# Smell from under carpet

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 10, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190 "2011-08-10T13:15:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thelark31](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e4f/32.png) [@thelark31](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelark31)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190/1 "2011-08-10T13:15:39Z")

</div>

Hi Board,

I moved into a new apartment that was a complete disaster but has been painted and cleaned. New carpeting was installed, but the hardwood floors were cleaned but not adeqately treated, and now the smell of dog urine and cheap cigarettes has returned, coming up through the new carpet. It’s brutal.

Im hesitant to flood the carpet with a Nature’s Miracle type of product given the carpet is new. Any thoughts on other ways to deal with it or how long it might take to dissipate if left to air out? I believe dog waste isn’t as enduring as cats’, or at least I hope not.

Thanks in advance!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190/2 "2011-08-12T02:53:06Z")

</div>

I’m going to move this to General Questions, where you will get more traffic.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190/3 "2011-08-12T03:07:49Z")

</div>

How to deal with it?

Call your landlord. It’s his problem.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190/4 "2011-08-12T03:10:38Z")

</div>

Have the landlord remove the carpet and seal the floor. Piss soaked into a wood floor isn’t going away.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smell-from-under-carpet/592190/5 "2011-08-12T04:51:21Z")

</div>

What **Harmonious Discord** said. Plus, I wonder if the pad got replaced with the carpet, and what quality of pad is under the new carpet.