (finished about 10 years ago).
>
> About a month ago we noticed a sickly sweet smell around the back
> wall. It doesn't smell musty, but it is quite strange and we don't
> like it. It seems to almost go away and then come back stronger
> sometimes.
>
> The former owner had some mouse poison out so my theory is that one or
> more mice might have died in the wall and are causing the funk.
>
> My problem is that I don't know what a dead mouse smells like, so I'm
> not sure if that is it. It's hard to describe the smell but there is
> definitely a "sweetness" to it, but not a "mmm someone's making pie"
> kind of sweet, but one that is somehow unpleasant.
>
Maybe it is the mouse poison? Or an aromatic hydrocarbon based
insecticide, like Lindane?
Wait! I've got it! Thousands of Asian ladybugs or boxelder bugs inside
the wall.
As someone else already said, the smell you're describing is the
characteristic smell of bedbugs.
I'm glad it's your house and not mine,
Bob
RB
with more than just insects) to come in and offer an opinion. It will
cost much less and certainly be less aggravation than re-doing your walls.
RB
Jim Elbrecht
>I finally found the words to describe the smell:
>
>"Musky honey"
>
>Whatever it is if it's not gone in 10 days the drywall is getting busted...
What are the possibilities of an old food spill? [a dropping
barometer, change in wind direction or dampness would make it more
noticeable at times]
Exploded root beer, beer, or wine bottles?
Or bees in the wall?
Jim
jason
house, and had someone come and set some traps all around.
We went away for a week, and came back to the same smell in the basement.
Sometimes stronger than others.
At first I thought it was the garbage but after we took it out the smeller
lingered days later.
Today I had the man come back and there were mice caught EVERYWHERE. He
plugged a hole in the outer wall so hopefull that will help, but please
don't let people tell you its not a mouse because it probably is.
--
DerbyDad03
but it sure was unpleasant. Luckily it was easy for me to find the cause.
I started to empty the shed looking for something dead and one of the first
things I picked up was a crumbled up lawn & leaf bag that was crammed into
a corner. As soon as I picked it up I realized that it seemed heavier than
it should be. The human mind it funny like that. How much does a dead mouse
weigh...not much, right? Yet as soon as I picked up the plastic bag, I knew
it didn't feel right. I unfolded it and a dead mouse fell out. I tossed it
in the woods, left the shed doors opened for about 24 hours and the smell
was gone.
Daring Dufas TeaBillie on welfare
I doubt a mouse would leave much of a stink..think a bigger rodent like a squirrel or raccoon.
The Daring Dufas
TDD
DerbyDad03
I had a dead mouse in my shed, inside a lawn and leaf bag. You could smell
it when you walked by the closed door. Dead stinks.
M.A. Stewart
> Death has a smell you will never forget.
>
> I doubt a mouse would leave much of a stink..think a bigger rodent like a squirrel or raccoon.
>
in a tub of used motor oil and sink to the bottom! Ask me how
I know!
k...@attt.bizz
wrote:
We had a Mickey die in a sink overflow, years ago. It stunk up the
entire house. It took a few bottles of acid and some clever funnels
to get the thing out of there.